Sunday’s humiliation at Lambeau Field was the Bears’ worst loss since Week 2 last year, when Ben Johnson lost his Ford Field homecoming by 31 points.
The Bears responded by winning nine of their next 10 games.
If they’re going to rebound again this year, it has to start Sunday in Atlanta, the first of two games in five days. How the Bears respond to the loss to their rivals will be a test of not only their quarterback — Caleb Williams is on track to start — but their head coach. Both were the catalysts of last year’s run, which turned an 0-2 team into a 9-3 ballclub — and the eventual NFC North champion.
Whether they can do it again is another question.
“That story has yet to be written,” Johnson said Friday. “We get a chance to do that ourselves. I feel strongly about our locker room. I think we have a lot of high-quality character guys … So far this week, they’ve handled it. It’s all been back to business as usual. There’s no moping around or ‘woe-is-me.’ They understand it’s a long season, and everything’s still out in front of us. We still have a winning record. That’s a good thing and we have a lot to play for here going forward.”
As if the challenge of rebounding wasn’t difficult enough, the week leading into the Falcons game was rocky, with defensive end Montez Sweat being suspended two games for a performance-enhancing drug violation and Williams airing his grievances about the reporting about his injury. Johnson said Friday he “didn’t feel any frustration” from Williams, short of him trying to navigate his first major NFL absence.
The 3-2 Bears’ four-game stretch heading into their bye is filled with prime-time games and primo matchups. After Sunday’s game, they have a quick turnaround to face the defending AFC champion Patriots on “Thursday Night Football.” They then face the Super Bowl champion Seahawks on “Monday Night Football” and the Buccaneers on “Sunday Night Football” before taking a week off.
“This next stretch before the bye week, it’s a big part,” Johnson said. “It’s a big part of our story for this 2026 team.”
So is Williams, who is on track to make his first start since tearing his hamstring on a soggy Soldier Field turf against the Vikings. The Bears won two games in a row without him — one with Case Keenum and the other with Tyson Bagent — before Bagent looked lost in the Packers loss.
Williams took lessons from Keenum’s play in the “MNF” win against the Eagles.
“He was super decisive, super clean with getting the ball out,” Williams said. “The operation was really clean. Getting the ball in the guy’s hands with a runner’s ball. … The night before the game, the QBs have a meeting, and Case was sharp as can be. In that meeting, it’s just him being able to speak up and communicate. Then throughout the week the same, just Case being able to step up and communicate.”
Johnson doesn’t want Williams to try to be Keenum. Far from it. But being decisive with his throws and efficient with his movements will help protect the hamstring that Williams admitted isn’t fully healed.
“We’re trying to find that healthy balance between him being the player that he is that makes him so special — but also being smart and making sure we’re getting the ball to our playmakers in a timely fashion as well,” Johnson said. “So do I expect him to be a completely different player just because he sat down for a few weeks? No. When he comes back, he’s going to continue to learn. He’s going to continue to grow.”
Williams will be tested against his peers over the next week. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix was chosen seven spots after Williams in the 2024 draft. The choice shocked the Bears, who were thrilled that it allowed them to take receiver Rome Odunze with the next choice. Penix, who missed the end of the Falcons’ Sunday night overtime loss to the Ravens with a ribs injury, practiced all week and was declared healthy enough to start Sunday.
Thursday, the Bears will face off against Drake Maye, who missed winning the MVP last year by one first-place vote. He struggled in the Super Bowl and again to start the season before leading the Patriots to 74 points over the past two games.
Williams, of course, helped the Bears toward 59 points in the opener — and then three in Week 2 before his injury.
“He was on an upward trajectory before the injury happened,” Johnson said. “And I expect him to pick up where he left off and continue on that same path.”
Running back D’Andre Swift said he believes this year’s team has the same grit as last season’s squad. Now they have to prove it.
“You still have to put the work in, go out there and perform well enough to make that happen,” he said. “Ain’t nobody down or anything like that. We’re just ready for the next opportunity to try to get back on track.”