{'byline': 'by Chris Emma', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '670 The Score', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'thescorechicago', 'path': 'thescorechicago/sports/chicago-bears/emma-bears-are-laying-the-foundation-for-a-bright-future'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': 'wbbm780', 'path': '/wbbm780/sports/chicago-bears/emma-bears-are-laying-the-foundation-for-a-bright-future'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v44', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2025-11-13T20:53:39.540Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'title': 'Brad Biggs explains biggest ways that Ben Johnson has had an impact on Bears', 'thumbnail_url': 'https://s1.dmcdn.net/v/ZPa7G1f4wb2Gk3bfe', 'id': 'x9tlfbk', 'created_time': 1762868757, 'mode': 'vod', 'private_id': 'k3dJ2DgMGFM8MIEbXA4', 'owner': 'x2yitem', 'description': '', 'channel': 'sport', 'tags': ['WSCRAM', 'Chicago', '670 The Score', 'Chicago Bears'], 'private': False, 'addPublic': True}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/dailymotion/instances/cmhxvlz1i000o357t2e5daizq@published'}], 'slug': 'emma-bears-are-laying-the-foundation-for-a-bright-future', 'tags': ['Chicago Bears', 'Ben Johnson', 'NFL'], 'feeds': {'msn': True, 'rss': True, 'postup': True, 'facebook': True, 'newsfeed': True, 'sitemaps': True, 'frequency': True, 'smartNews': True, 'apple-news': False, 'smart-news': True, 'most-popular': True, 'reversechron': True, 'google-news-feed': True}, 'hosts': [], 'adTags': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/ad-tags/instances/cmhxv97hg008c01r1g93mygcx@published'}, 'byline': [{'names': [{'name': 'Chris Emma', 'text': 'Chris Emma', 'slug': 'chris-emma'}], 'sources': [{'text': '670 The Score'}], 'hosts': [], 'prefix': 'by'}], 'teaser': 'Emma: Ben Johnson-led Bears are laying the foundation for a bright future', 'authors': ['Chris Emma'], 'content': [{'data': {'text': '<strong>LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) </strong>—<strong>\xa0</strong>When the Bears introduced Ben Johnson as their new head coach in January, he made no grand promises.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv97hg008g01r10zro97n7@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Johnson\xa0didn’t\xa0reference the Lombardi Trophy, speak of\xa0an immediate turnaround in\xa0his first season in Chicago or\xa0call out the rival Packers.\xa0He instead made it clear that Halas Hall would\xa0operate\xa0differently under his watch.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9xyd000h357tbe7l1c13@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Johnson said during his introduction, looking toward his players seated to his left. “The bar has been set higher than\xa0it’s\xa0ever been set before.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9y0z000i357t1rofpaeb@published'}, {'data': {'text': "What has followed is a foundational season for the Bears with Johnson leading the way.\xa0The campaign is showcasing great promise for the Bears' future and providing a festival of intrigue in the present.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9y6x000j357tcjto4ufw@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Bears (6-3) have stacked victories as they prepare for their game against the Vikings (4-5) on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Chicago has won six of its last seven games following\xa0a\xa00-2 start.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9y8h000k357ta79afaup@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Bears are winning games despite playing an inconsistent, sometimes uninspiring brand of football. They\xa0remain\xa0a work in progress on offense – even as they rank third in total offense and seventh in scoring offense – and the defense is\xa0fighting through key injuries.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9y9o000l357t5xi6j4dt@published'}, {'data': {'text': "The Bears have won four of their six games by one score, with each of those coming against lesser opponents.\xa0Chicago has a negative-8 point differential this season, a figure that's largely been\xa0skewed by a 31-point loss at Detroit in September.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yft000m357t0grj4j6d@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“We still haven't put that whole collective 60 minutes, three phases together yet,” Johnson said. “Yet\xa0we’ve\xa0seen glimpses of it throughout the season so far. So,\xa0I'm\xa0happy with the fact that\xa0we’re\xa0winning games and\xa0we’re\xa0finding the ways to win\xa0games,\xa0and the guys are believing in what\xa0we're\xa0doing. And yet, we still have so far that we can still go and how much we can still accomplish as a whole team.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yhd000n357tj084lv4c@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'If the postseason began this week, the Bears would be the No. 6 seed\xa0in\xa0the NFC. Currently, that would pit them against the Lions in a much-anticipated showdown at Ford Field. Of course, there are eight games\xa0remaining\xa0in the regular season.\xa0That includes four divisional games\xa0and six contests against opponents that currently have winning records.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yiv000o357ti34ngbpw@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Even if the Bears' momentum slows as the schedule gets tougher, the franchise would be pointed in the right direction with Johnson leading the way.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yk8000p357t2pgbu3h5@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'In Johnson’s first season, the Bears have\xa0established\xa0a new culture and have four fourth-quarter comeback wins. Most importantly, they have a 23-year-old quarterback in Caleb Williams who has taken critical steps forward in his development.\xa0Beyond Williams,\xa0there\xa0are other building blocks on the roster that represent hope for what lies ahead.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yly000q357tlloj323p@published'}, {'data': {'text': "Expectations will surely grow in 2026 and beyond, but Johnson's first season has been nothing but promising.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxvgprh003a357t5srskdtn@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Whether the Bears make the playoffs, this is already a successful season. Johnson has reshaped the way this franchise\xa0operates\xa0and positioned it for greater days ahead.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9yqy000r357tdg29itcs@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The standard has indeed been raised. Now Johnson has the Bears striving for even more.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9ysb000s357th83ufjzz@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<strong>Emma’s prediction (6-3):\xa0Bears 27, Vikings 24</strong><br />The Bears will flip the script from their season-opening loss at Soldier Field, beating the Vikings by the same score. After finding a way to lose that first game, Chicago will find a way to win this one.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmhxv9ytm000t357t0o3egrqv@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<em>Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. 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Emma: Ben Johnson-led Bears are laying the foundation for a bright future

