After one other inconceivable comeback win, the Chicago Bears have been gathered of their locker room, ready for head coach Ben Johnson to talk, when he let loose a guttural scream. “F— the Packers, man,” Johnson mentioned. “F— them!”
The gamers roared with laughter and glee. Chicago had simply crushed the Inexperienced Bay Packers, its hated rival, within the wild card spherical of the NFL playoffs — the Bears’ first playoff win in 15 years.
As soon as Johnson calmed down, he addressed the workforce. “You search for at halftime, on this sport, and it’s 21-3,” he mentioned. “No f—ing panic … constructed for stress. That’s you guys!”
The Chicago Bears haven’t had this a lot swagger in a very long time, perhaps not for the reason that Eighties, once they have been the Monsters of the Halfway. Since 2011, the Bears have had extra last-place finishes of their division (seven) than playoff berths (three). On one of many few events they did make the playoffs, their season ended on a missed kick that was so heartbreaking it was given its personal moniker: the double doink.
This yr, the Bears have reversed roles. They’ve mounted a number of odds-defying comeback wins which have left their opponents devastated. They’ve received seven video games — together with final week’s win over the Packers — with a game-winning drive within the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation. Now, a brand new moniker has been coined: the Cardiac Bears. Native journalists have gone so far as to interview precise cardiac specialists, asking how Bears video games may have an effect on followers’ hearts.
On Sunday, within the divisional spherical, the Bears will face their hardest take a look at but within the Los Angeles Rams, a workforce that boasts an elite head coach (Sean McVay), an MVP candidate at quarterback (Matthew Stafford) and a younger protection with a vicious go rush. The Rams have been perennial contenders in recent times, whereas the Bears are … new to the scene.
The Bears have a rookie head coach in Johnson, the previous Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, who’s thought of a wunderkind; a second-year quarterback in Caleb Williams; and two rookie pass-catchers who’ve emerged as Williams’ high targets, Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III.
All season, this group confronted some lengthy odds collectively. These seven video games the Bears received late? In every occasion, Chicago’s “win chance” dipped decrease than 25% in some unspecified time in the future within the fourth quarter, based on ESPN Analytics, earlier than the Bears made their transfer.
“There’s a perception with this workforce that reveals up every week,” Johnson mentioned this week. “It’s type of who we’re right here at this level.”
A serious catalyst for the comebacks has been Williams, the Bears’ quarterback. Chicago drafted him No. 1 total in 2024 out of USC, the place he had gained a status for his playground-like capability to improvise performs. Final season, beneath a earlier teaching regime, Williams largely struggled and was sacked 68 occasions, the third-most in a single yr in NFL historical past.
The Bears then employed Johnson as head coach, and beneath his tutelage, Williams has flourished. Regardless of the occasional hiccup, Williams appears to be enjoying with extra poise, extra objective — particularly within the fourth quarter, when the sport is on the road. Throughout the common season, Williams recorded his highest variety of passing yards (1,096), most touchdowns (10) and most speeding yards (129) within the sport’s closing body. He additionally posted a a lot increased quarterback ranking in conditions the place his workforce was shedding (97.8) than when it was forward (79.8).
All of these comebacks helped the Bears go 11-6 and win the NFC North. That earned them a house sport final week, within the wild card spherical, in opposition to the Packers. The primary playoff sport for Williams and Johnson, Chicago was shedding 21-3 at halftime, 21-6 coming into the fourth quarter, after which … the Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 the remainder of the best way. In that quarter alone, Williams threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns and made plenty of clutch performs.
With lower than six minutes to go, the Bears have been trailing by 11 factors and dealing with a fourth-and-8 scenario in their very own territory. In the event that they did not convert, their season would have doubtless been over. As an alternative, Williams rolled to his left, leaped within the air and hurled the ball downfield, multi function movement — and accomplished a 27-yard go. It wasn’t a high-percentage go. However for Williams and these Bears, it labored. Afterward, many followers acknowledged that as Williams jumped, he’d contorted his physique in such a manner that he resembled Michael Jordan’s “Jumpman” Nike brand. The pose can be immortalized in a statue of Jordan on the Chicago Bulls’ United Heart.
Now, can the Bears beat the Rams and proceed this run? Is one of these play sustainable for one more week? One other two? Past this season? Chicago hasn’t secured back-to-back playoff berths for the reason that 2005 and 2006 seasons. At this level, it is perhaps troublesome to say, no less than earlier than we see the fourth quarter play out Sunday evening. If Johnson, Williams and the remainder of the Bears have proved something this season, it is perhaps unwise to depend them out till then.
