Nobody saw it coming. Every expert on the planet predicted the same thing. The Philadelphia Eagles, defending Super Bowl champions, at home, would take care of business against the Chicago Bears. It made sense. One team was coming in mostly healthy, while the other battled a laundry list of injuries. It was bad weather in front of a hostile crowd. None of the Bears' wins this season were convincing. Why should people think they were in the Eagles' class? Apparently, those people forgot to tell Ben Johnson.
He had a plan before the game even began. It started by taking advantage of the elements. Former Bear Greg Olsen realized it over the course of the game and how brilliant it was.
The two teams were facing 30-40 mph gusts, making it difficult to pass the ball. If the Bears could take a lead into the second half, it would force Jalen Hurts to throw into the wind. The other part of the plan was much simpler: ram the ball down Philadelphia's throat. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai both eclipsed 100 yards as the Bears trampled Vic Fangio's vaunted defense.
Ben Johnson continues to show his keen understanding of football.
Most coaches would've ignored the elements and stuck to their typical plan for any road game. Ben Johnson chose to utilize any advantage he could get. He knew Hurts, for all his excellent leadership and running ability, was a limited passer. He doesn't have the arm strength to handle the windy conditions of that magnitude. Taking the ball in the first half meant he got to pick the direction in the second. Whichever way the wind was blowing would be put at the Bears' backs. It was such a subtle but crucial decision.
The running game part was simpler. Philadelphia had been solid at stopping it in recent weeks, suggesting they'd gotten over their struggles earlier in the season. Johnson chose to test that theory by playing smashmouth football. The Eagles weren't ready for it. Chicago's head coach wanted to send a message.
He succeeded.
