Ben Johnson reacts to dominant win over Browns

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 5 hours ago

CHICAGO - Chicago’s 31-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns may have been their most well-rounded game of the season, with three turnovers generated, 17 points off of turnovers, an average of 41 yards per kick return by Devin Duvernay, and punter Tory Taylor landed three of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.

“Thought all three phases did some really outstanding things throughout that game, starting with the defense. (They did a) really good job minus a couple explosive plays that we gave up. A dominant performance, if you will. And then offense, we were able to find a way to score 31 points. I thought that was really well done,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “The three takeaways, we ended up with I think 17 points off of those takeaways, which was nice. And then special teams played a significant role in that one as well. Kickoff was a weapon. Kickoff return was really good. Punt, punt return were really good for us and so, was pleased with the performance there yesterday.”

Despite racking up 31 points, the Chicago offense sputtered in the second quarter, missing a field goal and punting; it was the only quarter in the game when they failed to score. This continued into the third quarter until linebacker D’Marco Jackson tipped a pass from Cleveland’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders which Jackson also intercepted to set the Bears up at the Browns’ 22-yard line.

On the very next play, quarterback Caleb Williams threw an incredible touchdown pass to wide receiver DJ Moore.

“We’ve had some spurts like that where it’s been challenging to move the ball and score the points, but it was just a little bit of a matter of time for us. We moved the ball really well in the first half. We had a couple opportunities there before halftime (that) we felt like we left something out there,” Johnson said. “But, once again, it felt like (Jackson’s) interception there in the third quarter, that was really a turning point for us that was the spark that ignited us on offense. Caleb came back, I think it was the next play, and made that outstanding throw to DJ on the back line and to me, that’s really where the game got broken open right there.”

Moore stepped up in the absence of top wide receiver Rome Odunze as Moore had two touchdowns, bringing his season total to five touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III led the team in targets with seven and had 84 receiving yards, his most since week three against the Dallas Cowboys.

Fellow rookie, tight end Colston Loveland, also made some incredible plays as he finished the game with four receptions for 63 yards.

“(Loveland’s) such a big body, long target, huge catching radius, and it just seems like he makes catches each week that he’s extending for. He does a great job securing that football,” Johnson said. “I can feel the trust continuing to build between our quarterback and Colston each and every week and I really think we’re just scratching the surface of what Colston’s capable of.”

Loveland and Burden III are part of the reason this offense is so different from last season. However, the offense line is also a crucial part of this team’s success. Williams has been sacked only 23 times through 14 games, an average of under two sacks per game. Center Drew Dalman, along with guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, have made a huge difference in both the success of the run game and the pass game.

Their performance will remain important during the final stretch of the season and into the postseason.

“He wears a lot of hats in terms of what we ask him to do. He’s so smart. There’s really not a whole lot he gets stumped by. It’s rare that we’ve gone into our postgame film review and we feel like we’re mistargeted. He takes a lot of pride in that. He understands his role to play and then he’s (a) very big part of what we’re doing on the ground game. He’s excellent in terms of this wide zone scheme that we’re looking to implement. He runs off the ball. I think he does a fantastic job in that regard. I think it carries over to that whole interior of the offensive line. I think they’re playing at a super high level,” Johnson said. “I went to sleep (Sunday) night just thinking about that trap block that Jonah Jackson had with about two minutes left in half. He absolutely annihilates the three technique and things like that just put a little smile on my face. So, Drew’s a huge part of what we’re doing, but I can’t say enough good things about that entire offensive line.”

Chicago’s journey to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018 continues with a rematch against the Green Bay Packers on Sat. Dec. 20 (7:20 p.m. / FOX).

Just like last time, the winner of this game will be first in the division, while the team that loses most likely will be in the seventh seed.

“We’re looking forward to playing meaningful football here this late in December. I think that’s a good thing for our football team. I think that’s a good thing for the city. It’s really what we were all expecting going into the season and so, it’s a good thing to come to light just like it has,” Johnson said. “I’m glad Caleb didn’t like how the last one ended. None of us should. No one likes to lose and so, the only way you can shake that feeling is to look to stack more victories and so, that’s our intent.”