Ben Johnson critiques Bears’ practice habits after 52-21 loss, says team isn’t championship-caliber

Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson said after Sunday’s 52-21 loss to the Detroit Lions that the team’s practice habits have not reflected a championship-caliber program. “I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship-caliber team,” Johnson said. “We should be going to the football, finishing hard. We talk about it all the time with the offensive players that our fundamentals, our finish and our technique, they need to show up in walk-through, they need to show up on the practice field. That’s how it shows up on game day. Simple things of how do we properly block? How do we catch the ball? How do we block after the catch? Ball security and things like that. It’s the little things that you learn in youth league football that even at this level, they make a huge difference.”

Chicago opened the season with a spark, taking a lead over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 and entering the fourth quarter with momentum before a wild rally by Minnesota erased the deficit and produced a 27-24 victory. In the latest setback, Chicago’s defense and offense were overwhelmed, and the Bears have allowed 73 points over the past five quarters. The Bears were routed in a homecoming game that underscored the gap Johnson says needs to be closed.

The coach added that the critique extends beyond a single unit and that fundamentals must be visible in every phase of practice. “The little things matter the most,” he said. “We should be going to the football, finishing hard, and showing up with proper blocking, catch finishes, ball security and technique.”

Chicago’s immediate schedule does not offer relief. The Bears host the Dallas Cowboys, who edged the New York Giants 40-37 in overtime after a defeat to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The matchup looms as a stern test for a team trying to establish identity after a turbulent start to the season. The Cowboys’ win over the Giants followed a tight loss to the Eagles, providing a reminder that Chicago will face one of the league’s most complete offenses in Week 2.

Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown catch against the Bears in Detroit, on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. The result further illustrated the difficulties Chicago faced with Detroit’s execution on offense and the need for sharper fundamentals across the roster. []

The Associated Press contributed to this report.