Ben Johnson defends Bears’ play call after interception against Packers
Ben Johnson, the Bears’ offensive coordinator, remains steadfast in his belief that the final offensive play against the Packers unfolded as intended. Despite the gut-wrenching outcome—a drive that reached the Green Bay 14-yard line but culminated in an interception by Keisean Nixon in the end zone—Johnson feels the execution was sound, even if the result was not.
The pivotal drive, which ended with a fourth-and-1 failure, has drawn scrutiny for various reasons, but Johnson stands firm against the criticism. He specifically refutes the idea that quarterback Caleb Williams should have targeted DJ Moore instead of Cole Kmet in the end zone. Observers noted that, on the All-22 film, it appeared Moore had a clear path for a potential first down or even a touchdown. However, Williams opted to throw to Kmet, leading to Nixon’s interception.
“From my perspective, it was a play that had a lot of options,” Johnson explained. “Cole happened to be the one that popped the most. It’s a good play by Nixon; he came off his guy and made a play on the ball. Had we seen it a little bit sooner and given Cole a better chance, I think we would have been pretty happy with that result. I still feel the same way I did last night on that play.”
Clock management and scoring strategy
Johnson also addressed the criticism surrounding the Bears’ clock management during the two-minute drill. The strategy was twofold: score before the clock expired and leave the Packers with minimal time to respond. However, some felt the Bears squandered nearly 40 seconds at one point, which could have altered the drive’s outcome.
This moment of reflection highlights the complexities of late-game scenarios, where every second counts and decisions are magnified. For Johnson, the focus remains on the execution of the play and the potential it held, rather than dwelling on what might have been.
As the Bears look to build on their offensive strategy, Johnson’s commitment to his vision will play a crucial role in navigating the challenges ahead. The lessons learned from this narrow loss to a longtime rival will undoubtedly shape their approach in future games.