By Chris EmmaNov 13, 2025

Chris Emma

A native of Geneva, Chris Emma is the lead Bears writer for 670TheScore.com and covers the rest of the Chicago sports scene as well. He previously…

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — When the Bears introduced Ben Johnson as their new head coach in January, he made no grand promises.

Johnson didn't reference the Lombardi Trophy, speak of an immediate turnaround in his first season in Chicago or call out the rival Packers. He instead made it clear that Halas Hall would operate differently under his watch.

"Get comfortable being uncomfortable," Johnson said during his introduction, looking toward his players seated to his left. "The bar has been set higher than it's ever been set before."

What has followed is a foundational season for the Bears with Johnson leading the way. The campaign is showcasing great promise for the Bears' future and providing a festival of intrigue in the present.

The Bears (6-3) have stacked victories as they prepare for their game against the Vikings (4-5) on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Chicago has won six of its last seven games following a 0-2 start.

The Bears are winning games despite playing an inconsistent, sometimes uninspiring brand of football. They remain a work in progress on offense – even as they rank third in total offense and seventh in scoring offense – and the defense is fighting through key injuries.

The Bears have won four of their six games by one score, with each of those coming against lesser opponents. Chicago has a negative-8 point differential this season, a figure that's largely been skewed by a 31-point loss at Detroit in September.

"We still haven't put that whole collective 60 minutes, three phases together yet," Johnson said. "Yet we've seen glimpses of it throughout the season so far. So, I'm happy with the fact that we're winning games and we're finding the ways to win games, and the guys are believing in what we're doing. And yet, we still have so far that we can still go and how much we can still accomplish as a whole team."

If the postseason began this week, the Bears would be the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Currently, that would pit them against the Lions in a much-anticipated showdown at Ford Field. Of course, there are eight games remaining in the regular season. That includes four divisional games and six contests against opponents that currently have winning records.

Even if the Bears' momentum slows as the schedule gets tougher, the franchise would be pointed in the right direction with Johnson leading the way.

In Johnson's first season, the Bears have established a new culture and have four fourth-quarter comeback wins. Most importantly, they have a 23-year-old quarterback in Caleb Williams who has taken critical steps forward in his development. Beyond Williams, there are other building blocks on the roster that represent hope for what lies ahead.

Expectations will surely grow in 2026 and beyond, but Johnson's first season has been nothing but promising.

Whether the Bears make the playoffs, this is already a successful season. Johnson has reshaped the way this franchise operates and positioned it for greater days ahead.

The standard has indeed been raised. Now Johnson has the Bears striving for even more.

Emma's prediction (6-3): Bears 27, Vikings 24
The Bears will flip the script from their season-opening loss at Soldier Field, beating the Vikings by the same score. After finding a way to lose that first game, Chicago will find a way to win this one.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.

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