Bears coach insists No. 1 seed ‘doesn’t mean anything’ for Chicago
The Chicago Bears are a surprise package at the top of the NFC standings but Ben Johnson isn’t getting carried away with five games remaining.
Heading into the 2025 season, little was expected of the Chicago Bears. But an impressive turnaround with first-year head coach Ben Johnson has transformed the Bears’ fortunes, leaving the team on track for a first postseason appearance since the 2020 season.
Chicago managed a statement victory over the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, giving them top spot in the NFC with five games remaining. The signs are looking promising for the Bears but Johnson is not getting carried away with so much football still to play.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Johnson said on Monday, when asked about his team’s position at the top of the NFC. “There are five games left, so we’ve got a long ways to go, and we have not been guaranteed a spot in the tournament yet. We have to earn that. And the only way you can earn that right is by finding a way to win the next game. So that’s where our sole focus is.”
For all their improvement in 2025, the Bears are far from perfect. The defense has been impressive, with a league-leading 26 takeaways so far, and the offense has often managed to turn late opportunities into game-winning drives.
The Bears’ rushing attack has been productive but the passing game from quarterback Caleb Williams remains inconsistent. Williams’ QBR is the lowest of any starting quarterback in the league and he completed just 17 of his 36 passes in last Friday’s win over the Eagles. Williams needs to find greater consistency if Chicago is to make a real impression in the postseason but Johnson has insisted that it’s a team effort, with room to improve across the board.
“Everybody’s got a role to play to get this pass game cleaned up. It’s not where it needs to be. We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it. None of us are pleased with that right now.”
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