After the Chicago Bears started the season 0-2 and lost both games to NFC North opponents, Ben Johnson’s team has found a groove.
The Bears have put together four straight wins and now sit one game out of the final Wild Card spot as it stands today. Considering how the 2025 season started, Johnson has his team in a good place entering the Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
However, the Bears have plenty to fix, especially after the team’s passing performance in the 26-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Caleb Williams completed just 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards and threw an interception.
How the Bears' coaching get the team to play a complete 60-minute game
Johnson was asked about his assessment of the passing game during his media availability, but provided a broader answer on his entire team’s performance up to this point.
“I don't think we've played a collective 60 minutes yet as a team,” Johnson said. “I think it will be a beautiful thing when that happens really, in all three phases. Offensively, we've had times where the passing games look good. We've had times where the running games look good. But it just hasn't come together as an entire team or entire unit quite yet. To his (Williams) point, it'll be a fun thing to watch when that happens.”
Johnson makes a fair point. In each one of the four wins for the Bears, a different phase of the game has had to compensate for one area not performing.
Against Dallas, Williams lit up Matt Eberflus’ defense for 298 yards passing and four touchdowns and the defense forced four takeaways, but the Bears’ run game generated just 87 total yards on 29 attempts.
A week later, the offense struggled against the Raiders. Williams threw an interception and Maxx Crosby created consistent pressure. The defense picked off Geno Smith three times, but the Bears couldn’t stop the Raiders’ rushing attack. Josh Blackwell won the game on his field goal block.
In the last two games against the Commanders and Saints, the Bears’ run game has made massive strides in the right direction, while the passing game has left room for improvement.
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Despite there being obvious corrections that must be made, the Bears have won games. If the Bears can start correcting their flaws, then “it’ll be a fun thing to watch,” as Johnson pointed out.