ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions are gearing up for an intense Week 2 matchup against the Chicago Bears, but this game carries an extra layer of intrigue. Ben Johnson, the Lions' former offensive coordinator, returns to Ford Field—this time as the head coach of the Bears. While Lions head coach Dan Campbell maintains a friendly relationship with Johnson, he’s clear about one thing: the Lions are here to win.

Campbell’s Mindset "Ben's my friend. He's always going to be my friend. Nothing about that's going to change," Campbell said this week. "But we're going in getting ready to play Chicago. We're going to win this game. We have to."

Johnson’s tenure with the Lions from 2022 to 2024 was marked by record-breaking success. Under his leadership, the Lions led the NFL in points per game (29.0) over that span, including a league-high 33.2 points per game in 2024. His innovative playcalling helped Detroit achieve a historic 15-win season last year.

Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Take Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro honors under Johnson, isn’t planning to welcome his former coach with open arms. "Week 2 is going to be so crazy. I promise you. It is going to be so electric," St. Brown said on his podcast. "But as soon as Ben walks in there, we're booing him. I don't give a f---. We all booing him."

Week 1 Struggles Both teams enter the game with 0-1 records. The Lions fell 27-13 to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1, with their offense failing to score a touchdown until the fourth quarter. The Bears, meanwhile, lost a close 27-24 contest to the Minnesota Vikings on "Monday Night Football" despite holding a halftime lead.

Defensive Expectations Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson is preparing for Johnson’s signature playcalling style. "I'm sure he'll have some trickery mixed in there or some different plays in that first 15, but I'm hoping I'll get the rhythm of the offense once we get into it," Hutchinson said.

Campbell’s Game Plan Campbell believes the familiarity between the two coaches levels the playing field. "I think we're on even playing ground really. It's the same thing. He knows what we're about. We know what he's about," Campbell said. "And because of that, you're going to play that game a little bit, but the game doesn't matter if you don't master the basics inside the game."

As the Lions and Bears prepare to face off, all eyes will be on Ford Field to see how this high-stakes reunion unfolds.