Lions make point against Ben Johnson, Bears with 52-21 rout - ESPN

DETROIT — Lions defensive back Brian Branch described Sunday's divisional game against the Bears as «personal» given it was the first between the teams since Ben Johnson left Detroit to take over as Chicago's coach.

«Very motivated. We knew coming into this game that this is personal,» Branch said. «Really, all these games personal, but this one we felt like we'd been betrayed from the staff to players. And we love Ben, we still love Ben. He's a great coach. He's a great mastermind but, yeah, it was time to get after him.»

And the Lions very much did.

As chants of «F--- Ben Johnson!» echoed throughout Ford Field near the end of the fourth quarter, the Lions closed out a dominant 52-21 win a week after a lackluster season-opening effort in Green Bay.

It marked the third time the Lions (1-1) scored at least 50 points under coach Dan Campbell. Before Campbell's arrival in 2021, Detroit had only three other instances of 50-plus scoring games, per ESPN Research.

Johnson was Detroit's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, with the team leading the NFL with 33.2 points per game in 2024. But he left for the NFC North rival Bears this past offseason.

Branch said he certainly respects his ex-coach but didn't agree with where he chose to go.

«He could've went anywhere else, but he's gotta see us again,» said Branch, who had six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble Sunday.

At one point, Detroit's defense taunted Johnson. After a second-quarter interception by All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph, Lions players recreated Johnson's famous «stumble bum» trick play that he used against Chicago last season as an in-game celebration.

On their seventh and final touchdown Sunday, which allowed them to surpass the 50-point threshold, the