Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson wants to achieve greatness. He feels that should be the goal for every coach, player, or executive in the NFL. If it’s not, why are you even in the league? Yes, Johnson wants to win Super Bowls. As many as possible. That is the endgame. However, it doesn’t stop there. He wants the Bears to field the highest-scoring offense in history. He’s directly aiming for the 606 points the 2013 Denver Broncos achieved. Some believe he’s just saying that to keep his guys focused. Tight end Cole Kmet, of all people, dispelled that idea.
Anybody who has followed the Bears long enough knows that the veteran tight end, one of the longest-tenured on the team, isn’t known for grandiose statements. He’s always been among the more realistic players on the roster, keeping his comments as careful as possible. That is what makes his recent column in the Players’ Tribune so eye-opening. Kmet personally penned an article gushing about the possibilities for the Bears offense this year. He thinks the mixture of Johnson, Caleb Williams, and the array of talent on the roster makes this the most dangerous unit the organization has maybe ever had.
Enough to where Cole Kmet confirmed his coach’s declaration.
“The other thing that has me thinking big things lie ahead is the array of young talent we now have around Caleb. When you hear us talk about wanting to be the highest scoring offense in the history of the NFL … we’re not just saying that. We mean it. That’s literally what we’re shooting for.
Our receivers room has a bunch of guys who are willing to do a lot of different things, not only in the passing game, but in the run game, too. So that means it’s going to be hard for teams to gameplan for us. We’ve got three really good tight ends. And, of course, Colston is an absolute beast. I think he has a chance to develop into one of the top offensive weapons in the league this season. Dude’s a walking mismatch. But if you look at it, we’ve got size and speed at every position. Great backs, incredible O-line. All the ingredients are there.
I wouldn’t recommend running to the concession stands for your adult beverages or Polish sausage sandwiches anytime we have the ball.”
Don’t immediately dismiss the idea.
Yes, many things have to go right for the Bears even to reach 500 points. Never mind 600. That said, a lot of people forget that 2013 Broncos team. Most would assume it was laden with Hall of Fame offensive talent across the board. Sure, they had Peyton Manning at quarterback, but their weapons were more in the really good category than elite. You had Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Wes Welker at wide receiver. Julius Thomas handled tight end duties, and Knowshon Moreno was their primary running back.
Of those names, only Welker might end up in Canton one day. The rest were just highly capable players who executed the offense very well. The point is, if you have a good scheme, a good play caller, a good quarterback, and enough talent, it is possible to put everything together. Cole Kmet knows this. He can see the ingredients coming together. Everything comes down to two crucial factors: precise execution and favorable health. The Bears can’t control the latter, but they seem confident about the former now in the second year of this system.
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There is one hurdle to clear first.
That is the franchise record for points in a season. This honor is held by the 1985 team, which scored 456 points. It is a fact often lost on people who often reference the defense as the main reason they won a championship. Kmet and his teammates came close to that mark last season, scoring 441. It was the third-best in franchise history. Now it’s time to get serious. Last year was fun. This year is about making a statement. The Bears feel they’re good enough to score on anybody—time to prove it.
Much of this hinges on Williams. His off-script mastery is incredible to watch, but history says it’s not conducive to scoring tons of points. He must learn to play more on time and in rhythm. Become more of a conductor of the orchestra rather than the frontman of the band. Once that gulf is crossed, you’ll see a side of this offense none could’ve imagined. Kmet already knows it’s coming.
