Looking ahead and towards the turn of the New Year, Chicago looks positioned to make their most meaningful postseason push in over a decade, and the formula for getting there is grounded in something far less glamorous than the explosive talent at quarterback: cohesion, discipline, and trust between Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson.
Williams’ first playoff run will be defined not only by his arm talent and improvisational ability, but by how consistently Johnson keeps him in rhythm, and away from the chaos that can accompany over-designed game plans.
For Chicago's first-year head coach, his creativity is constantly a league-wide talking point. He’s known as a schemer with an encyclopedic menu of route concepts, misdirection looks, and gadget wrinkles. But Chicago’s best shot at playing into late January comes not from digging deeper into that endless bag of tricks, but from knowing when not to reach for it.
Last postseason served as a lesson.
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In the divisional round against Washington, Johnson -- then with Detroit -- dialed up a wide receiver pass from Jameson Williams in a pivotal moment. The play was jumped, the ball was intercepted, and momentum swung instantly. It was the type of decision that reshaped the game, and Chicago can't afford similar gambles with a young quarterback taking his first playoff snaps.
For the Bears, the postseason path starts with rhythm. Williams is at his best when his early throws are clean, defined, and layered into progressions that build confidence. Getting him into the flow—quick game, RPOs, play-action, simple hi-lo reads—allows his natural creativity to emerge later when necessary.
Suppose Johnson tries to out-smart playoff defenses early, especially against opponents who thrive on post-snap disguise. In that case, it increases risk and forces Williams into bailout mode sooner than the structure of the offense can afford, and, moreover, into potential turnover-worthy plays.
That structure must also be in balance. Chicago’s ground game -- powered by a versatile backfield and an offensive line that has taken major strides -- should be the stabilizing force of Johnson’s postseason script. Establishing the run isn’t about telegraphing intent; it’s about forcing defensive coordinators to play honestly, protecting Williams from overloaded looks, and turning second-and-long potential turnovers into second-and-five decision downs.
Rhythm for a young quarterback often comes from a manageable game script, and a manageable game script comes from staying on schedule as much as you can.
Further, Johnson’s acumen lies in sequencing, and that’s where he has to be most disciplined. His ability to build plays through series -- run looks that complement play-action, motions that create leverage, mirrored concepts that clarify coverage -- will be far more important in January than misdirection or gadget designs. The Bears don’t need flash; they need clarity, tempo, and a plan that respects the pressure on a first-time playoff quarterback.
Whether Chicago opens on Wild Card Weekend or secures the NFC’s top seed, the truth remains the same: the deeper the Bears want to go, the more Johnson and Williams must operate as an extension of one another.
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The postseason is no place for unnecessary complication, and for Chicago to thrive, simplicity married to intelligence -- rhythm married to structure -- must define their offensive identity.