Bears’ Ben Johnson wastes no time setting the tone for Week 4 by making one thing clear about the Jets
The Chicago Bears had a huge win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, but the team has to turn the page quickly to begin preparations for the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Chicago Bears are coming off a defining win over the Philadelphia Eagles and no one has to feel better this morning than head coach Ben Johnson.
After losing to the Minnesota Vikings, scoring just three offensive points, and being down two quarterbacks during the week, no one had any expectations that the Bears would win this game. They not only won, but won handedly 27-7 led by their QB3 against a top NFC team that entered the game with an undefeated record.
“I’m just really proud of the whole team,” Johnson said after the game. “When you get punched in the teeth like that the week before and it’s your first loss, you’re not sure how you’re going to handle it or respond, and yet these guys handled it the right way.”
It was a collective team effort and a very emotional night for veteran quarterback Case Keenum. It’s the kind of win this team needed that came at the perfect moment, but the NFL train rolls on and the Bears are already a day behind schedule.
Ben Johnson is already turning the page to the New York Jets in Week 4
In typical Ben Johnson fashion, he’s quickly moving on from the team’s emotional win on Monday night and setting the tone early for what the team should expect on Sunday when the Bears host the New York Jets at Soldier Field.
“This is a good football team,” Johnson said to Jeff Joniak on ESPN1000. “Ton of respect for Aaron Glenn, I know him really well. Phenomenal football coach. These guys are going to battle for 60 minutes, or more. Whatever it takes. I know that. I know who he is and his players are going to be just like him. This will be a dog fight.”
Johnson and Glenn both served as coordinators together in Detroit under head coach Dan Campbell with Johnson calling the offense and Glenn calling the defense. Both were hired as head coaches during the same cycle and this will be a great head-to-head matchup.
Since being hired, Glenn’s squad hasn’t had the level of success Johnson’s team has in Chicago, but the Jets are playing with a lot more tenacity this season. New York enters the game with 1-2 record but took the Green Bay Packers to overtime and then lost a one score game against the Lions.
“They are a force to be reckoned with,” Johnson explained. “I think Geno Smith is playing really well offensively, they got a lot of skill players, and their offensive line is strong. They’re able to move the ball and they’re able to score points.”
Offensively, though, the Jets are expected to be without star running back Breece Hall, who is week-to-week with a quad injury he suffered last Sunday. It’s a big blow to their offense, but Smith is still capable of playing at a high level at quarterback.
Defensively, Glenn has added a bunch of new pieces and some much-needed veteran leadership to that unit. Through three games, the Jets rank among second in yards per game allowed (258.3) and are playing like a really sound unit.
Johnson is not taking this team lightly and rightfully so. It’s a short week of preparation while coming off a high emotion win. That’s always a perfect storm for a trap game in the NFL and Johnson is already sending the right message to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“We got our work cut out for us on a short week here,” Johnson added. “We got to get our recovery and our bodies back in order. And we have to come up with a good, sound, game plan. This is not an easy week for us.”
