Bears' Offense Thrives Under Johnson Regardless Of Quarterback
The Chicago Bears improved to 3-1 this season after defeating the New York Jets 23-12, winning with a third different starting quarterback in four games. The result has fueled a growing argument that head coach Ben Johnson, not any individual passer, is the driving force behind Chicago's early success.
With Caleb Williams sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a right hamstring injury, backup Tyson Bagent threw for 268 yards while second-year running back Kyle Monangai set a career high with 30 carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Chicago finished with 492 total yards, including 232 rushing yards, and set a franchise record with 34 first downs. The Bears did not punt in the game, a first for the franchise since 2014. New York managed only 157 yards, seven first downs and went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions, while Chicago controlled the ball for nearly 43 minutes. international ice hockey betting odds
Speaking on Monday's edition of "The Herd," analyst Colin Cowherd cited the performance as further evidence that Johnson, not quarterback personnel, defines the Bears' identity. "It is a quarterback-first league, but the guy who builds the culture is the coach," Cowherd said. "I think we've discovered in the last two weeks, as gifted as Caleb Williams is, the centerpiece of the Bears is Ben Johnson." He noted that Sunday marked the fifth time under Johnson that Chicago has surpassed 220 rushing yards in a game, calling the rushing volume uncommon in the modern NFL.
Cowherd pointed to Chicago's Week 3 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, a 27-7 result in which 38-year-old Case Keenum passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns, as additional support for his theory. He argued that Johnson has produced winning performances across three different quarterbacks - Keenum, Bagent and Williams - without a drop-off in offensive execution, likening Johnson's influence to that of Rams coach Sean McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, both of whom reached Super Bowls with multiple different starting quarterbacks. Cowherd also credited Jaguars coach Liam Coen for elevating Trevor Lawrence after departing Tampa Bay, framing all three as coaches whose offensive systems transcend personnel changes.
The Bears' next test will show whether the formula holds as Williams works toward a return from his hamstring injury, with Chicago's rushing attack and Johnson's offensive structure likely to remain central to the team's approach regardless of who starts at quarterback.
