The Chicago Bears silenced a number of doubters on Friday, November 28 by going on the road and besting the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in resounding fashion.
And if the nine-point victory wasn’t enough of a story, head coach Ben Johnson created another with his emotional words and actions in the Bears’ locker room following the contest.
Johnson has developed a reputation for his impassioned postgame speeches. He gave yet another on Saturday following his team’s fifth consecutive win, which was easily its most impressive of the season. The first-year coach is also going viral after tearing his shirt off as part of the celebration near the end of his address to players.
Johnson spoke to his players about their continued hunger, adding that the city they represent is hungry as well, at which point he went topless. ESPN’s Adam Schefter offered some insight into why Johnson made the choice he did.
“The Wieners Circle, an iconic hotdog stand on the north side of Chicago, promised free hotdogs for everyone if Bears HC Ben Johnson took off his shirt,” Schefter wrote on X. “Well….hot dogs, anyone?”
Bears’ Run Game Trounced Philadelphia’s Elite Defense
GettyRunning back Kyle Monangai of the Chicago Bears.
The Bears’ victory marked the second consecutive defeat for the Eagles (8-4), who blew a 21-0 lead against the Dallas Cowboys five days ago. Still, the Philadelphia defense had been decidedly improving across several weeks, and back-to-back games of 24 points allowed against upper-echelon NFL offenses like the Cowboys (1st overall after 12 games played) and the Bears (6th overall through 11 games) does not necessarily equate to poor results.
That said, what Chicago was able to do against Philly on the ground may have even surprised the players in the Bears’ locker room to an extent.
The team finished the afternoon with 47 rushing attempts for 281 yards and two scores. Seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai hung 130 yards and a touchdown on the Eagles’ defense, while D’Andre Swift put up 122 yards and a score.
Johnson mentioned both backs in his postgame speech, though he awarded one of two game balls to the offensive line as a whole, which played impeccably against one of the more fearsome front-seven groups in the league. The other game ball went to defensive back Nashon Wright.
Bears Have Opportunity to Win Division, Contend for No. 1 Seed in NFC
GettyChicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Bears hadn’t beaten a team over .500 on the year coming into Philadelphia Friday, save for the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5). Chicago’s win against the Eagles is sure to open some eyes and/or change the minds of several who were already watching closely.
The team faced statistically the most difficult schedule over the end of the season beginning with its Week 12 game against Pittsburgh at Soldier Field. After winning twice in five days, the Bears have moved to 9-3 and maintained their half-game lead over the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1), who bested the Detroit Lions (7-4) on Thanksgiving Day.
Chicago currently owns the second-best record in the NFC, behind only the Los Angeles Rams (9-2), who play a road game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks (8-3) could move into a tie with the Bears if they can beat the visiting Minnesota Vikings this weekend.
The Bears now have nine days off to prepare for their first of two contests against the Green Bay Packers over the next three weeks, both of which will have major playoff, playoff-seeding and NFC North Division implications. Chicago travels to Lambeau Field on December 7 before hosting Green Bay at Soldier Field two weeks later.
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