The Chicago Bears’ head coach, Ben Johnson, experienced a challenging debut on September 11, 2023, as his team fell to the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 at Soldier Field. This loss highlighted issues across all areas of the team, from offense to defense to special teams, underscoring the difficulties faced by a rookie coach in the National Football League.
As the game unfolded, it became clear that the Bears struggled to maintain their early momentum. Johnson, who had been optimistic about his coaching staff’s ability to adapt, witnessed a rapid decline in performance during the fourth quarter. In a span of just 12 minutes, the Bears went from potentially leading by 14 points with a field goal to trailing by 10, prompting a chorus of boos from the home crowd. “I think that’s the beauty of this city,” Johnson reflected on Tuesday. “They love their sports. I embrace it… they’re desperate for a winner.”
Significant factors contributed to the Bears’ disappointing performance. The team was penalized 12 times—more than any game under former coach Matt Eberflus—resulting in a loss of 127 yards. These infractions included four false starts and one illegal shift, undermining the team’s focus on clean pre-snap operations. Wide receiver Rome Odunze emphasized the impact of these mistakes, stating, “That’s just stuff that you can’t do if you want to have success in this league.”
The Vikings, led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, capitalized on their opportunity. After a lackluster third quarter, where McCarthy recorded a passer rating of just 16.7, he rebounded to achieve a remarkable 149.5 rating in the fourth. This performance made him the first quarterback since 1985 to overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut. The Vikings’ rushing strategy also shifted dramatically, as they transitioned from 41 yards on 13 carries in the first three quarters to 79 yards on the same number of attempts in the fourth. Safety Jaquan Brisker noted, “They adjusted by running the ball well.”
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams faced his own challenges. His passer rating declined significantly as the game progressed, dropping from 92.6 in the first quarter to just 39.8 by the fourth. He was sacked twice during a critical stretch when the Bears were seeking to close the gap. Johnson observed that the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, employed fewer blitzes than anticipated, allowing McCarthy to exploit opportunities in short-yardage situations.
The Bears’ early success on their scripted opening drive, which culminated in a touchdown, stood in stark contrast to their struggles later in the game. As the clock wound down, a critical mistake by kicker Cairo Santos further complicated the situation. Santos failed to execute a kickoff through the end zone as instructed, giving the Vikings a chance to return the ball and limiting the Bears’ ability to stop the clock effectively. In hindsight, Johnson admitted he should have instructed Santos to kick out of bounds, which would have provided the Bears with an additional timeout.
Johnson also acknowledged a misstep during a third-quarter challenge regarding a potential fumble by tight end T.J. Hockenson. He expressed regret for not heeding the advice of his assistants, saying, “I got influenced a little bit for the first time with the people around me. I’ve just got to stay true to the process.”
As Johnson reflects on his inaugural game, the lessons learned will be vital for the Bears as they look to improve in upcoming matches. The combination of penalties, missed opportunities, and late-game adjustments will likely be focal points for the coaching staff as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
