LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) – On the morning of Sept. 21, the Bears returned to their headquarters of Halas Hall as a humbled football team.
The Bears had lost 9-3 in their home opener just a day earlier, one week after posting 59 points in an impressive win in their season opener. Starting quarterback Caleb Williams was undergoing imaging for a hamstring injury, and backup quarterback Tyson Bagent would soon report concussion symptoms to team medical personnel.
The Bears were 1-1 and it felt like the sky was falling to some outsiders – but not inside Halas Hall. Not with Ben Johnson as head coach of this team.
"Our standards for how we operate, whether it's a win or a loss, it doesn't really change,” Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards said. “We come in here, we go to work, we correct what we need to.
“I know it sounds whatever, but it's just a day-to-day thing that (Johnson) has kind of instilled in this team."
The Bears responded with a dominant 27-7 win against the Eagles in Week 3, which was a credit to Johnson and his coaching staff. One day after that disappointing loss to the Vikings, Johnson had the Bears ready to respond. He began preparing 38-year-old Case Keenum to step in as the starting quarterback, created a game plan to exploit the Eagles, honed in on areas of improvement for the entire team and turned the page.
Johnson hasn’t allowed struggles to persist under his watch. They’re 14-8 in his tenure in Chicago when including the playoffs. The Bears are also 4-2 in the regular season when coming off a loss under Johnson’s watch.
The Bears’ ability to bounce back is no accident.
“That's just who Ben is,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “And I think attitude reflects leadership. Your team is always going to be in the image of your head coach. That's the way he is. He's resilient. He doesn't allow for excuses. He always is pushing forward, always trying to find a way, and I think the rest of the group feeds off of that. And I think the whole building feeds off of that.”
On Sunday night in a downtown Chicago hotel, Johnson met with members of his coaching staff for their regular quarterbacks meeting. The coaches usually take the lead. This time, it was Keenum who directed the conversation. He requested the meeting begin 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, allowing himself more time to cover ground for the game plan against the Eagles.
While a 15-year veteran like Keenum is certainly rare in this league with his knowledge base, he’s hardly the lone Bears player to step up in a pinch. The team has called upon reserves like receiver Jahdae Walker, offensive tackle Theo Benedet, rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad and more to play key roles across the last two seasons.
The common theme is that they’re prepared. That of course stems from coaching. When the Bears call upon someone new, Johnson has them ready.
"I can’t trust him enough,” Keenum said. "I really do. I learn more and more how to trust him, and it was special Monday night.”
Emma's prediction (1-2): Bears 31, Jets 16
It will be Bagent leading the Bears as their third starter in as many weeks, and he’ll deliver a victory along the lakefront. The running game will get going for the Bears while their defense will do its part once again.
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
