The Chicago Bears looked lost in the first half of their game against the Green Bay Packers. Caleb Williams had 11 passing yards and the offense managed only three points as they fell behind 14-3. However, things came to life in the second half. Chicago scored 18 points as they tied the game 21-21. Sadly, a defensive breakdown allowed the Packers to retake the lead and a last-minute drive to tie ended with an end zone interception. Still, the comeback was an impressive one, leaving many to wonder what kind of adjustments head coach Ben Johnson made at halftime.
The answer? Zero.
“Not one. I stuck to the game plan, and we ended up doing a better job executing and guys played hard and we made some plays.”
This sends a fascinating message. One that should alarm Packers fans. It basically means that Green Bay’s defense did nothing to force the Bears to change their strategy. Johnson was on top of everything they were doing. The only reason the Packers were having success was that they were winning their individual matchups. Once the Bears started executing properly and winning some of those matchups, Green Bay was no longer able to stop them. Their scheming was completely irrelevant.
Green Bay needs to pray Ben Johnson doesn’t find enough star power.
The biggest reason the Packers were able to hang on was that they had an ace up their sleeve. That was Micah Parsons. His pass rush impact was enough to tilt the game in their favor this time. However, if Ben Johnson finds some star power of his own on offense, which might already be unfolding with Colston Loveland and Luther Burden, there may not be anything Green Bay can do to stop what’s coming. Johnson’s ability to dissect defensive tendencies is what made him a menace in Detroit. That ability has carried over to Chicago.
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Any coaching advantage the Packers had on defense for so many years is gone. All they have left is talent. If that gap closes, too, it’s over. Don’t forget Johnson is doing all of this with a roster he mostly inherited. He hasn’t added a true cluster of his own players yet. Matt Lafleur has been molding that roster in Green Bay for years. Their window is now, and they’d better take advantage while they can. It doesn’t seem like Johnson plans to give them a reprieve.
