Ben Johnson's Bears got a heavy dose of reality in preseason finale

The 2025 Bears' preseason ended on Friday, with a 29–27 come-from-behind win over the Kansas City Chiefs in their preseason finale. The Bears trailed the entire game, plagued by sloppy offensive possessions by their first-team offense.

A mistimed jet sweep to Olamide Zaccheaus led to a fumble on the very first snap, resulting in a five-yard loss. A false start by the rookie Colston Loveland followed. Following an incompletion, Williams hit DJ Moore for 14 yards before Tory Taylor punted. Williams was sacked after holding on to the ball too long on their second possession.

The next two possessions were much better, as Williams got the ball out much faster and the protection held up. Both drives resulted in a field goal and a touchdown. The final drive was impressive, as Williams led a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. He and wide receiver Rome Odunze connected on a 37-yard gain following a failed 50/50 deep pass earlier, and the drive ended with a three-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left before halftime.

The game took a turn in the second half when Mahomes and their first-team offense were done, while backup quarterback Tyson Bagent and the second-team offense came into the game. Bagent led to three straight touchdown drives, including a 10-play, 87-yard final drive that ended with a six-yard back shoulder toss from Bagent to rookie free-agent Jahdae Walker to take the lead with two seconds left.

The Bears gets a dose of reality check in their preseason finale

The Bears closed out the preseason undefeated (2-0-1). But Johnson’s reaction reminds us that preseason records mean little. What matters is readiness—and the Bears’ first-team units didn’t look ready. To his credit, head coach Ben Johnson didn’t mince words about his team's poor performance.

“Offensively, the first two possessions were really sloppy football that has plugged us in and out of camp so far, and unfortunately, that’s what we got here tonight. There were a number of things we could have done a better job of.”

The first-team offense looked disjointed and unprepared in its first two drives. A sharp contrast compared to their opening drive against Buffalo. The defense was anemic all night, and the lack of pass rush resulted in their secondary being beaten by Patrick Mahomes, as their first-team offense scored on their first three straight possessions.

Despite the comeback led by Bagent, who celebrated his two-year contract extension this week with a win, Johnson's postgame tone was one of urgency and accountability—a stark contrast to the celebratory mood that often follows a win.

With the preseason now behind them, head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles face tough decisions as they trim down their roster. The lack of pass rush was glaring and needs to be addressed, especially with second-year edge rusher Austin Booker expected to miss a few weeks with a knee injury. And the depth in the secondary is very thin, especially at cornerback.

Read more: Bears preseason proves Ryan Poles made a major mistake not addressing 1 position

The final preseason game was a wake-up call. And Johnson’s blunt assessment sets the tone for a team that must grow up fast before their season opener against Minnesota. The Bears have talent. They have potential. But as Johnson made clear, they also have a long way to go before they can reach the same level as the Kansas City Chiefs.