The Chicago Bears looked just as lifeless as last year during an 0-2 start to the Ben Johnson era, but he and Caleb Williams have righted the ship to such a stunning degree that they have won nine of their last 10 games in a wide-open NFC.
Chicago's Black Friday win against the Philadelphia Eagles, which came on the road against a very good team despite Williams putting together perhaps his worst passing game of the season, should confirm that this team is absolutely capable of going on a playoff run this campaign.
Williams and the Bears are not only at the top of their division right now, but Johnson's record means that this Chicago squad can't be ruled out in the still open race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Updated NFC playoff picture after Bears beat Eagles in Week 13
No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (9-2) vs. BYE
No. 2 Chicago Bears (9-3) vs. No. 7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)
No. 3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) vs. No. 6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
No. 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) vs. No. 5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
In The Hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5), Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1), Carolina Panthers (6-6)
The Bears' win puts them in first place in the NFC North for the time being. However, they still have two more games against Micah Parsons, Jordan Love, and the Green Bay Packers that may end up deciding who comes out on top in the race for the division crown.
Even in Chicago's five remaining non-Green Bay games, they need to keep their heads on a swivel. Week 17 comes against another possible playoff team in the San Francisco 49ers, while the Detroit Lions may be able to sneak back into the picture if they can win during Week 18.
The Eagles are still in first place in the NFC East despite the Dallas Cowboys re-establishing themselves as a threat by winning their last three games. Philly would need to continue bottoming out and losing a few more games while Dallas stays white hot to erase the deficit they have built up.
While Bears fans shouldn't expect a playoff run due to how deep the NFC is at the top this season, the fact they already have nine wins chalked up means they can lose a game down the stretch and not have it be the end of the world for their playoff chances.