In a game loaded with playoff pressure and historic rivalry, the NFC Wild Card showdown between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers turned into something more than just a battle of players-it became a masterclass in offensive design. Bears offensive coordinator Ben Johnson didn’t just call plays; he orchestrated a layered, evolving attack that manipulated the Packers’ defense like a seasoned chess grandmaster. And when it mattered most, his strategy delivered the knockout blow.
It all started with a subtle probe. Early in the first quarter, Johnson dialed up a “wide bunch” formation to the field side-the broader half of the field.
The alignment itself was a test, targeting the Packers’ coverage rules and how they’d respond to space and numbers. Green Bay rolled out just two defensive backs to that side, creating a numbers mismatch the Bears were quick to exploit.
Johnson didn’t hesitate. He called for a quick screen to wide receiver Luther Burden, who had blockers in front and space to work with.
The execution was sharp. The result: 12 yards and a first down.
But the gain was only part of the story. More importantly, it planted a seed in the minds of the Packers’ defenders and coaches.
The Bears had shown they were willing to take what the defense gave them-and that they could hurt you with it.
That early success wasn’t just about yards-it was about setting the table. Johnson had begun conditioning the defense, and in the second quarter, he moved to phase two.
The Bears came out in a nearly identical look, again motioning tight end Colston Loveland into the bunch. It was a mirror image of the earlier screen setup, and the Packers-still feeling the sting of that first conversion-adjusted. This time, they matched numbers outside and shifted into man coverage, clearly determined not to get burned on the quick throw again.
But that was exactly what Johnson wanted.
As the play unfolded, the Packers’ defenders jumped the short routes, sitting on the flats and anticipating the screen. That overcommitment left a gaping hole behind them.
Linebacker Quay Walker was supposed to carry DJ Moore on a crossing route but got caught in the traffic. Moore, with a clean release, broke free downfield and hauled in a big first down.
The illusion of the screen had now opened the door to the intermediate passing game.
Johnson had the Packers right where he wanted them-reacting instead of dictating.
Then came the final act.
With the clock ticking and the game hanging in the balance, Johnson leaned into everything he’d built up to this point. He brought back the same bunch look, this time with Luther Burden again in the mix.
But he added a wrinkle: a tackle-over formation. Right tackle Darnell Wright reported as eligible and lined up on the left side, adding another layer of deception.
At the snap, it looked like another screen. Wright sprinted to the flat, looking like a lead blocker.
Loveland and Moore sold blocks, just like they had before. Burden mirrored his earlier motion, looping back behind the line.
Every detail screamed “screen.”
And the Packers bought it-completely.
All three defenders near the bunch triggered downhill, fully committed to stopping the short throw. That’s when DJ Moore made his move.
Shedding his fake block, he released vertically, slipping behind the defense that had crashed toward the line. He was wide open.
The quarterback delivered the strike. Touchdown, Bears.
Ballgame.
It was a brilliantly constructed sequence-simple in its components, devastating in its execution. Johnson used a basic screen to create doubt, then used that doubt to open up the middle of the field. And when the defense overcorrected, he hit them over the top with the kill shot.
This wasn’t just good play-calling. It was elite-level game planning, built on patience, precision, and a deep understanding of defensive tendencies.
In a high-stakes playoff environment, Ben Johnson didn’t just out-scheme the Packers-he out-thought them. And in doing so, he helped deliver one of the Bears’ most clutch postseason moments in recent memory.