Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has inspired a culture shift in Chicago that has contributed to the Bears holding the top seed in the NFC.
Through Week 13, this team has become almost unrecognizable when compared to the Bears of the last few years, and even now, Johnson acknowledges they must get better. With five games remaining, it's worth taking a look at the Bears: where they need improvement, where they've shown improvement, and where they've been among the league's best.
How Chicago Measures Up
Good
Ben Johnson's "Good, Better, Best" mantra begins with acknowledging what's already working, and Chicago has several good areas, but hasn't met the "great" bar quite yet. The Bears have shown flashes of reliability on both sides of the ball.
The Bears boast a run defense that holds firm for long stretches, a pass rush that can create pressure without heavy blitzing, and an offense that scripts its early drives with purpose.
Each of these strengths has a second half of the sentence attached: "could be better". Missed tackles, mid-game stagnation, and drives that stall too easily are all reminders that good isn't the goal. It's the starting point.
Better
Where Chicago truly separates itself from past seasons is in the categories that have noticeably trended upward. Third down defense has tightened, and the offensive line has stabilized. Caleb Williams is playing quicker and cleaner, reducing the reckless moments that defined his earliest weeks.
This is the "better" layer of Johnson's chant, proof of incremental growth, evidence that the coaching is working, and proof that the roster is learning to win situations it previously lost.
Best
Then there's the crown of the mantra: Best. These aren't feel-good moral victories. These are categories where the Bears don't just compete, they lead. Whether it's red-zone defense, takeaways, or a run game on top of the league, this is where Chicago can legitimately claim superiority.
These are the traits that travel, the traits that win in December, and the traits that dictate playoff games. When the Bears are at their best, they look like a team built for the long season rather than one that survives week to week.
Work Left Before January
The "Good, Better, Best" chant is more than a locker room gimmick. It's a mirror for a team that has grown every month, yet still hasn't reached its ceiling. Chicago already has the good. They've found the better.
Read more: A way too early look at what Bears must do to take down NFC North rival Packers
Now they must take their final step, and it's the hardest one. They must turn their strengths into a winning formula for January football.