Man, that was a long time coming. Playoff baseball is amazing, playoff baseball at Wrigley Field is the best. The Chicago Cubs did what they’ve done to propel themselves to 92 wins in the regular season against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the Wild Card series on Tuesday. The pitching was great, they hit home runs and the defense was stellar. Thanks to 4.2 perfect innings by the bullpen, a pair of home runs and two dazzling plays by Dansby Swanson, the Cubs won 3-1 in front of a sold out crowd on the north side of Chicago.
It didn’t always look good for the Cubs as Nick Pivetta shut down the offense through four innings. However, the much maligned Swanson kept Chicago within one run following two gold-glove plays on the field. The first came in the second inning, when he snagged a hard-hit ball, diving to his right. Swanson looked Xander Bogaerts back to third base and threw out the runner at first for the second out.
Matthew Boyd escaped further damager in the fourth inning, when the Padres had runners at the corners with one out. Ryan O’Hearn hit a jam shot to shallow left-center field, where Swanson raced back and made an over the shoulder catch, saving a run and another base runner for the Padres.
Nico Hoerner had the only hit against Pivetta through four innings as the Padres’ righty retired 11 in a row heading into the fifth. At that point he had six strikeouts and was dominating the Cubs’ lineup with his fastball, but Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly responded with back-to-back home runs to take the lead in the fifth.
That was the first time the Cubs hit back-to-back home runs in the postseason since Game 1 of the 2016 NLCS, when Miguel Montero and Dexter Fowler did it against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The big story of the day is the bullpen. Boyd was good, allowing only one run, but he was pulled after throwing 58 pitches through 4.1 innings. With a one-run deficit at the time Craig Counsell brought in Daniel Palencia to face the top of San Diego’s lineup with a runner at first base. Palencia quickly got two outs on five and returned to pitch the sixth after the Cubs took a 2-1 lead.
Palencia shut down the middle of the lineup as well, retiring Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Bogaerts
Next up was veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz, who got to face three consecutive lefties, which you just don’t see all that too often nowadays. The Cubs took advantage of the matchup and Pomeranz got through a scoreless seventh inning on 11 pitches.
Andrew Kittredge took care of the eighth and Brad Keller completed the perfect bullpen performance by picking up his first playoff save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Cubs have a 1-0 lead in the NL Wild Card Series!
For all the talk about San Diego’s bullpen being a huge factor it was the Cubs’ group of relievers that slammed the door in Game 1. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Estrada allowed a run in the eighth inning, giving the Cubs some extra breathing room thanks to Hoerner’s sac-fly.
Tanner McDougal warms up before a September 23 start. Photo courtesy Birmingham Barons.
Several White Sox prospects made notable progress this season, but one of the organization’s top young arms has yet to be added to the 40-man roster, leaving him eligible to be taken in the Rule 5 draft.
Tanner McDougal, ranked as the White Sox’s No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, turned in one of his best professional seasons to date. The 22-year-old right-hander started the season with the Winston-Salem Dash in High-A but was promoted to Double-A Birmingham after just 13 starts.
McDougal posted a 3.28 ERA across 57.2 innings in High-A, while racking up 73 strikeouts. After getting promoted to Double-A, McDougal’s results got even better once he put on a Barons uniform. He threw 55.2 innings across 15 starts, posting a 3.23 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 63 strikeouts.
McDougal also played a key role in the Barons’ Southern League title run, starting Game 2 of the finals with the team facing elimination. He proceeded to fire four scoreless innings while racking up six strikeouts en route to a 7-3 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
For his next trick, Tanner McDougal twirls four perfect innings 🪄
Control has been an issue for McDougal since turning pro, but the Las Vegas native made notable strides this season. After averaging more than five walks per nine innings last year, he lowered that mark to 3.89.
McDougal possesses major league-caliber stuff, provided he can harness his command. His fastball ranges in the upper 90s and can reach 100 mph, and his high-spin curveball in the upper 70s ranks as his most dangerous offering. He pairs it with a high-spin slider in the upper 80s, which lacks the same bite as the curve but allows for greater control in the strike zone.
McDougal is likely still a year away from being MLB-ready, but he has all the potential to be a valuable contributor on the White Sox pitching staff. That is, of course, if he does not get poached during the Rule 5 draft.
The Rule 5 Draft lets teams select eligible non-40-man roster players from other organizations. Players signed at 18 or younger must be protected within five seasons; those 19 or older within four. McDougal just completed his fourth season with the White Sox, making him eligible to be taken if he is not protected.
