Bears Keep Playoff Hopes Alive, But Remains a Long Shot.
The Chicago Bears are on the cusp of securing a spot in the playoffs with their 6-3 record, but they still have a long way to go before they can officially claim a postseason berth. Sitting in third place in the NFC North, behind only the 7-2 Detroit Lions and 8-1 Green Bay Packers, Chicago is holding onto seventh seed in the conference.
Coach Ben Johnson acknowledged the urgency of their situation while highlighting their growth as a team. "We understand the urgency that's at hand," he said after Monday's 24-20 win over the Giants. "We know where we are in the NFC right now, but the biggest thing and the message to the team is that we're a 6-3 team that's looking to get to 7-3."
Johnson also praised his right tackle Darnell Wright for his outstanding performance against the Giants. The Bears' quarterback was tested by Brian Burns on several occasions, but Wright's strong play prevented any major damage.
The loss of Jaxson Dart, a key player from the opposing team, is attributed to a mix of both bad calls and a less effective offense in terms of handling running plays. Johnson said that "he hurt us more on the designed runs as opposed to necessarily in the passing game."
Additionally, he critiqued his own play-calling during the loss against the Giants. Specifically, Johnson questioned why a punt was made at fourth-and-eight with 10:45 remaining in the game.
"We're all in this together," he said. "I want those guys to understand that I take a lot of ownership in what we put on tape as do they. It's really important they all understand we're all in the same boat."
With their season dwindling, Chicago will need to continue demonstrating improvement and cohesion if they are going to secure an elusive playoff spot.
The Chicago Bears are on the cusp of securing a spot in the playoffs with their 6-3 record, but they still have a long way to go before they can officially claim a postseason berth. Sitting in third place in the NFC North, behind only the 7-2 Detroit Lions and 8-1 Green Bay Packers, Chicago is holding onto seventh seed in the conference.
Coach Ben Johnson acknowledged the urgency of their situation while highlighting their growth as a team. "We understand the urgency that's at hand," he said after Monday's 24-20 win over the Giants. "We know where we are in the NFC right now, but the biggest thing and the message to the team is that we're a 6-3 team that's looking to get to 7-3."
Johnson also praised his right tackle Darnell Wright for his outstanding performance against the Giants. The Bears' quarterback was tested by Brian Burns on several occasions, but Wright's strong play prevented any major damage.
The loss of Jaxson Dart, a key player from the opposing team, is attributed to a mix of both bad calls and a less effective offense in terms of handling running plays. Johnson said that "he hurt us more on the designed runs as opposed to necessarily in the passing game."
Additionally, he critiqued his own play-calling during the loss against the Giants. Specifically, Johnson questioned why a punt was made at fourth-and-eight with 10:45 remaining in the game.
"We're all in this together," he said. "I want those guys to understand that I take a lot of ownership in what we put on tape as do they. It's really important they all understand we're all in the same boat."
With their season dwindling, Chicago will need to continue demonstrating improvement and cohesion if they are going to secure an elusive playoff spot.
they still got a long way 2 go b4 they can claim that 7th seed in the conf... coach johnson says they r a 6-3 team tryin 2 get 2 7-3 but theres a lot of ground 2 cover 
meanwhile, its all about cohesion 4 them at this point... dont wanna be that team whos 1 game away frm playoffs only 2 fall apart 
... like 4 games 
behind those Lions and Packers. Its gonna be tough for the Bears to make a comeback 
, but they still got this 
and keep winning 3-4 more games 
that's all they need 
. The O-line play from Wright was huge btw 
they're doing so well, but it's getting intense for them. They gotta keep pushing thru 
that punt call tho 
anyways, i got faith in them 
I'm not convinced about this 6-3 record of theirs... How did they even manage that against the Giants? That's some crazy turning point from a bad game 
. And now they're expecting to get to 7-3? Is that really realistic? 
Coach Ben Johnson is saying all the right things, but what about the stats? You can't just will your way into the playoffs with poor play-calling... like that infamous punt at fourth-and-eight 
I mean, Detroit's on fire and Green Bay's like the team to beat right now 
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He's making them feel responsible for the wins and losses, which I think will pay off in the long run. And props to Darnell Wright for stepping up at right tackle 
But bad calls and a less effective offense can't be ignored 
They're running out of time, but with this team, I wouldn't count 'em out just yet 
like they got a 6-3 record which is better than most teams out there right? but they still gotta beat some good teams and stuff 
anyway what do you think about coach ben johnson hes always saying we take ownership together 
. and what's with the play-calling? punting on 4th and 8? that's just crazy talk 
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Like, who knew he had it in them like that? 
And yeah, the loss of Jaxson Dart did hurt 'em, but they gotta learn from those mistakes and move on. Coach Johnson's all about taking ownership and getting everyone on the same page, which is awesome 
. But, at the same time... I think Jaxson Dart's absence did help them out, kinda 
. Whatever, I guess the Bears are in it for the long haul 
gotta be realistic about their chances but at the same time, they're still fighting for that 7th seed spot... wish 'em luck 
. He's keepin' it real with himself and his players about makin' adjustments and takin' care of business on the field.
. And Coach Johnson's message to the team is all well and good, but he needs to start calling his own plays instead of relying on his players to fix them 
. I mean, come on, a punt on fourth-and-eight with 10 minutes left? That's like me giving up my last slice of pizza without even getting close to the table 
. While a 6-3 record is encouraging, the fact that they're still behind the Packers and Lions in the NFC North suggests there's still significant ground to cover 
. Coach Ben Johnson's emphasis on growth and urgency is well-taken 
. However, the loss of Jaxson Dart and some questionable play-calling by Johnson will need to be addressed if the Bears are to secure an elusive playoff spot