Bears Surge With Ben Johnson Leading Historic Run Game Revival

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has engineered a remarkable turnaround in the team's running game, boosting their average yards per carry from 74 before the bye week to 183 in the two games after, largely due to strategic changes on the offensive line and a renewed focus on physicality and attacking the edges. Johnson's leadership also extends to nurturing rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who, despite a slow start, showed encouraging signs of growth and impact in recent games, earning praise from Johnson for his unselfish play and potential increased roles due to injuries on the team. Looking ahead to the Bears' upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson is preparing as if star quarterback Lamar Jackson will play, emphasizing the importance of focusing on Jackson's unique threat to the Bears' defense. Johnson's tactical acumen was evident in a crucial successful challenge against the New Orleans Saints that negated an illegal forward pass, helping secure the Bears' victory. Despite the team's 4-2 record and a rare four-game winning streak, Johnson remains critical of the offense's inconsistency and points out the need to capitalize more on turnovers created by the defense. He acknowledges that quarterback Caleb Williams, while showing potential, still has significant development ahead to match the progress of peers drafted alongside him.