Chicago Bears will need all of Ben Johnson's genius now | Opinion

CHICAGO - Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson's creativity is going to get a real test this week.

No doubt the Bears caught a break with Caleb Williams' injury not being as bad as initially feared when he was carted back to the locker room late in the 9-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 20. Johnson said Williams is "week to week," and wouldn't rule him out of the Monday, Sept. 28, game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

But let's be real here. Johnson also said Williams won't practice this week, and now there are reports backup Tyson Bagent is in the NFL's concussion protocol. Which means Johnson is scheming for the unknown. Or Case Keenum. Which is pretty much the same thing.

There's a lot of confidence that both of those guys can get the job done if it comes to it," Johnson said when asked about his backup quarterbacks.

"All (three) quarterbacks, they all grew from the understanding of what we're trying to get done. We charted every single throw last year. We charted every single throw this year. And all three quarterbacks jumped from year one to year two over the course of training camp, which was an encouraging thing to see and really to be expected. It's what you would want to see," Johnson added.

Eagles' defense will demand Ben Johnson's best

Johnson has to express optimism about his QBs. That's his job as a coach. But let's not pretend Bagent or Keenum have the same skills as Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft. It's going to take every bit of genius and trickery Johnson has to devise a game plan that can keep the Bears competitive with the Eagles.

Who just so happen to have the league's fifth-best pass defense, according to ProFootballReference.com.

This is why the Bears got Johnson, though. Well, not for this exact scenario. But for his offensive mind, which it was widely agreed was the best available when he was with the Detroit Lions.

Johnson's high-octane offenses are as fun to watch as they are prolific. There are trick plays and aggressive calls. And touchdowns. Lots and lots of touchdowns. In Johnson's last year with the Lions, they had 68 offensive TDs, a league high.

Last year, Johnson's first in Chicago, the Bears' offense was ninth in the NFL in points scored. It was their best ranking since also being ninth in 2018, and just the third time in 19 years they'd finished in the top 10 in that category.

That was in large part because of Williams, who threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards and whose 27 TDs tied for fourth-best in club history. But the Bears also had a 1,000-yard rusher in D'Andre Swift as well as a potent second option with Kyle Monangai.

Bears reflect their head coach in overcoming odds

Chicago also channeled Johnson's ... let's call it audacious personality. Last season, they rallied to win an NFL-record seven games in the final two minutes or in overtime - including a win over their fiercest rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in the NFC wild-card game.

Trailing 21-6 going into the fourth quarter, the Bears scored 25 points for their first playoff win in 15 years.

(This is not to be confused with Chicago's other comeback win over the Packers last year, in overtime in Week 16.)

To beat Philadelphia, Johnson is likely going to need to lean heavily into the run game. Which is doable; Swift has the sixth-most yards rushing this season (169) and second-most TDs (three). Monangai is at No. 9 for yards rushing (147), including a 61-yard run that's the longest in the league so far this season.

But it's not going to be easy.

Johnson does not lack for confidence. Or ingenuity. The Bears are going to need both this week.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chicago Bears will need all of Ben Johnson's genius now | Opinion