Bears HC Ben Johnson detailed the hidden factor that benefited Chicago in Week 15 and will continue to be prevalent in the coming weeks
The Chicago Bears knew what kind of environment the team was heading into on Sunday and it had nothing to do with the team on the opposite sidelines. The weather forecast was calling for blistering temperatures at Soldier Field and the team was ready for it.“It’s Bear weather,” head coach Ben Johnson told FOX 32 […]
The Chicago Bears knew what kind of environment the team was heading into on Sunday and it had nothing to do with the team on the opposite sidelines. The weather forecast was calling for blistering temperatures at Soldier Field and the team was ready for it.
“It’s Bear weather,” head coach Ben Johnson told FOX 32 Chicago before the game. “It’s coming down. I know our guys are excited about it, and we can’t wait.”
For the players and coaches, once the game starts, it’s easy to forget about the elements and focus on the game. Who the weather really is hard on is the fans in the crowd cheering for all 60 minutes while being exposed to the elements.
But, it wasn’t the case in Chicago. In total over 54,000 fans were in attendance at Soldier Field on Sunday bringing the home crowd energy and the support didn’t go unnoticed.
Ben Johnson praises the fans for creating a home field advantage in Week 15, despite the weather
“I wasn’t sure what to expect with the weather being what it was and I was blown away by the support,” Johnson said during his interview with Jeff Joniak on ESPN Chicago. “The fans were in it, they made an impact and it really puts the hair on the back of my neck up-right.”
It’s also a credit to what Ben Johnson has been able to build in Chicago in just 14 games. The Bears have brought a winning culture back to the city of Chicago under Johnson’s guidance this season and given the fans a team worth supporting no matter what.
Even going into the game, veteran safety Kevin Byard had a strong message to the fan base to show out on Sunday with their support and the fans held up their end of the bargain. And say what you want about crowd impact and if it’s real, it certainly played a role on Sunday.
The Browns finished the game with six penalties for 21 yards and once the rout was on, the crowd really started to show how much energy they had in the below-freezing temperatures.
Home field advantage can go a long way for the remainder of the season
With the win on Sunday, the Bears improved to 5-1 at Soldier Field this season with the only loss being the regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. It’s a five-game home win streak and that plays a major role considering two of the final three games are at home, and with two more wins the Bears can clinch an NFC North title, ensuring another home game in the playoffs.
“I think it’s going to be so powerful for us,” Johnson added. “We need it too. I mean, our guys feed off of that energy. It’s awesome.”
Given the weather and home crowd feel, Soldier Field is going to be a difficult place for any team to play and if the Bears can even secure the No. 1 seed over the final three weeks, all roads to the Super Bowl could go through Chicago for the NFC.
It’s an exciting thought to start thinking about and shout out to the fans who made it out there on Sunday and supported the team. It never goes unnoticed and there’s not going to be many moments like this left at Soldier Field with a new stadium in the works. Enjoy it.
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