By: David Carbajal
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson didn’t hold back after watching his first-team offense, led by Caleb Williams, limp through a sluggish first half in their preseason finale. Despite ultimately securing a 29–27 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Johnson issued a sharp rebuke of the team’s performance.
“Offensively, the first two possessions were really sloppy football that has plagued us in and out of camp so far, and unfortunately that is what we got here tonight,” he lamented.
The trouble began early. On the very first play, Williams fumbled a jet sweep exchange—a miscue followed by a false start that put the Bears in immediate trouble. The next drive saw Williams hold the ball far too long in a clean pocket, resulting in a sack and the offense stalling yet again.
Johnson didn’t mince words in his assessment: “It was disappointing to me offensively for sure … If the first quarter was really any indication, it was not good enough. We’ve got to get better in a hurry,” he said after the game. He added that he expects the team to watch the tape, learn from their mistakes, and quickly correct course before the regular season begins.
Thankfully, Chicago’s offense did rally late in the half. The starters followed up by piling up 139 yards across the next two drives, converting eight first downs and scoring 10 points. Williams finished the night 11-of-15 for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Still, as difficult as the second-half comeback was—and as welcome as the win feels—Johnson’s message to his team was clear: sloppy football, especially from your starters, simply won’t cut it in the NFL.
