“Might be the best defense we’ve seen all year”: Bears’ Ben Johnson praises the Packers defense

Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears are in full stride, having won five games in a row. Their most notable victory came on the road, a 24-15 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defeating the defending Super Bowl champions this early in the season sends a major message. The rest of the league will have to take the Bears seriously moving forward, but the biggest takeaway may be the confidence the team now has in its own abilities.

Johnson will have his first opportunity to face Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers in his new role when the Bears visit Lambeau Field this Sunday. To earn his first win against the Packers’ head coach, Johnson will need a strategy to take on what he called “might be the best defense we’ve seen all year.”

The Bears bracing for the Packers defense

The Bears cleared a significant hurdle against the Eagles and now turn their attention to their long-time rivals, the Green Bay Packers, with two matchups scheduled over the next three weeks. Chicago (9-3) holds a half-game lead over Green Bay (8-3-1), and these contests will play a major role in determining the NFC North race for first place as well as playoff seeding in the NFC.

“They are matchup issues for your backs and pass pro, you can tell they bring it,” Johnson made those remarks during his Tuesday press conference, highlighting Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Quay Walker, and Edgerrin Cooper as players who have excelled under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

“Fast players sideline to sideline. I think the safeties are probably the two best safeties that we’ve seen all year long. They’re extremely active in the run game. They’re all over the field and, so, we’ve got a tall task here at hand. When you combine it with the scheme, I think Hafley does a great job of making it simple for them,” the Bears coach continued.

Will the Packers elite defense hold up against the Bears

Green Bay ranks fifth in points allowed per game at 18.8, fourth in total yards allowed at 284.8, eighth in rushing yards allowed at 98.3, and sixth in passing yards allowed per game.

On offense the Packers rank 13th in total yards per game, averaging 340.6, sit 13th in passing yards, 16th in rushing, and are 10th in scoring with 24.5 points per game.

As for the Bears, they sit sixth in total yards per game at 374.3, 15th in passing with 220.4 yards, second in rushing at 153.8 yards, and eighth in scoring, averaging 26.1 points per game.

The Packers recently lost defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt to a season-ending ankle injury, giving the Bears a possible area to attack after they rushed for 249 yards in Friday’s win over the Eagles.

With the NFC North race tightening, this Sunday’s matchup against the Packers could define the Bears’ momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

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