Ben Johnson's latest audition at Soldier Field in Week 16 should make the rest of the Bears' head coaching search an easy process
Hours before the Chicago Bears were set to host the Detroit Lions in Week 16, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero dropped a newsworthy report that could affect both teams.Pelissero reported that Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was "intrigued" by the Bears' vacant head coach opening and was "willing to listen" to what the team had to […]
Hours before the Chicago Bears were set to host the Detroit Lions in Week 16, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero dropped a newsworthy report that could affect both teams.
Pelissero reported that Lions' offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was "intrigued" by the Bears' vacant head coach opening and was "willing to listen" to what the team had to sell in order to land the hot candidate.
In the hours that followed, Johnson's offense absolutely wiped Soldier Field with the Bears' defense scoring 34 points, totaling 475 total yards, and having fives plays going for 20+ yards.
From the first offensive drive of the game, the Bears' defense simply had no answers for Johnson's scheme and his play-makers. The Lions scored on each of their first five possessions and the only possession in the first-half that didn't end in points ended on a missed 65-yard field goal as the first-half expired.
Johnson was absolutely out of his mind calling this game with the Bears' front office and management in attendance above him. And calling a trick play to score a touchdown on the Bears while up two scores should be viewed as a statement to the organization in Chicago.
The Johnson-led unit eclipsed the 400-yard mark well before the third quarter came to a close. Two of Johnson's top players went for over 140+ scrimmage yards with four different players finding the endzone. It was an utter domination for the Lions' offense from their first play of the game.
The offensive attack was also as well balanced as possible. Quarterback Jared Goff finished the game with 336 yards and three touchdowns through the air while Jahmyr Gibbs helped lead the rushing attack that totaled 146 yards on the ground.
As for the other offense, promising rookie quarterback Caleb Williams played another solid game against one of the top teams in the conference. Williams finished the game with 334 yards and 2 touchdowns despite the slow start, in what was honestly another audition for the young quarterback to entice Johnson to come to Chicago.
The offensive production for Chicago looked good, but it looked like nothing in comparison to what the Lions did. When you think about how this Williams-led offense could look with that guy leading the team, the Bears' head coaching decision should be an easy decision to make.
The Bears have two more games left to be played until their season is mercifully over. For Johnson, the focus is onto leading his top of the league offense into the playoffs with the Lions hoping to reach and win the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
If Johnson is on the opposite sideline again the next time he returns to Solider Field, it should be seen as the biggest mistake this organization has ever made.
