UPDATE: Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson faced a challenging start to his NFL coaching career, suffering a 27-24 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on September 25, 2023. This loss highlighted alarming issues across all teams—offense, defense, and special teams—setting a troubling tone for Johnson’s tenure.
The defeat was marked by critical missteps, particularly in the fourth quarter. In just 12 minutes, the Bears saw their potential 14-point lead vanish, flipping to a 10-point deficit. The frustration was palpable as the Soldier Field crowd expressed their discontent with boos as the team exited the field.
Johnson, reflecting on the loss, stated,
“I think that’s the beauty of this city. They love their sports. I embrace it… they want a good product. They’re desperate for a winner.”
One of the most glaring issues was the Bears’ discipline. They were penalized a staggering 12 times, resulting in a loss of 127 yards. This included four false starts and one illegal shift, undermining their pre-snap strategy that had been emphasized throughout the offseason. Receiver Rome Odunze acknowledged, “That’s just stuff that you can’t do if you want to have success in this league.”
The Vikings, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, capitalized on these errors. After struggling for most of the game, McCarthy rallied for a remarkable 149.5 passer rating in the fourth quarter, becoming the first quarterback since 1985 to overcome a 10-point deficit in his NFL debut. The Vikings adjusted their strategy effectively, transitioning to a stronger running game that allowed them to control the clock and momentum.
Meanwhile, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams saw his performance decline as the game progressed, with a passer rating that dropped from 92.6 in the first quarter to a dismal 39.8 in the fourth. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores employed a less aggressive blitz strategy than anticipated, leaving Williams under pressure without the usual support.
In a critical moment with 2:02 remaining, Bears kicker Cairo Santos failed to execute a kickoff as instructed, allowing the Vikings to return the ball and limiting the Bears’ chance to stop the clock, which could have been pivotal in their comeback attempt. Johnson acknowledged his misstep, stating he should have listened to his assistants regarding the kickoff strategy.
As the Bears regroup ahead of their next matchup, the focus will be on addressing these critical issues. Fans are left wondering how Johnson will adapt his strategies and whether the team can bounce back from this rocky start.
With the Bears set to face new challenges in their upcoming games, all eyes will be on Johnson’s ability to learn quickly and restore confidence in a team desperate for improvement.
