The Marc Trestman era of Bears history is regrettable because we know how it ended. When it started, however, the excitement and anticipation was as strong, if not stronger, than it is today under Ben Johnson.
Through six games in 2013, in fact, Trestman was still a breath of fresh air. The Bears were 4-2 and averaging 28.7 points, the third-most in the NFL and their highest scoring average after six games since the 2006 Super Bowl season.
At that point, Trestman had his players’ attention. The focus was undeniable, perhaps best illustrated by their in-game discipline. The Bears were called for 31 penalties in their first six games, the fourth-fewest in the league. Trestman’s invigorated offense was particularly on-point, with only three pre-snap penalties and only one false start. In fact, the Bears’ offense had only one false start in the first nine games that season.
It didn’t last, as we all know. That team’s discipline faded on multiple levels pretty quickly and pretty ignominiously, soon to become the poster child of Halas Hall dysfunction.
Johnson is unlikely to meet that fate — not that quickly, at least. He’s just wired better to manage an NFL roster than Trestman was, with all due respect to Trestman’s character and offensive acumen.
The Johnson effect is real. Caleb Williams is a work in progress, but he’s playing at a higher level this season. The Bears have scored 21 or more points in their first six games for the first time since 1995. They twice have allowed 23 points and won after going 0-28 in that situation — including losses in Weeks 1 and 2 — since 2022. Perhaps most impressive, when Johnson focused on improving the running game during the bye week, the Bears responded by rushing for 145 yards against the Commanders and 222 against the Saints.
The Bears still have a lot of room for improvement, as Johnson has acknowledged, including one area in particular that was a strength under Trestman: penalties.
The Bears haven’t necessarily been an undisciplined team this season, but they haven’t been a disciplined one, either. They’ve been called for 61 penalties (with eight declined or offset) for 454 yards. They are, in fact, the only team in the NFL that has had a negative penalty-yardage differential in every game this season.
And Johnson’s offense has been the most glaring culprit. The Bears have been called for 18 pre-snap penalties, including 14 false starts, the most per game (2.3) in the NFL. After being congratulated for no false starts against the Commanders on the road, the Bears had five against the Saints at home.
Let the record show this is not uncommon for first-time head coaches this season. The Jaguars under Liam Coen have 26 pre-snap penalties (11 false starts) in seven games. The Saints under Kellen Moore have 20 pre-snap penalties (12 false starts) in seven games.
You know it’s on Johnson’s list of things the Bears must clean up. But while Williams’ accuracy is getting more attention, eliminating unnecessary penalties might be an even bigger test of Johnson’s influence as a head coach.
When the Bears have the ball
The Bears leaned on their running game against the Saints last week — with 40 carries for 222 yards (5.6 average) and two touchdowns — and should have an opportunity to do the same against a short-handed Ravens defense that ranks 26th in the NFL in rushing defense (134.3 yards per game). D’Andre Swift is coming off back-to-back 100-yard games. He is questionable with a groin injury but played through it last week and rushed for 124 yards.
But that opportunity could be a little misleading. The Ravens held the Rams to 74 rushing yards (3.2 average) in a 17-3 loss in Week 6, are coming off a bye and expect to have three-time All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith back after he missed two games with a hamstring injury. Smith downplayed his first game against his former team, but there’s little doubt he’ll be fired up to show general manager Ryan Poles what he gave up.
Still, the focus will be on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who is coming off the first real clunker of his first season under Ben Johnson — completing 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards and a 61.7 passer rating. Opposing quarterbacks have a 108.3 passer rating against the Ravens (14 touchdown passes, one interception), third-worst in the NFL.
The Bears will be short-handed with tight end Cole Kmet (back) out. But that could create a break-out opportunity for rookie Colston Loveland in a larger role.
When the Ravens have the ball
The challenge for the Bears’ defense increases exponentially with the expectation that two-time MVP Lamar Jackson will start at quarterback after missing two games with a hamstring injury — especially with slot cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin, calf) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) out.
The Ravens are a different offense with Jackson. They scored 40, 34 and 30 points in three games that Jackson finished, but only 10 and three in the two games he has missed. If Jackson doesn’t play, veteran backup Tyler Huntley will start after Cooper Rush started the previous two games in Jackson’s place.
It remains to be seen just how effective Jackson will be if he plays. He hasn’t played in four weeks and had full participation in practice for the first time Friday. Besides rust, Jackson’s burst in the running game could be hampered coming off the hamstring injury. Or not.
Whether or not Jackson plays, the Bears will be challenged to contain five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry. At 31, Henry has not been the unstoppable threat he used to be, but he’s still averaging 73.2 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. He rushed for 169 yards against the Bills with Jackson playing in the opener and 122 against the Rams without Jackson playing in Week 6.
The Bears rank 28th in the NFL in rushing defense (137.7 yards per game).