Teams draft in reverse order of the previous season’s standings. A selected player costs $100,000 and must remain on the 26-man roster all season. If waived, he must be offered back to his original team for $50,000.
Rule 5 picks can be traded, but roster restrictions stay in place unless the new team negotiates full rights from the original club, allowing the player to be optioned to the minors.
The White Sox’s lone All-Star selection, Shane Smith, is a recent example of one such player taken in the Rule 5 draft after the front office snagged him from the Brewers’ organization.
McDougal has plenty to offer other teams. After getting drafted by the White Sox in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, McDougal blew out his elbow and was forced to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Like many pitchers who have undergone the procedure, McDougal returned looking stronger than ever.
In 2023, he showcased some of his best stuff since joining the organization, averaging 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings and limiting opponents to a .218 batting average.
The White Sox have until December to add McDougal to the 40-man roster; otherwise, he will be eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10 at the Winter Meetings in Orlando.
The Chicago Bears reached the bye week at 2-2, which must feel like a minor miracle after enduring two disasters to start the season. First was the collapse on Monday night against Minnesota, followed by the devastating 52-21 loss in Detroit. However, head coach Ben Johnson forged ahead. He kept players focused. Through his tireless work, the team thumped Dallas 31-14 and engineered a 4th quarter rally to escape Las Vegas 25-24. Now with some room to breathe, Johnson appears intent on shaking things up.
It will start with a significant change to the offensive depth chart. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears will be benching left tackle Braxton Jones in favor of surprise second-year man Theo Benedet.
A source said Jones is not expected to start Oct. 13 at Washington. The situation remains fluid, and Benedet is the likely replacement.
Coaches have time this week to really dive into the situation on the offensive line, especially with spotty production in the running game. Practice is scheduled for Tuesday with lifting Wednesday before a mandatory four-day break for players…
…“I don’t think our running struggles were a reflection of D’Andre,” Johnson said. “He’s a guy that continues to run the ball very hard, even though the yards per carry aren’t where any of us wanted to be right now. He’s as frustrated as anybody. He’s very prideful in what he can do and what he brings to the table.
“I don’t feel like everybody on offense yet is pulling their weight, and that’s myself included.”
The irony of this situation is wild.
For years, people have raised concerns about Jones due to his lack of anchor in pass protection. As it turns out, it was his run-blocking that did him in. The final nail in the coffin came in the 2nd quarter when the Raiders blew up D’Andre Swift for a 2-yard loss. It looked like Jones blew his assignment to pick up the defensive end, who went unblocked.
Ben Johnson isn’t getting what he wanted from Jones.
That is the long and short of it. The head coach gave the incumbent starter four weeks to show he deserves to keep the job. Jones was brutal in the first two games, allowing 13 pressures. Then he had a nice game against the Dallas Cowboys. Sadly, it didn’t last. He struggled the entire first half in Las Vegas. It was evident his ankle problems persisted, and Ben Johnson had seen enough. Benedet had steadily earned the trust of coaches since training camp. They love his athleticism, power, and nasty demeanor as a run blocker.
The plan seems clear. He will take over at left tackle while Darnell Wright will remain at right tackle. Some may not like this because it leaves Ozzy Trapilo with limited opportunities, but the Bears must be cautious about how much they change during a season. Replacing the left tackle is already tricky enough.
Aug 19, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta (27) talks with Elias Diaz (17) during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
They’ll settle it on the field, but the Chicago Cubs may have gotten a big break in Game 1 against the San Diego Padres thanks to an injury to catcher Elías Díaz. The 34-year-old veteran suffered an oblique strain on Saturday, when the Padres played the Arizona Diamondbacks and the severity of the muscle injury was enough to keep him off San Diego’s 26-man roster against the Cubs in the Wild Card series at Wrigley Field.
That means Nick Pivetta, who made 31 starts in his first year with the Padres, will be throwing to Freddy Fermin for the first time ever on Tuesday. Fermin began the 2025 season with the Kansas City Royals and was eventually dealt to the Padres at the trade deadline. Fermin started 38 games behind the plate for the Padres, but none were with Pivetta, who pitched all but 1/3 of an inning to Diaz all season long.
It kind of feels like it should be a bigger story that with Elías Díaz out, Freddy Fermin (who was not even with the team in Spring Training), is catching Nick Pivetta for the first time ever.
