LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) 鈥� The Chicago Bears trailed at halftime in four of their last five regular-season games. They haven’t scored on their first offensive drive since Week 9 at Cincinnati.
That’s a big concern for the NFC North champions going into the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2020 season.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a process I believe in in terms of how we prepare these guys,鈥� Chicago coach Ben Johnson said Tuesday. 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e got a lot of great professionals, and I think any time that you bring attention to something, that they look to fix it. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e doing here this week.鈥�
Time is of the essence, too 鈥� with the Green Bay Packers coming to Soldier Field on Saturday night for the opening weekend of the NFL playoffs.
Chicago scored a total of three points in the first half against Green Bay this season. The Packers closed out a win on Dec. 7, but Caleb Williams rallied the Bears to a dramatic victory in the second meeting on Dec. 20.
The Bears have six wins this season when trailing in the final two minutes, but they know that isn’t exactly a reliable formula 鈥� especially this time of year.
鈥淲e certainly don鈥檛 want to have to lean into that each and every week,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲e鈥檇 like to start off a little bit faster and make it more of a complete game for 60 minutes.鈥�
Chicago (11-6) fell way short of a complete game on Sunday. Playing for postseason positioning, the Bears flopped against a Detroit Lions team that had dropped out of contention with a three-game slide.
The Bears managed only four first downs and 69 yards in the first half. They trailed 16-0 before Williams threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. But the Lions escaped with on Jake Bates’ 42-yard field goal as time expired.
鈥淲e just came out flat. We don鈥檛 have time for that anymore,” Williams said. “We鈥檒l make sure we don鈥檛. If that starts with me, that starts with me. We鈥檒l make sure that doesn鈥檛 happen. … That鈥檚 the mindset: Go out there, start fast. We鈥檒l make sure of it.鈥�
In Week 17, Williams passed for two touchdowns in the first half at San Francisco. But the defense struggled against Brock Purdy and the Bears trailed 28-21 at halftime of a wild loss to the 49ers.
Another shaky start on Saturday night, and Chicago will be in a tough spot in the NFL鈥檚 longest-running rivalry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be about who executes and who is on their details, who鈥檚 on their fundamentals,鈥� tight end Cole Kmet said. 鈥淭hat is what is going to win out at the end of the day. We have to be on top of that stuff. Obviously it鈥檚 going to be an electric atmosphere and we鈥檒l use that to our advantage. But we have to be on those details.鈥�
The Bears could get some reinforcements for their postseason opener. Cornerback Kyler Gordon has been cleared for practice after being sidelined by a groin injury. Wide receiver Rome Odunze also could return after missing the final five regular-season games with a foot injury.
鈥淲e have a great opportunity to go on a run,鈥� safety Kevin Byard said, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 all about putting the best things we can do as far as film study, recovery, everything and just come in with a great attitude because at the end of the day, we have a special opportunity in front of us and it starts with the Green Bay game.鈥�
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