The Chicago Bears dominated the New York Jets like Michael Jordan playing pick-up ball against a toddler. It was impressive to watch. The numbers don’t even seem real. The Bears had more first downs than the Jets ran plays. The Jets didn’t convert one third down. The Bears dominated them on both sides of the ball. They had the ball more than twice as long as the Jets. The Bears dominated them on both sides of the ball, far more than the score would suggest.
And look, we can talk about the play of
the offensive line. We can talk about Tyson Bagent’s strong performance. We can talk about Dayo Odeyingbo’s resurgence. But we really need to talk about the coaching.
One day, Ben Johnson will be considered the best coach in the NFL. If we’re trying to be objective, he probably isn’t there yet. He’s closer to being the best offensive play caller in the league. That’s a title he may have by the end of the year (if he doesn’t have it already). But to be the best coach in the NFL, you need years of success. That’s not just a title you earn after 23 NFL games.
But until that day comes, let’s talk about what the Bears do have, and that’s an absolutely lethal playcalling duo on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Ben Johnson’s playcalling has been incredible. But he’s doing it with an elite offensive line and excellent skill position players, albeit with a backup quarterback. Heading into the year, many of us thought more than half of Dennis Allen’s starting defense were backup-quality players.
Dennis Allen has been a magician. He has his defense playing incredibly well. They are, by far, the best defensive team in the league on third downs. They are getting more pressure on opposing QBs than anyone thought was possible. And their rookies in the secondary are keeping that unit together.
With these two coaches sitting atop this coaching staff, the argument can be made that they are the best duo in the NFL. If this continues, it won’t even be an argument.
Right now, there’s only a handful of combinations you can even put in the Johnson/Allen class. There’s obviously Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo with the Chiefs. You have to consider Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores in Minnesota. Sean McVay and Chris Shula have to be considered a pretty damn good combo with the Rams. Liam Coen and Anthony Campanile are doing great things in Jacksonville. The only other combo, I think, that you can even possibly consider is Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris in San Francisco.
That’s six pairings that are probably atop the list. I think the way the Vikings offense looks right now, you have to put that duo outside of the top 5, even with Brian Flores doing incredible things with that defense.
There’s a lot more to offense and defense than yards, but there are only two teams in the league that are in the top 5 for yards gained and yards allowed. That’s the LA Rams and the Chicago Bears. The only team that can claim that in points is the San Francisco 49ers. The Bears sit at 8th, but they’ve played the last 9 quarters with a backup QB.
Sean McVay hasn’t lost Matthew Stafford. Raheem Morris has a lot more talent to work with than Dennis Allen.
What the Bears duo is doing is incredible. It is quite simply the best in the league.
The Bears haven’t even hit their stride yet. Caleb Williams will return. Kyler Gordon should be returning soon. Ozzy Trapilo’s return is imminent. The Bears are getting healthier. If they infuse a little more defensive talent into the roster at the trade deadline, this team can be as good as any team in the league.
I will be the first to admit I didn’t see the defense playing at this level, but I still don’t think I’ve assessed the talent on the defense incorrectly. I think what Dennis Allen is doing is that impressive.
We are entering a golden age of Chicago Bears football. Yes, Caleb Williams is a big part of that, but the biggest reason is the coaching. The Bears have the best staff in the league, and when that’s the case, the sky’s the limit.