181.1 of Pivetta's 181.2 innings this year have been with Díaz behind the plate.
Pivetta was really damn good this year, recording a 2.87 ERA with 190 strikeouts across his 31 starts, which again all came with Diaz behind the plate.
Elias Diaz caught all 31 of Nick Pivetta's starts this year.
With Diaz injured, Freddy Fermin will catch Pivetta for the first time in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Pivetta faced the Cubs twice in the regular season and each start was completely different. On April 5, at Wrigley Field, the right-hander only lasted three innings as Pivetta gave up three earned runs on six hits, including a solo home run by Dansby Swanson. In San Diego, Pivetta went six innings and held the Cubs to one run on four hits.
Here’s how the Padres will line up against Matthew Boyd in Game 1.
Interestingly enough, this will be the third time in 2025 that Boyd and Pivetta will matchup against each other. Boyd tossed 11.1 innings in his two regular season starts against the Padres and gave up a total of two runs.
The wind is blowing in at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. This certainly isn’t the hitters’ ballpark that fans may assume it is, but it’s actually benefited the Cubs’ pitching staff. As a team the Cubs had a 2.70 ERA at home when the wind was blowing in. Overall in 2025, the Cubs were 50-29 at Wrigley Field. The first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers that were played in Japan counted as home games. Meanwhile, the Padres were 38-43 on the road this season.
Sep 20, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell (11) stands in the dugout during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs suffered a pretty big blow to their playoff roster this past weekend, when star rookie Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day injured list because of a rib fracture. Veteran Matthew Boyd was named the Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres and he’s certainly a capable replacement for Craig Counsell. The Cubs released their 26-man roster for the Wild Card series and although the team elected to go with an extra position player, Counsell is well equipped to be ultra aggressive out of the bullpen in the best-of-three series.
Shōta Imanaga and Jameson Taillon will most likely follow Boyd in the series with Taillon starting if a Game 3 is needed. Meanwhile, without Horton available the Cubs have three pitchers who can throw starter innings out of the bullpen in case any of the starters get in early trouble.
Colin Rea and Aaron Civale could potentially play a big role this week against the Padres as long relievers. Rea had an excellent year filling in at the back end of the rotation, finishing the regular season with a 3.95 ERA in 159.1 innings. That included a 2.63 ERA in five September starts. Civale was scooped up from the White Sox late in the year and he was impressive in five appearances, posting a 2.08 ERA and 0.54 WHIP in 13 innings, striking out 14 and walking none.
There’s also Michael Soroka, who made 17 starts this year before a shoulder injury sidelined him for six weeks. He may not be as stretched out as Rea or Civale, but Soroka could probably come in and pitch a couple innings if needed.
So, don’t be surprised if Counsell has a quick hook with his starters.
No real big surprises on the 26-man roster. Great to see rookie Moises Ballesteros earn a spot with a great showing in September. Meanwhile, another rookie in Kevin Alcántara was added as an extra position player.
The Chicago Bears’ offensive line wasn’t playing well in the first half of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Caleb Williams was under duress too often as they struggled to contain superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Yet the far worse part was the maddening struggle to run the ball against a defense that had been pretty soft against it all year. Finally, after watching D’Andre Swift get blown up for another loss, head coach Ben Johnson had seen enough. Left tackle Braxton Jones was benched. Theo Benedet moved over to that spot, opening the door for 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo to get his first game action.
It was a surreal moment. Trapilo had spent the two previous games inactive, leaving many to wonder if the Bears had already abandoned hope of him being any good. Now they were throwing him into the fire to block Crosby. Apparently, he played well enough that teammates didn’t even notice he was on the field, as D’Andre Swift told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
“I didn’t even notice until damn near the end of the game,” running back D’Andre Swift said. “I got in the huddle and I looked and I saw Ozzy. I’ve got confidence in the whole group.”
The rookie stepped up big time.
In 26 snaps, he allowed just two pressures. The Bears also averaged just over five yards per carry on the ground after he joined the action. Trapilo admitted his biggest obstacle was not psyching himself out once the coaches told him to go in.
“You are always going to be ready,” Trapilo said. “It’s a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. It’s hard to tell now (how I did). Obviously the opponent is a pretty good player. Great opportunity for me, especially being a young guy, to go out there and face someone like (Crosby). So it’s hard to tell without seeing the tape.
“There are always plays you are going to want back. I think as a team we would say that as well. There is a lot of stuff we wish we would have back.”
