After two weeks, it was too easy for so many folks to make assumptions. The Chicago Bears were 0-2 and had just been thumped by the Detroit Lions. Ben Johnson appeared to be struggling out of the gate, in Year 1.
But, like many good things, they take time. And here we are, with the Bears sitting atop the NFC at 9-3 and having won nine out of 10 games. The narrative is starting to flip, and it is first and foremost thanks to the head coach.
Former All-Pro NFL defensive back Aqib Talib was one of those quick to judge early on in the season.
"They still suck, with Ben Johnson," Talib said on a podcast episode a while back.
And just like that, he's changed his tune. On one of the more recent episodes of The Arena: Gridiron, Talib reversed course:
"I do want to apologize to Chicago. That s*** is not trash. Ben Johnson is real. He a f***ing dog."
Aqib Talib is one of many who are now eating their words after judging Ben Johnson's Bears too soon
Oh, how the tables have turned. It's quite funny what happens when you give things just a little more time rather than jumping to conclusions as soon as possible.
Talib went on:
"I apologize Chicago, the f***in' Bears is real. They take the ball away. They run the f***in' ball and they got a damn dog that's leading them."
That's more like it. Finally, some truth.
Talib is starting to see the light. The Bears do run the ball and they run it better than 30 other teams in this league. As far as takeaways, they are tops in the league in that category.
If the Bears continue to run the ball like this while maintaining a massive turnover differential, it's going to be hard to beat them.
What Talib should be paying even closer attention to, since he's a former cornerback himself, is the fact that Chicago is getting healthier on the defensive side of the ball. Jaylon Johnson is set to make his second start of the season. Kyler Gordon is back. And now, linebacker T.J. Edwards is back at practice.
These Bears have not only won, but they've won without some of their top defensive stars. Now with the luxury of getting them back on the field, the Bears' defense should be ready to hit its stride.
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And with an improved defense, you better believe Talib's love for the Bears is likely only beginning.