Ben Johnson’s Run-first Plan Powers Bears’ Winning Start

WHO:

NBC Sports - Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles and his staff for choosing to run the ball against the Falcons.

NBC Sports - Johnson said Tampa Bay’s offensive line was “really good,” its scheme had “a lot of variety,” and its backs were “phenomenal.”

chicagobears.com - Quarterback Caleb Williams credited the Bears defense, offensive line, wide receivers and teammates for the team’s strong starts.

chicagobears.com - Williams said newly acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was “the best defensive tackle the past couple of years; if not No. 1, then No. 2.”

chicagobears.com - Running back D’Andre Swift scored three touchdowns against Seattle; Bears coach Ben Johnson praised Swift’s vision and ability to find the end zone.

WHAT:

NBC Sports - Tampa Bay beat Atlanta without completing a pass, the first NFL team to finish a game with zero completions in more than half a century.

NBC Sports - The Buccaneers had 326 more rushing yards than passing yards against Atlanta. Tampa Bay averaged 168.6 rushing yards per game, ranking first in the NFL; Chicago averaged 150.8, ranking second.

NBC Sports - Johnson said Tampa Bay averaged 230 rushing yards per game over its previous four games and won three of those four.

chicagobears.com - Chicago won three straight games against the Falcons, Patriots and Seahawks without trailing. The Bears scored on their opening drive in all three and led 14-0, 10-0 and 7-0 after the first quarter.

chicagobears.com - Against Seattle, Chicago opened with a 17-play, 80-yard drive lasting 8:32, capped by Williams’ 1-yard touchdown pass to Luther Burden III. Williams completed 8 of 10 passes for 58 yards on the drive.

chicagobears.com - In the three wins, Chicago scored 31, 30 and 34 points. Burden caught 19 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns; Colston Loveland had 20 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns; Rome Odunze caught 11 passes for 195 yards.

chicagobears.com - Williams completed 73.8% of his passes for 860 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 111.3 passer rating during the three-game winning streak.

chicagobears.com - Chicago averaged 196.2 rushing yards in its first four contests and 105.3 over its next four. Johnson said improving the running game was a priority.

chicagobears.com - Simmons recorded six tackles, 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and one pass breakup in his Bears debut against Seattle.

chicagobears.com - Defensive tackle Kentavius Street was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury; Johnson said left tackle Braxton Jones had surgery for a knee injury.

chicagobears.com - Swift scored on runs of 1, 5 and 5 yards, reached 10 rushing touchdowns, and became the first Bear with 10 rushing touchdowns in the first eight games of a season since 1956.

chicagobears.com - Swift became the first Bears rusher with three touchdowns in one half since Walter Payton in 1977. Chicago scored touchdowns in 7 of 8 goal-to-go situations (87.5%) in its last three games, compared with 4 of 11 (36.4%) in its previous four.

Newsweek - Johnson praised Tampa Bay’s rushing attack after the Buccaneers’ 16-0 win over Atlanta.

WHERE:

chicagobears.com - Chicago’s opening drive against Seattle followed the defense’s three-and-out, highlighted by Cam Lewis’s hit on receiver Tory Horton.

chicagobears.com - Simmons joined Chicago in a trade with the Tennessee Titans and made his Bears debut in Seattle.

chicagobears.com - Johnson spoke to reporters at Halas Hall; Chicago was preparing to host Tampa Bay.

WHY:

NBC Sports - Johnson said Tampa Bay chose to run because of rainy conditions and had the personnel to execute that approach.

chicagobears.com - Williams said checkdowns and short completions help sustain drives when deeper passes are unavailable.

chicagobears.com - Johnson said Williams’s preparation, confidence and decisiveness helped him play faster and distribute the ball more effectively.

HOW:

chicagobears.com - Williams described Chicago’s method as taking available checkdowns, gaining short yardage, staying on track and taking explosive plays when they appear.

chicagobears.com - Johnson said Chicago emphasizes touchdowns rather than field goals near the goal line; he credited Swift and the offensive line with finishing runs and pushing the pile.

Chicago rides a three-game winning streak, scoring at least 30 points each time without trailing. D’Andre Swift scored three touchdowns against Seattle, reaching 10 rushing scores this season. Coach Ben Johnson praised Tampa Bay’s run-heavy approach after its win without completing a pass.