Chicago still earned the NFC’s No. 2 seed, but their coach made one thing clear: slow starts will get punished in the playoffs.
The Chicago Bears didn’t lose much in the standings on Sunday — but they may have learned something they can’t afford to ignore. After a 19–16 Week 18 defeat to the Detroit Lions, head coach Ben Johnson delivered a pointed message about his offense’s lack of urgency, saying the unit cannot keep putting itself in an early hole as the postseason begins.
“We can’t dig ourselves in a hole like that,” Johnson said after the game, adding he was “not pleased” with the offense’s execution.
The frustration wasn’t about a single play call or a freak bounce. It was about the kind of start that can quietly end a playoff run: the Bears went scoreless for three straight quarters before finally finding rhythm late. Johnson indicated the plan was relatively straightforward — which made the lack of early execution even harder to accept. ESPN’s postgame report captured the blunt tone in the locker room and how quickly Johnson wants the group to respond. (Read ESPN’s recap of Johnson’s comments.)
A flat start, a familiar problem
Chicago’s offense struggled to generate points until the final quarter, a stretch that left little margin for error. The Bears did rally late, but the comeback fell short when Detroit closed the door with a last-second field goal. Reuters’ game report summed up the swing: Chicago made it a one-score game late, yet Detroit had just enough composure to finish. (Full Reuters game story.)
What Johnson is really warning about:
- Urgency from the opening drive — not “turning it on” late.
- Clean execution of a simple plan, especially early.
- No self-inflicted holes that force desperate fourth-quarter football.
Caleb Williams didn’t argue — he owned it
Quarterback Caleb Williams echoed the coach’s assessment, describing the team as “flat” and saying the Bears have to find urgency from the jump. That matters because this isn’t only a coaching complaint — it’s a signal that the locker room understands what’s at stake. In January, a slow start doesn’t just cost momentum. It can cost a season.
The defense steadied — but it couldn’t carry the whole game
The Bears’ defense showed more resistance than it had a week earlier, when Chicago was tagged for 42 points by the 49ers in Week 17. Against Detroit, the unit tightened in the red zone and generally kept the Lions from turning drives into touchdowns. But when the offense is stuck in neutral for most of the afternoon, “better” isn’t always enough.
Why Chicago still landed the No. 2 seed
The loss didn’t derail Chicago’s playoff position. Thanks to Philadelphia’s Week 18 loss to Washington, the Bears still secured the NFC’s No. 2 seed, giving them home-field advantage — and a clear runway to reset the offense’s timing and tempo.
Next: the Packers — again
The warning comes with a deadline. Chicago’s next game is not a warm-up — it’s a rivalry showdown with the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round. It’s also the third meeting between the teams this season, which means familiarity will be high and mistakes will be amplified.
Johnson’s message is simple: the Bears can’t wait three quarters to play like a contender. The postseason doesn’t reward late awakenings — it rewards teams that arrive locked in from the first snap.
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