Bears coach Ben Johnson rips team after two losses as Week 3 looms
Johnson chastised Chicago's preparation and offense after a 0-2 start, as the Bears face a challenging stretch.
Chicago — Bears head coach Ben Johnson publicly ripped into his team on Wednesday after entering Week 3 of the NFL season with two straight losses, signaling a blunt assessment of the club's readiness to compete this season.
Johnson's comments followed two disappointing results to start the year. The Bears opened with a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, in which Chicago surrendered 21 fourth-quarter points, and then were overwhelmed by the Detroit Lions, who piled up 52 points against Chicago's defense in a Sunday matchup that exposed a shaky unit on both sides of the ball.
"I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team," Johnson said Wednesday. Chicago's offense has struggled this season, with Caleb Williams, the former top draft pick, failing to meet lofty expectations.
Looking ahead, Chicago faces a demanding six-game stretch that includes the New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders.
Chicago has not won a playoff game since 2010 and has not reached the postseason since 2020. The Bears last finished a season with a winning record in 2018, when a 12-4 mark earned a Wild Card berth.
With two losses to begin Johnson's tenure, the coach's public critique underscores the expectations for improvement in a franchise seeking to reclaim relevance in the NFC North.