LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn’t mince words when addressing his players at the start of this week.
Johnson was visibly frustrated following the Bears’ 19-16 loss to the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field, a game he hoped would serve as a catalyst ahead of the playoffs. Instead, the Bears had a letdown performance that sounded alarm bells throughout Chicago.
Once the Bears returned to Halas Hall early this week, Johnson shared a stern message.
"If you’re not prepared to play the next five weeks, you’re thinking about anything else, you’re thinking about booking flights for vacation, don’t come in,” Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland recalled Johnson saying. “He made it very clear about what’s at stake and what this team is looking for."
The Bears will need to be at their best when they host the rival Packers on Saturday at Soldier Field in the wild-card round. While the Bears had a breakthrough 11-6 campaign and won the NFC North, they also played inconsistent football for long stretches of the season.
The Bears earned six of their victories with fourth-quarter comebacks. That's a credit to their belief and resiliency but also represents a red flag heading into the playoffs, where it's far more difficult to win if you don't play a complete game.
As they prepare to face the Packers, the Bears are focused on cleaning up their miscues. They also hold an appreciation for the path they've taken to get to this point.
“I believe in us just because of what we’ve done all year,” Bears veteran safety Kevin Byard said. “At the end of the day, there’s always things that we can fix, but it’s the same thing for every team. I don’t believe there’s a team in this league, especially in the NFC, that’s unbeatable. Like, every team can be beat.
“I’m excited to see how this game goes. We’re super excited, and my energy level is super high. I’m excited for this opportunity.”
Bears left guard Joe Thuney is a four-time Super Bowl champion who has been to the playoffs eight previous times across his tenures with the Patriots and Chiefs. He has been to the game’s highest mountaintop and believes these Bears have the ability to make that climb.
“It doesn’t matter who gets the yards or touchdowns or who has good stats or who doesn’t,” Thuney said. “All that matters is that we want to win. It doesn't matter how we win, what it looks like. Offense, defense, special teams, we’re a whole unit going after them.
“Everyone’s trying to play for each other, and it doesn’t matter how we win or what it looks like. Everyone wants to win, and I think that’s really important. Just want to play for each other."
Before the season started, Johnson made it clear that he viewed his Bears as a playoff-caliber team. That was notable given that the Bears were coming off yet another last-place finish in the NFC North when he was hired in January.
Amid this breakthrough campaign, the Bears went from believing in Johnson’s message to achieving it. They enjoyed a rise to the top of the division and hope there’s more success in the years to come.
"We have a special opportunity in front of us,” Byard said. “And it starts with the Green Bay game.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.