The Bears face a conundrum with Ozzy Trapilo.
They clearly want to continue integrating them into the offense. The problem is that rotating offensive linemen is not something teams do. It can disrupt chemistry in too many ways. That means the Bears must decide whether to start him or not. Doing that would mean keeping Jones benched and moving Darnell Wright to left tackle, allowing Ozzy Trapilo to remain at right tackle. Technically, the Bears could try him again on the left side, but it already didn’t work out once. It’s hard to imagine the light went on for Trapilo in only a month.
That doesn’t even mention Benedet, who has played well since getting increased playing time over the past two weeks. It is clear the coaches like him. How does he fit into this scenario? Head coach Ben Johnson has some interesting decisions to make over the next two weeks.
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) misses a throw during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
A one‑point win over a 1–3 Raiders team should not require a blocked field goal to avoid a home meltdown. Yet here we are. The box score screams chaos: four takeaways by the secondary, a run defense that got bulldozed, and an offense that lurched forward in fits because too many veterans forgot how to do the basics. That’s why, even in victory, five Bears stood out for all the wrong reasons.
This isn’t a “name and shame” to feel clever. It’s a film-and-numbers check against expectations. The bar in Chicago has shifted from “please be watchable” to “stop wasting a rookie QB’s cheap window.” These five guys (and one full unit) nearly torpedoed a winnable game. Let’s talk about it like adults who watch the trenches and not just the highlights.
Cole Kmet was supposed to be the next man up with Colston Loveland sidelined by a hip injury. It was his chance to remind everyone why the Bears gave him a four‑year, $50 million extension and quiet the trade rumors. Instead, he put together the worst game of his career at the worst possible moment.
The stat line says it all: three catches on nine targets for just 46 yards, the lowest offensive PFF grade on the roster (46.9), and two costly penalties. One of those was a brutal false start on 4th‑and‑inches that forced a punt. That’s how you kill momentum.
The drive‑by‑drive story is even uglier. Early in the second quarter, Caleb Williams hit him in stride with a ball that should’ve set up first‑and‑goal. Kmet flat‑out dropped it. Later, that false start turned a potential knockout drive into nothing. These weren’t minor slip‑ups — they flipped the game script.
On tape, the issue was focus more than talent. He was late with his hands on contested throws, letting the ball get into his body and losing battles he should win. His routes were fine, but the finishing details weren’t there.
Why is he here? Because with Loveland out, Ben Johnson schemed him opportunities. Instead of seizing them, Kmet dragged drives under. When you’re a highly‑paid veteran, that margin for error doesn’t exist.
Braxton Jones’ benching almost felt inevitable. He only lasted 17 pass-blocking snaps before Ben Johnson had seen enough and made the switch. This wasn’t about protecting him from injury — it was about protecting Caleb Williams from Jones’ struggles.
The numbers underline why: two pressures, two hurries, and a 41.3 PFF grade, with an 11.8% pressure rate on his snaps. The low point came on a 3rd-and-19 draw where he blew the assignment, leaving Malcolm Koonce free to blow up the play. That wasn’t just a mistake, it was a drive-killer.
And this isn’t a one-off. Since his 2024 ankle fracture, Jones hasn’t looked the same. Four games into 2025, he’s allowed 13 pressures and two sacks, and his run-blocking grade has cratered from a preseason 66.1 to 47.2. On film, he’s catching contact instead of striking, his hands get beaten by bull rushes, and his vertical set footwork collapses the pocket right back into Caleb.
The damning stat: once Jones was benched, the Bears’ run game immediately improved to 5.27 yards per carry. That tells you everything.
Theo Benedet’s first NFL start was a baptism by fire, and Maxx Crosby was the one holding him under. Crosby didn’t even need a sack to make the rookie’s night miserable — he simply dictated the flow of Chicago’s offense by living in the backfield.
Over 68 snaps, Benedet earned a 38.7 overall PFF grade with a 39.8 mark in run blocking. The raw stat sheet credited him with two pressures and two hurries, but anyone watching knew it was worse. His hands were late, his pad level was high, and he consistently lost leverage.
Crosby, meanwhile, was everywhere — three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and even his first career interception. Benedet’s outside hand kept missing its mark, giving Crosby the edge over and over again. It wasn’t just pass pro either; the run game suffered with Benedet whiffing at the point of attack.
