(670 The Score) Throughout his first year leading the Bears, head coach Ben Johnson has set a new standard for his team. He hired coaches who have a similar drive to him and is seeking to instill those values in his players.
The Bears have found success early in Johnson’s tenure. They earned a 25-24 win over the Commanders on Monday night in Washington, giving them their third straight victory and improving to 3-2 on the young season.
The Bears have won back-to-back games by one point, and they're buying into Johnson's message.
“I love our preparation right now,” Johnson said Tuesday. “I think these guys, we continue to hone that process, taking a lot of pride in what it’s going to look like when they come in on a Wednesday and understanding what we're asking from them from a coaching staff standpoint. I mean, I go in there to get breakfast and I see everyone on their iPads, they're studying. So, I think they’re doing a really good job in that regard. That’s a starting point.
“Really, in all three phases, we still haven’t played the best football that we're capable of playing yet, and so that's what's so that’s what’s encouraging to me as a coach. When it's ugly, we're still finding a way to win and we're developing that belief. But at the same time, holy cow, how far can we push this thing? Like, let’s see how good we can really get this season. There’s a long way that we can still go, and I think they see that and they feel that. I’m really encouraged by it. It wakes me up in the morning and gets me going.”
On Monday, the Bears trailed 24-22 with 3:07 remaining in regulation, when they recovered a Commanders fumble. They then embarked on a nine-play drive that was capped by kicker Jake Moody's game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired.
The Bears will host the Saints (1-5) at noon CT on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Injury updates
Bears receiver DJ Moore returned to Chicago on Tuesday after spending the previous night in a Washington-area hospital. He dealt with a groin issue, Johnson said while referring to the details as “personal.” The team considers Moore to be day-to-day.
Linebacker Noah Sewell has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after exiting the win Monday.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.