The Ben Johnson Effect: How the Bears Flipped the Script on the NFC North
Week 16 gave Chicago Bears fans a full-course feast of satisfaction - and it started with a statement win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. A comeback under the lights at Lambeau?
That’s the kind of win that echoes through franchise history. But the weekend didn’t stop there.
On Sunday, the Bears officially punched their ticket to the postseason - not with a win of their own, but thanks to the Detroit Lions falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a strange twist of fate, it was Aaron Rodgers, now with the Steelers, who helped seal Chicago’s playoff berth. Yeah, let that one marinate for a second.
But let’s not get lost in the irony. The bigger story is how drastically the tide has turned in the NFC North - and the fingerprints of Ben Johnson are all over it.
One Coach, Two Franchises, One Massive Shift
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd didn’t mince words this week, and for once, it’s hard to argue with the take.
“One coach - one - has really changed the direction of two franchises in the same division,” Cowherd said. “Ben Johnson used to be at Detroit and wow were they dynamic ... look at them now. He left and went to Chicago and the Bears are 11-4 and the best fourth quarter team in the NFL.”
That’s not just a spicy soundbite - it’s a reflection of what’s actually unfolded on the field.
Johnson’s arrival in Chicago has been nothing short of transformative. In a single season, he’s taken a franchise that was stuck in neutral and turned it into one of the most clutch teams in football. The Bears are closing games with confidence, executing in pressure moments, and playing with a swagger we haven’t seen in years.
Caleb Williams and the Coaching Fit That’s Clicking
Let’s talk about the quarterback. Caleb Williams came into the league with all the hype in the world - and with that, came plenty of skepticism.
Could he handle the NFL stage? Could he adjust to the speed, the complexity, the pressure?
Under Johnson, the answer has been a resounding yes.
This isn’t a case of a rookie quarterback being coddled or protected. Johnson is coaching Williams hard - and Williams is responding.
The growth has been visible week to week. Sure, there are still moments where the rookie shows, but the trajectory is undeniable.
He’s reading defenses better, making quicker decisions, and delivering in crunch time.
This pairing - Johnson and Williams - has the potential to be something special. And it’s already paying dividends.
Meanwhile in Detroit...
While Chicago is surging, Detroit is stumbling. The Lions, once the darlings of the NFC, now look like a team searching for answers.
The offense that once felt unstoppable has lost its rhythm. The creativity, the aggression, the explosiveness - it’s all faded.
And while there are plenty of factors at play, there’s one glaring difference between this year’s Lions and last year’s: no Ben Johnson.
It’s not about throwing Dan Campbell under the bus - he’s still a strong leader and a good coach. But the Lions without Johnson calling plays just don’t have the same edge.
Their identity, once so clear, now feels muddled. And with the playoff race tightening, they’re suddenly the team on the outside looking in.
The Bears Won the Breakup
It’s rare in the NFL to see such a clean and immediate verdict after a coaching change, but here we are. The Bears didn’t just win the breakup with Detroit - they’re thriving in the aftermath.
They’re winning close games. They’re dictating tempo.
They’re playing with purpose and poise. And they’re doing it all in Year 1 of a new regime.
Ben Johnson hasn’t just changed the Bears - he’s changed the balance of power in the NFC North.
And if this is just the beginning, the rest of the division better buckle up.