Ben Johnson had every reason to let the Bears feel the weight of that 9-3 loss two weeks ago. Chicago’s offense sputtered, the comeback fizzled, and the injury to Caleb Williams briefly sent the whole place into panic mode before the team learned it wasn’t as bad as first feared.
Instead, Johnson kept the message steady.
“You hate getting that first loss out of the way like that. We were really excited about coming back home, divisional opponent.
To see us fall short like that was disappointing. We’ll get a good look at the tape and clean things up and we’ll move things on with Monday Night Football with the Eagles"
Ben Johnson
That kind of response mattered. Chicago turned around and stunned the Philadelphia Eagles, a result that kept the season on track and showed exactly why Johnson has been such a stabilizing presence. He didn’t overreact, didn’t spiral, and didn’t let one ugly afternoon define anything bigger than one game.
The Bears are 2-1, and the next stretch looks manageable with the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers on deck. With the way Case Keenum is playing, those games suddenly look very winnable. Johnson’s composed approach helped keep the team pointed in the right direction, even after a loss that could have knocked the season off course.
Chicago also remains in a strong spot in the NFC North. Minnesota holds a slight lead, but there’s no real reason to assume that edge will last. The Bears are in the better position, and Johnson’s steady hand has been a big reason why the team stayed focused instead of unraveling.
For now, the formula is simple: keep attacking the next two games the same way, trust the process, and wait for Caleb Williams to return. His injury history is limited, and the Bears have plenty of reason to feel good about what comes next.
In Other News...
Bears Let An Ugly NFL Streak End At Soldier Field
A long-running oddity finally disappeared at Soldier Field when the Jets snapped an interception drought that had stretched beyond 1,000 days and more than 600 pass attempts. The takeaway for the Bears was a familiar one in a season full of quarterback turnover: backup Tyson Bagent was in at the time, and the turnover came in the second quarter with New Yorks secondary taking advantage of the situation.
Minkah Fitzpatrick was the one who made it happen, and he did it soon after returning from a groin injury. For a Jets defense that had gone far too long without a pick, the play ended one of the longest active droughts in recent NFL history and offered a small but notable defensive lift in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Johnson Sent A Clear Message About The Bears Quarterback Room
The Bears took care of the Jets with a run-heavy showing that leaned on Kyle Monangai, who ripped through New York for 146 yards and two touchdowns as Chicago controlled the game on the ground and on the clock. It was also a notable night for the quarterback room, with Ben Johnson opening the game by giving veteran Case Keenum one snap before turning things over to Tyson Bagent, who settled in and handled the bulk of the work.
Bagent finished 25 of 34 for 268 yards and an interception, a line that fit the way Chicago wanted to play in a game where the defense and run game carried plenty of the load. The choice to start Keenum for a play and then move quickly to Bagent was hard to miss, especially in a win where the Bears were able to dictate terms while the Jets struggled to generate much without Breece Hall. [Read more 🡒]
Tyson Bagent Faces One Bears Test That Could Decide Everything
Tyson Bagent is set to make his first start since the 2023 season in Week 4 against the Jets, with Caleb Williams still out because of a hamstring injury. Bagent has been handling most of the first-team reps in practice, and this week has become a real test of how the Bears want to function with a different kind of quarterback in place.
For Chicago, the question is less about asking Bagent to be a hero than about what a workable game plan looks like around him. His style gives the Bears a chance to lean into what he does well, but the bigger issue is whether the offense can stay on schedule and avoid forcing him into spots that dont fit his strengths. [Read more 🡒]