Bears News: Ben Johnson pleased with complete team effort in win over Cowboys

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 4 hours ago

CHICAGO - Sunday’s win against the Dallas Cowboys represented what the Chicago Bears are capable of under head coach Ben Johnson. Chicago’s offense was explosive in the first half to get 24 points.

They were methodical in the second half to generate a nearly 10-minute touchdown drive, something Johnson took a lot of pride in.

“We’ll do whatever it takes to score points. I think that’s what it comes down to. To me, I don’t care if it’s a one-play drive or a 19-play drive as long as we’re scoring points at the end of it. That’s the number one goal, and so, I think it just goes to show we can do whatever we need to do in that moment to score,” Johnson said. “We were very explosive there in the first half. We kind of dried up a little bit in the second half in terms of explosives and that’s what we needed. We needed a long drive to be able to score those points, and guys came through for us.”

Against the Detroit Lions in week two, the Bears' defense gave up a 76-yard touchdown right before halftime. It was perhaps the greatest display of not playing complementary football. That was something Chicago addressed against Dallas. Chicago’s offense scored a touchdown right before half and only left 25 seconds on the clock for the Cowboys’ offense.

The Bears' defense then forced Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott to dance around looking for an open receiver, and that ultimately ended the half.

“I thought the other thing that was huge - in any two-minute if you get an explosive play, then that really ups your odds of getting points and so, that throw that (quarterback) Caleb (Williams) made to (rookie wide receiver) Luther (Burden III) was really big for us to get us from field goal range down in there to scoring range for a touchdown,” Johnson said. “So, I just give our guys a lot of credit. They handled the situation well. Caleb controlled the procedure really well and was able to score with under 30 seconds like that, and our defense came back out on the field and held them.”

Turnovers are crucial in every game. Chicago’s defense started the game by generating a turnover when cornerback Tyrique Stevenson essentially took the ball away from Dallas running back Javonte Williams after Williams had an explosive run.

The defense also finished the last three drives with a turnover - two interceptions from linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and one pick from safety Kevin Byard.

“All those turnovers were massive. That’s the first series that Tyrique came through and got that ball out. It was going to be an explosive run and talk about giving us a lot of life and a lot of juice right there,” Johnson said. “We didn’t start the game offensively like we wanted to and so, defense second play, they’re able to get a turnover (and) breathes a lot of life into us in that game and it gives us some confidence and I think the best thing about it was the complementary nature of that football game where alright, that happens, and then the offense goes back out there and scores a touchdown. I thought there was a lot of piggybacking like that throughout that game that we really needed.”

Developing chemistry takes time. There is always a lot of talk about chemistry on the offensive line. That is something that seemed to improve from the first two weeks as Chicago finally went a full 60 minutes without giving up a sack.

However, the chemistry between a head coach and quarterback is something that should not be overlooked. In the first two games, there were some miscues. But, those things seemed to have been improved against the Cowboys.

Part of that is Johnson gaining more confidence in Williams and knowing that he does not have to call the perfect play because Williams has enough talent and knowledge to make the play work.

“I don’t have to be perfect as a playcaller and I’ve always tried to be that to where you get the primary receiver open the majority of the time and I don’t feel that necessity anymore. He has a way. If number one’s open, he’ll take it and we’re getting to where he’s progressing to two and three,” Johnson said. “But, if we need to escape or extend that. It’s his natural playmaking and that’s the balance that we want to strike and that changes every week what that balance looks like. But, I think we’re really finding out a lot about each other because he’s learning what my expectation is as well. But, I think he’s doing a good job understanding when it breaks down a little bit what he can do to ad lib.”