When Ben Johnson declared this offseason that he wanted to have the highest-scoring offense in NFL history, he meant it. And when the Bears beat the Panthers 59-37 in Week 1, it looked like he might need it, too. The Bears made the playoffs in 2025 thanks to Caleb Williams' huge leap, yes, but they also made it in spite of a defense that ranked 29th in yards per play allowed.
Chicago survived its defensive weaknesses by leading the league in turnovers forced, but it wasn't exactly a sustainable way to win. The Bears went 11-6 last year but were 2-6 when they didn't force multiple turnovers. Their season ultimately came to an end when they didn't force a single turnover in the divisional round against the Rams.
The main goal of the 2025 season — Johnson's first in the Windy City — was to repair Williams and repair the offense, and he did both magnificently. Anything beyond that was icing on the cake, and the Bears got plenty of icing with their first playoff trip since the 2020 season and their first playoff win since the 2010 season. The expectations were rightfully raised as we entered 2026.
That's why Johnson made his "highest-scoring offense ever" comment. He even knew who owned the record (the 2013 Broncos) and how many points they averaged (37.9). That was the part of the quote that drew attention.
The rest of the quote is what fueled Thursday's blockbuster trade for Jeffery Simmons. The 2026 Bears have been good. They're 5-2 despite Williams having missed three games (and part of a fourth).
They've been really good — a top-five/top-10ish unit offensively — with Williams on the field. But the defense has been a thorn in the side of this team becoming elite. Chicago ranks dead last in yards per play and explosive play rate allowed.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
