Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears have defied expectations, climbing to the top of the NFC mountain post-Thanksgiving. Following a gritty Friday win over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and a convenient Rams loss on Sunday, the Bears now sit in the driver’s seat of the conference.

For a franchise and a fanbase starved for success, holding the No. 1 seed in December is usually cause for a parade. But inside Halas Hall, head coach Ben Johnson isn’t ordering confetti. He’s barely acknowledging the standings.

When asked about the team’s current position atop the playoff picture, Johnson didn’t mince words. “It doesn’t mean anything,” Johnson said Monday. “There are five games left, so we’ve got a long way to go, and we have not been guaranteed a spot in the tournament yet. We have to earn that.”

Ben Johnson sets a culture of earned success

Ben Johnson’s dismissal of the standings isn’t just coach-speak; it’s a calculated psychological move for a young roster finding its footing. By stating “it doesn’t mean anything,” Johnson is effectively shielding his locker room from the “poison” of praise.

The message is clear: The tournament hasn’t started, and a Week 14 crown is imaginary.

“The only way you can earn that right is by finding a way to win the next game,” Johnson added. “So that’s where our sole focus is.”

This approach has paid dividends. The Bears have rattled off five consecutive wins and taken nine of their last ten. By keeping the focus on the micro—winning the next rep, the next quarter, the next game— Ben Johnson has insulated his squad from the macro pressure of being the “team to beat.”

A ground game that protects the quarterback

Part of the reason Ben Johnson can afford to be so measured is that his team has found a legitimate identity, and it doesn’t rely solely on the right arm of his quarterback.

After sputtering early in the season, the Bears’ rushing attack has morphed into a juggernaut. Against a stout Eagles front, Chicago rolled up 281 yards on the ground. The emergence of the D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai tandem has given Johnson a reliable engine for his offense.

Both backs eclipsed 125 yards and scored a touchdown against Philadelphia, a feat no Bears duo has accomplished since the legendary 1985 pairing of Walter Payton and Matt Suhey. This dominance on the ground allows Johnson to control the clock, protect his defense, and most importantly, alleviate the pressure on Caleb Williams.

How Ben Johnson is developing Caleb Williams

Perhaps the most fascinating storyline of this No. 1 seed run is the development of Caleb Williams. The second-year signal-caller is enduring a season defined by extreme volatility.

Williams has moments of brilliance that scream “franchise quarterback,” followed immediately by puzzling inaccuracy. He is currently on pace to become the first quarterback since 1975 to rank last in completion percentage while leading a No. 1 seed.

The Rivalry Week Test

The test of Johnson’s “one week at a time” philosophy arrives immediately. The Bears are heading into a clash with their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers.

For Johnson, the focus remains strictly on the grass, not the playoff bracket.

“It’s a big week. We know how important this rivalry is,” Johnson said. “Two of the most winning franchises in the NFL.”

By refusing to acknowledge the No. 1 seed as an accomplishment, Ben Johnson has positioned the Bears not as the hunted, but as a team that is still hunting. They aren’t defending a top spot; in their minds, they are still trying to earn a spot in the tournament. And that mindset might just be dangerous enough to keep them there.

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