CHICAGO (104.3 The Score) — Officially, the Bears’ 23-12 victory over the Jets on Sunday at Soldier Field was credited as a quarterback win to veteran Case Keenum.
That’s because it was Keenum who took the first snap of the game — his lone play on the field Sunday. It was a wrinkle from Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who declined all week to publicly announced that Tyson Bagent would instead start at quarterback.
Johnson didn’t enjoy that it leaked out before kickoff Sunday that Bagent would be the Bears’ starting quarterback, so he had a surprise for the first play. He also didn’t seem to care which quarterback earned the win in the official box score.
"I think the team gets credit for the win," Johnson said.
That is how it works with Johnson at the helm. Once again, it was a team victory for the Bears on Sunday. They were thorough on both sides of the football, posting 492 yards of offense while running an astonishing 89 plays and holding the Jets to 157 yards on 32 plays.
The Bears are now 3-1, with three different quarterbacks leading the way to victory. What has been clear is that it doesn't matter who's playing quarterback or any other position for this football team so long as Johnson is the head coach.
On Sunday, Bears running back Kyle Monangai – No. 2 on the depth chart behind D'Andre Swift – carried 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offensive effort.
"Everyone puts the work in as if they're the starter," Monangai said. "You never know when your name is going to get called. Case last week, Tyson this week, everybody. We put the work in day in and day out during the week and it showed today."
The stars for the Bears in their win over the Jets were the system and structure set forth by Johnson and his coaching staff. They can operate efficiently with any of their three quarterbacks starting and adjust to whatever challenges a defense may present.
As the Bears dominated time of possession by holding the ball for 42:45, it was admirable how they grinded away even when they didn’t produce explosive plays. The Bears recorded 34 first downs, a franchise record in a regulation game, and their defense got the Jets off the field as New York was 0-for-7 on third-down conversions. The Jets possessed the ball for just 45 seconds in the fourth quarter.
The Bears controlled the entire game, capped by an 18-play final drive that wiped out the final 9:16 of regulation and ended in victory formation.
"Probably one of the easiest NFL games I've ever played in," Bears linebacker Devin Bush joked after the defense wasn’t on the field much. "I'm not sore at all.”
In Johnson's tenure, the Bears have won games in many different ways – with starting quarterback Caleb Williams throwing for four touchdowns, with Swift and Monangai both rushing for more than 100 yards and now with three different quarterbacks taking snaps under center in the opening four weeks of the season.
Many NFL teams would find themselves in a bind if they had to turn to their backup quarterback, let alone the one who’s No. 3 on their depth chart. That isn’t the case for the Bears, who have built themselves into a strong contender under Johnson’s watch and found a way to win games in whatever fashion needed.
"We always know we're going to have a chance each and every week," Johnson said.
After the game ended Sunday, Johnson gathered the Bears in the victorious locker room with Williams alongside him in a hooded sweatshirt. He told the players they "answered the call" while showcasing their identity.
Then, Johnson reminded the Bears of the challenge looming next Sunday. They will travel north to Lambeau Field to meet the rival Packers. It’s unclear whether Williams (hamstring) will be healthy enough to return as the teams meet for the first time since Chicago’s memorable win in the wild-card round of the playoffs at Soldier Field in January.
Of course, no matter whom the Bears have available, Johnson will have this team ready to play and prepared to succeed.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
