Bears Manager’s Decisions Come Under Fire After Loss to Vikings

Ben Johnson, the Bears’ manager, faced criticism after a costly call during Monday’s game against the Vikings. Chicago managed to score only three points with 2:02 left on the clock.

“We intended for the ball to go out of the end zone,” Johnson stated.

Unfortunately for the Bears, Cairo Santos’ kick didn’t meet that expectation, allowing the Vikings to capitalize on the second opportunity that followed in their 27-24 victory.

Social media erupted with commentary on Johnson’s debut as a head coach. Many pointed out that the kicker didn’t execute well, which effectively handed the Vikings more time—two seconds before the two-minute warning—which could act as a valuable timeout or even an opportunity for an onside kick.

“The coaching decisions should have ensured the ball went out of bounds,” FS1 pundit Nick Wright tweeted. “Those managing the game must consider the consequences—risking a stop on a two-minute warning could be significant. This was Ben Johnson’s first major mistake in game management.”

After the Bears allowed 21 consecutive points in the fourth quarter, turning a 17-6 lead into a 27-17 deficit, they clawed back, closing the gap to three points with a score at 2:02 remaining.

Time management was crucial here, as Chicago held only one timeout. Scoring before the two-minute warning meant they had the potential for another stop if they managed the kickoff quickly.

Santos almost managed to kick the ball out of the end zone but fell short.

When his kick landed in play, he glanced over at Vikings manager Kevin O’Connell, who signaled for the play to stay in the field, adding tension as the two-minute warning approached.

This situation left the Bears with only one chance to stop the clock, and they ended up receiving the ball with a mere nine seconds remaining.

Johnson reflected on the choice from the sidelines, mulling over whether he might have aimed for an onside kick given the circumstances. He felt the team had about two seconds and nearly a minute for a potential game-tying drive ahead of them.

“If we thought we could get it out of the end zone and score three, we’d have about 56 seconds left to work with,” Johnson noted.

Many observers praised O’Connell for effectively managing his team, while Johnson received backlash for not navigating the situation more adeptly.

“Ben Johnson had a rough day. His game plan seemed off, and he was ineffective early on with field goals. The bad challenge he made didn’t help, and it was just confusing that Santos wasn’t able to execute,” a popular Bears account noted. “I think he’s capable, but criticism is warranted.”

The Bears are set to face the Lions, who recently struggled against the Packers, while the Vikings will host the Falcons in “Sunday Night Football,” aiming for a victory under Johnson.