‘Ben (Johnson) has the league on alert’

The Chicago Bears face their toughest test of the season later today when they take on the 2024 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams are (8-3), but the general narrative surrounding each team couldn’t be more different. Philly is considered one of the best teams in the NFC and a legit threat to get to their fourth Super Bowl in the last nine years, while many feel the jury is still out on the Bears and are waiting for them to drop down the standings.

And that’s fair.

The Eagles are coming off a loss, and there may be some burgeoning drama in their locker room, but this is still one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.

While the Bears have been bad for so long that it’s strange for many to see them doing so well, and even stranger to hear things like “Both of these teams are chasing the first-place Bears,” said about the Packers and Lions during the Thanksgiving broadcast.

As evidenced by our latest Reacts poll, our fans believe in the Bears, with 99% of us confident that they’re headed in the right direction, and if you ask me, it’s all because of head coach Ben Johnson.

Johnson has made a gigantic impact on the franchise, and while some national pundits still doubt them and plenty of sports fans refuse to buy in, other franchises see what’s happening in Chicago.

“They are very, very, very highly regarded around the league right now,” NFL Network Senior National Reporter Stacy Dales said on a recent WSCR segment. “The conversations I’m having, Ben (Johnson) has the league on alert, and it’s palpable around the NFL.”

I can’t imagine that, when the Bears vs. Eagles game was announced for Black Friday, many NFL fans expected it to be between two first-place teams. But here we are.

Win or lose, my confidence in the franchise won’t change, and that’s all due to my belief in Ben Johnson.