CHICAGO (AP) The opening drive was an incredible begin for Ben Johnson. The end was extra of the identical for the Chicago Bears.
With Johnson making his debut as Chicagos head coach, the Bears blew an 11-point lead within the fourth quarter of an unpleasant 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday evening. Johnson’s staff was flagged 12 occasions for 127 yards together with 4 false begin penalties and his offense was shut down for a lot of the second half.
We stated going into Week 1 that the staff that might make the least variety of errors would win the sport, and sadly, we had been on the improper facet of that, Johnson stated. We made too many there late within the sport, myself included. There have been a lot of issues that I might have accomplished higher.
Caleb Williams related on his first 10 passes for Chicago after which went 11 for 25 the remainder of the best way. He completed with 210 yards passing and a team-high 58 yards dashing, however the offense wasted a few alternatives to place the sport away.
There have been some scattered boos from what was left of the Soldier Area crowd of 58,742 when it was over a well-recognized scene after Chicago dropped its final 5 residence video games on its solution to a 5-12 report final season.
I feel we got here out with nice power, security Kevin Byard stated. I feel we made a number of nice performs, however on the finish of the day we didnt end. We didnt make the performs after we wanted to make them.
The 39-year-old Johnson was employed by Chicago in January after spending three seasons because the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.
With Johnson calling the performs, the Bears marched proper down the sector on their first possession. Williams scrambled for 9 yards to present the staff its first landing on its opening drive since Week 17 of 2023 season.
I feel there was a number of good there, Williams stated of working with Johnson. Our communication, I feel he was getting the performs in quick. … I feel it’s a rising course of. It’s going to continue to grow from right here. That is the beginning, however undoubtedly not the top.
Main 7-3, Chicago drove to the Minnesota 24 on its first drive of the second quarter. Johnson opted to go for it on fourth-and-3, and Williams threw incomplete whereas looking for DJ Moore.
The Bears carried a 17-6 lead into the fourth after Nahshon Wright returned an interception 74 yards for a landing. However J.J. McCarthy directed the Vikings to 169 yards and three TDs within the ultimate interval.
Statistically, I actually suppose the protection did a extremely good job up till the very finish, Johnson stated. You realize that fourth quarter, issues obtained away from us a bit bit, however up till then they saved us in that ballgame. Offense was stalling out.
The Bears had two probabilities so as to add to their 17-6 lead within the third and got here up empty every time. Proper deal with Darnell Wright was known as for holding and Williams was flagged for intentional grounding on a promising drive that ended when Cairo Santos missed a 50-yard subject purpose on the primary play of the fourth.
Once you look down on the stat sheet and also you see 12 penalties, that’s obtained to get cleaned up in a rush, Johnson stated. And but we’ve been saying that each one coaching camp as nicely. So we’ll discover a solution to get that accomplished.
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