The Bears put him in a no‑win spot by leaving him isolated against one of the NFL’s top rushers, but sympathy isn’t a strategy. His run‑blocking being just as bad as his pass sets makes it clear he has a lot of work to do before he can be trusted week to week.
If Chicago wants him to survive, they’ll need to help him out: more inside‑out protection slides, more chip blocks from tight ends and backs, and a simplified run menu that lets him fire off without overthinking. Until then, the growing pains will be hard to miss.
4) D’Andre Swift
If you caught my article yesterday, you know I had Swift on the winners list because of how excellent he was on that final drive that sealed the game. But let’s be real: those first three quarters? He was awful.
The box score tells the story: 14 carries for just 38 yards (2.7 YPC) and four catches for 22 yards. It was his second straight game under 3.0 YPC, and through four games he’s on pace for under 800 rushing yards this season. That’s not the return you expect from a back making $24 million.
Worse, the Bears had only two rushing yards in the first half. Two. Some of that is on the line, but Swift didn’t help matters. Too many east-west runs, not enough decisive cuts, and no rhythm early put Caleb Williams behind the chains all night.
Yes, he punched in the game-winner, and that matters. But needing one heroic drive doesn’t erase three quarters of ineffective play. If this is what Chicago gets most weeks, the offense will stay lopsided and predictable.
5) Run Defense
The Bears’ front seven delivered one of the worst defensive efforts in recent franchise memory, allowing 240 rushing yards on 31 carries — a staggering 7.7 yards per attempt. That’s not just bad, that’s historically embarrassing.
Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty gashed them for 138 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Raiders rookie since Bo Jackson in 1987 to hit that mark. When your defense is giving up stat lines that invite Bo Jackson comparisons, you’ve hit rock bottom.
Missing Grady Jarrett and T.J. Edwards mattered, but it doesn’t excuse the complete collapse in gap integrity and tackling. Kevin Byard, despite two interceptions, whiffed on Jeanty’s 64-yard house call — a play that summed up the entire night.
Dennis Allen’s defense got an ‘F’ from analysts for good reason. Four takeaways saved them from disaster, but that’s not sustainable. If they don’t tighten up the fits and fundamentals, better offenses will bulldoze them.
The Final Verdict
Yes, the Bears won. But this was a win that felt like a loss in disguise. Kmet’s drops, Jones’ benching, Benedet’s struggles, Swift’s inefficiency, and a run defense that gave up nearly eight yards a carry — that’s not a formula you can roll into Green Bay or Washington with.
The bye week gives Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen a chance to fix what’s broken. If they don’t, Week 4 will be remembered less for the blocked field goal and more as the flashing warning light that this team wasn’t ready for prime time.
Sep 10, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles walks laps around the field before their game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears are heading into their bye week, and here are four moves I think they should consider:
Trapilo showed real upside when thrown to the wolves against Maxx Crosby. Yes, the Bears gave him help in the game plan, but he still held his own and proved he belongs. At this point, he deserves to keep the starting job. Braxton Jones should be the backup for the rest of the year unless injuries change things.
Find another running back
I like what D’Andre Swift brings as a receiving option, and he can hold up in pass protection at times, but his vision isn’t great. The Bears should explore the trade market for another runner. On top of that, I’d like to see more of Kyle Monongai. He’s not flashy or fast, but he has a little David Montgomery in his game. He still has plenty to prove, but it’s worth giving him more touches.
One thing Ben Johnson will always do is take accountability. In all phases of the game https://t.co/L5r7YAYgzE
Montez Sweat and the rest of the group just aren’t getting enough pressure. I wouldn’t move premium draft capital, but if there’s a veteran pass rusher available for a day-three pick, the Bears should make some calls. Adding another body could make a difference.
Cole Kmet should start losing snaps in passing situations. Once Loveland is healthy, those targets should go to him. As for Burden, he’s slowly gaining the coaching staff’s trust, but his playmaking ability is real. We already saw it on his trick-play touchdown. He’s elusive with the ball in his hands, and not just on returns. Ben Johnson needs to expand their roles out of the bye week.
Sep 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) is carted off the field following an injury during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears deserve credit for what they accomplished in September. Their start to the season couldn’t have gone worse. They coughed up a 17-6 lead to lose against Minnesota in the opener, then got railroaded by a red-hot Detroit team 52-21. Previous Bears teams would’ve folded their tent after that. Instead, they rallied to crush Dallas 31-24, then overcame a poor start in Las Vegas to escape with a 25-24 win. Now they head into the bye week at 2-2 with a chance to catch their breath and get key guys back healthy.
