Ben Johnson Owns Up to Bears’ Chaos in Heartbreaking 49ers Loss
If you are a Chicago fan, you probably spent Sunday evening staring blankly at your ceiling fan, wondering how exactly the laws of physics and time conspired against you in those final few seconds. The Bears didn’t just lose to the San Francisco 49ers; they practically invented a new, heart-stopping way to fumble a potential victory. And at the center of this chaotic storm? Head coach Ben Johnson.
In a game that felt more like a glitched-out Madden match than a Week 17 NFL showdown, the Bears fell 42-38. But it wasn’t just the score that hurt—it was the confusion. With the clock ticking down and the game on the line, the offense looked like they were trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube rather than snap a football. And to his credit (or perhaps his detriment), Johnson is stepping right into the line of fire.
The Final Play That Went Nowhere
Let’s set the scene: The Bears are down four. There are four seconds left. They are on the 2-yard line. This is the stuff legends are made of. You expect a crisp play, a decisive throw, maybe a miracle catch. Instead, we got a scramble drill that looked doomed from the start.
Caleb Williams, who had been fighting for his life all game, was forced to roll left immediately because the protection broke down. He was looking for an open man, but the 49ers had the end zone locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Williams eventually heaved an underthrown ball toward Jahdae Walker, but it wasn’t to be. Game over.
In the postgame presser, Johnson didn’t try to spin it. He admitted that the chaos was his fault. “We didn’t quite get aligned in the formation we wanted to,” Johnson confessed. “It’s on me. I didn’t get him the call fast enough.”
It is a brutal admission. In the NFL, seconds are a currency you can’t afford to waste, and Johnson essentially admitted he bankrupted the offense right when they needed to cash in. Williams was left trying to “piecemeal” a play together while the defense was already eating his lunch.
That Hook-and-Ladder Call: Genius or Madness?
Before the final flop, there was the play that set it all up—or arguably, the play that doomed them. Two snaps prior, Johnson dug deep into his bag of tricks and pulled out a hook-and-ladder.
Colston Loveland caught a short pass, lateraled it to D’Andre Swift, and Swift barreled down to the 2-yard line. Exciting? Absolutely. Smart? That’s debatable. Swift didn’t get out of bounds, meaning the clock kept running. The Bears had to panic-spike the ball with just four seconds left, leaving them only one shot at the end zone.
If Swift gets out, maybe they have time for two or three plays. Instead, they backed themselves into a corner. Yet, Johnson isn’t backing down from the call. “I’m not gonna call a play that I don’t fully believe in,” Johnson said, doubling down on his aggressive style. “If we go down, we’re gonna go down swinging.”
You have to respect the guts, even if the execution makes you want to pull your hair out. Johnson trusts his guys to execute complex plays in high-pressure situations. Sometimes it looks like genius; this week, it looked like a disaster.
From Worst to First: The Johnson Effect
Despite the Week 17 heartbreak, let’s zoom out for a second. The fact that we are even talking about the Bears nearly beating the 49ers in a shootout is a testament to what Johnson has built in Chicago.
Former NFL star Michael Strahan isn’t shy about it either, naming Johnson his favorite for Coach of the Year. Strahan pointed out the obvious: Chicago went from a laughingstock to the NFC North champions under Johnson. Meanwhile, his old team, the Detroit Lions, hasn’t looked quite the same without him calling the shots.
The culture has shifted. The Bears aren’t just participating; they are contending. Even with questionable clock management, the offense is lightyears ahead of where it used to be. Johnson has turned Caleb Williams into a legitimate threat, and the team is resilient.
No Rest for the Weary in Week 18
So, do the Bears pack it in and rest for the playoffs? Absolutely not. Johnson made it clear that despite locking up the division, they aren’t treating Week 18 against the Lions as a bye week.
“We’re playing to win this week,” Johnson stated.
There is still seeding to fight for. Depending on how the Eagles play, the Bears could secure the No. 2 seed, guaranteeing home-field advantage for two rounds. That is huge. Plus, you know Johnson wants to stick it to his former employer one more time before the postseason really heats up.
Sunday stung. It was messy, chaotic, and frustrating. But if Johnson stays true to his word, the Bears are going to keep swinging until the very end. Let’s just hope next time, they swing a little faster so they can actually get the play off.
