Let me add this one to overreaction Monday takes about the Chicago Bears’ 59-37 curb-stomping of the Carolina Panthers in Week 1:
What we just saw on Sunday has me ready to say Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are about to orchestrate the greatest offensive season this franchise has ever seen.
Was it just because the Panthers’ defense is really bad? Is it just a one-week wonder? Is that kind of scoring sustainable, especially if the defense is going to give up 30 points a game?
Just stop. You’re asking
the wrong questions.
“Should we start fitting Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams for their gold jackets?” “Should we make D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai the two highest-paid running backs in the league?” Now that’s what I’m talking about.
Okay, seriously though, wow.
Williams, who barely played at all in the preseason, looked every bit like a third-year quarterback about to destroy the entire league. No completion percentage concerns in this one, as he hit on 21 of his 29 pass attempts (72.4%) for 269 yards and two scores. Throw in the two rushing touchdowns, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what his grades come out to this week. We could be looking at the highest marks of his career for a single game.
The Bears’ run game, meanwhile, was an absolute monstrosity. Swift (130 yards, 3 TDs) and Monangai (100 yards and a TD, including a 61-yarder) could not be stopped, combining with Williams to give Chicago six rushing touchdowns on the day.
Rome Odunze sonned a guy after we wondered how effective he was going to be while battling injury.
Cole Kmet, the lesser-heralded of the Bears’ two tight ends, stole the show with an insane touchdown grab. (Also, what a f—g throw by Williams.)
Aside from Luther Burden’s early fumble (which he bounced back from) and some penalties, you couldn’t ask for a whole lot more from this unit.
The great part: it’s been building toward this ever since Johnson became the head coach here. From the tenacity of the run game to Williams’ development as a passer, we saw the vision even as early as last season. Now, the vision is here, and it looks incredible.
From the roster to the mentality, this offense is built to beat defenses into submission and solve problems. You have to commit to full 60 minutes of stopping the run every time you play them, for one thing, and you still might not stop them even if you do. And if Williams is going to rip zone coverage to shreds and punish aggressive pass rushes with his legs like this? The best you can do is slow a machine like that down. The only thing that can stop an offense on that level of efficiency is itself.
What’s more: we already know this is what Johnson does. This is his track record—explosive, physical offense. Now, he has the talent to take it to a level even he hasn’t yet reached with Williams rounding into a possible MVP-level player right before our eyes. Johnson said he wanted to have the highest-scoring offense ever, and his team just emphatically announced it does, too.
Sure, it’s only one game. The NFL is a fickle league, and things can change from week to week.
But I think we can be sure of this: Johnson, Williams, and Co. have a chance to rewrite every offensive record this franchise has—and not just because they’ve been offensively challenged for so many years.
No. This is the real thing.