Meanwhile, fortunes might be turning in their favor elsewhere. Several of their upcoming opponents are dealing with big injuries to key players. Joe Burrow is already out for three months with the Cincinnati Bengals due to turf toe. Now the New York Giants have lost star wide receiver Malik Nabers to a torn ACL. It doesn’t stop there. The Baltimore Ravens’ defense is reeling from multiple key losses. Stud interior pass rusher Nnamdi Madubuike is out for the year with a neck problem. Now, Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey are ailing with injuries that will sideline them for multiple weeks.
NEWS: Testing reveals that Malik Nabers did tear his ACL, sources say. The Giants’ worst fears are confirmed as they lose their star receiver for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/hLqcwyLhfm
#Ravens All-Pro LB Roquan Smith was diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, sources say, and he’ll miss a few weeks. Another Baltimore injury to its maligned defense. pic.twitter.com/01b3RfElpV
The Chicago Bears are well-positioned to take advantage.
After a high-stakes rematch against Washington out of the bye week, they face the Saints, Bengals, Ravens, and Giants in succession. It isn’t crazy to think the Chicago Bears should win three of those four, especially with the recent injury updates. They will be healthier themselves with Kyler Gordon, T.J. Edwards, Darnell Wright, and Jaylon Johnson all expected to return during that stretch. If the Bears believe they can be a winning team, this is something they must capitalize on.
After all, their schedule gets way tougher after that with the Vikings, Steelers, Eagles, Packers, Lions, and 49ers looming in November and December. Not to mention a tough Browns team. If Chicago enters that stretch without a winning record, they are likely doomed.
Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws the ball during the second quarter against Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
If there is one thing we’ve learned about Ben Johnson through the first month as Chicago Bears head coach, it’s that nothing escapes his notice. If things aren’t going according to his expectations, people will hear about it. Mind you, he doesn’t throw around accusations randomly. He holds himself accountable when things go wrong. However, he has the right to point out when players aren’t doing their jobs. Right now, he’s not happy with the state of the offense. While it’s been scoring 21-24 points a game, the process and execution has been sloppy.
Nowhere is that clearer than in the running game, where they continue to rank among the NFL’s worst. Johnson didn’t hide his feelings on the matter. He feels certain people aren’t doing enough to help the operation.
“I don’t feel like everybody on offense yet is pulling their weight, and that’s myself included. There’s a number of things from yesterday’s game that I have to do a better job of. There’s a couple calls I was getting in late. There’s a couple things that the coaching staff, myself, we could have coached up better to give us a better chance there.
“When you look at it as a whole, it was just a mess, man. I’m just not proud of what we put on tape. I think it’s a reflection of myself. I always take it personally. I saw us getting better the first three weeks in a lot of ways on offense and then this was just a little bit of a step back for us.”
Here is where it gets interesting.
During the game in Las Vegas, it was evident the Bears benched left tackle Braxton Jones. No statement was made as to why. Some wondered if he was hurt, but Jones still came in for field goal and extra point duties. Something happened to compel the decision. Johnson was asked what the plans on the left side were moving forward. His answer was carefully worded, with zero indication that Jones would resume the role.
“Yeah, I think we need to look at all four games so far as a whole, and we’ll get a good feel here over the next few days where we’re at schematically. What are we doing well? What aren’t we doing well? And I think we’ll really have a good grasp of what we need to do going forward. So it’s too early for me to tell you that, Jason, to be honest with you. I feel like we’ve got to go through this process and just figure out what’s best for us and our team going forward here. I’ve got a lot of faith in the guys in that room. We’ve got some talented individuals, and I really believe in the coaching staff in that room as well, that we’re only scratching the surface of what we’re capable of.”
Ben Johnson likely has two paths he can take.
The simplest option is to leave Theo Benedet at left tackle in place of Jones and have Darnell Wright return to right tackle once he has recovered from his elbow injury. However, some believe Ben Johnson may try something bolder. It would involve moving Wright to left tackle, opening the door for 2nd round pick Ozzy Trapilo to take over the right side, which is his natural position. It would get the Bears’ two most talented tackles on the field together. Trapilo played well in his debut against the Raiders on Sunday. The obvious risk is moving Wright to a spot he’s unfamiliar with after two years strictly as a right tackle.
Still, if the Bears were going to try something like this, the bye week is their best chance. Answers will likely emerge at some point next week when they return to practice.
