First-and-10: Ben Johnson’s refusal to be timid makes him different animal than some Bears coaches before him

After a 17-16 loss to the Chargers at Soldier Field in 2019, then-Bears coach Matt Nagy appeared mystified and a little miffed at being questioned about his decision to have quarterback Mitch Trubisky kneel to set up Eddy Pineiro for a 41-yard field-goal attempt, which failed on the final play.

Why not run another play to make it a little easier for the first-year kicker, who hit the upright on a 33-yarder earlier in the game?

“I’m not even going to get into that,” Nagy huffed. “I had zero thought of running the football. I’m not taking the chance of fumbling the football, so you lose three or four yards.”

As for trying a pass . . .

“Throw the football right then and there?” Nagy said, almost incredulously. “What happens if you take a sack or there’s a fumble? . . . I’ll just be really clear: Zero thought of throwing the football. Zero thought of running the football. You understand me? That’s exactly what it was.”

That his strategy failed was just part of the issue. The real red flag was that the conservative tack wasn’t his style. Nagy was NFL Coach of the Year the previous season because he was aggressive and inventive, with trick plays, funky formations and a mindset of putting pressure on the defense.

But in a moment of extreme decision, with the Bears sitting at 3-3 after his 12-4 debut season as a head coach, he suddenly was worried about the worst-case scenario. It was similar to Marc Trestman’s sudden fear in 2013, when he had Robbie Gould attempt a 47-yard field goal on second down in overtime against the Vikings rather than risk a fumble or penalty.

Not so with Ben Johnson. On the fourth-and-one play that ended disastrously Sunday when Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams’ underthrown pass in the end zone, the Bears (9-4) could have run for the first down, called timeout and taken a few shots at scoring. But unlike Nagy and Trestman before him, Johnson went down being himself. A fourth-and-one pass with Williams on a roll in the second half was hardly foolish. It’s what he does, and he has a track record of being good at it.

Get used to it, because the only way the Bears are going to break this losing cycle — no playoff victories since 2010, just four since Mike Ditka was fired in 1992 — is for Johnson to be the best version of himself, staying in the sweet spot of being aggressive without being reckless.

And so far, so good. The Bears’ 30th loss in their last 36 games against the Packers might have looked like the same old Bears to some, but even in defeat, Johnson left a calling card. Unlike previous Bears teams under Trestman, John Fox and Nagy, even the Packers have to sense that Johnson’s Bears aren’t going away.

2. Although Johnson’s scheme and play-calling credentials are solid, his leadership and culture credentials will be tested in a prototypical “trap” game against the 3-10 Browns on Sunday. The Bears are coming off a tough loss to the rival Packers, and Johnson already was looking ahead to next week’s rematch at Soldier Field during the lightning-quick postgame handshake with Matt LaFleur on Sunday.

The Bears are 7½-point favorites against the Browns, the first time they’ve been favored by more than a touchdown since 2020, when they were 9½-point favorites against the Jaguars on the road and won 41-17.

3. Playoff picture: Even if the Bears beat the Browns, there’s a real possibility they’ll have to win two of their final three games against the Packers (home), 49ers (road) and Lions (home) and finish 12-5 to make the playoffs. (There’s even a scenario where the Bears don’t make it at 12-5 if the Seahawks and Rams tie in Week 16).

In four seasons of a 17-game schedule with seven playoff teams in each conference, no team that finished 11-5 or better has missed the postseason. Only once has a team with 10 wins not made it — the 10-7 Seahawks last season.

4. DJ Moore’s diminishing production reached an uncomfortable level against the Packers. He had one reception — an end-around pitch that lost four yards — on three targets with top receiver Rome Odunze out.

Moore has been the leading receiver on losing teams in his first seven seasons but has been the No. 2 receiver on a winning team this year. Sunday was his opportunity to step into a leading role. Instead, he had fewer downfield targets (two) than Olamide Zaccheaus (three).

Moore, who in 2023 had career highs of 96 receptions for 1,364 yards, eight touchdowns and 80.2 yards per game with the Bears, is on pace for career lows of 51 receptions, 651 yards and 38.3 yards per game.

5. The list: Unless Moore rallies spectacularly in the final four games, he will join a too-long list of Bears wide receivers who faded in their prime. That includes every 1,000-yard receiver since Jeff Graham left for the Jets after a 1,301-yard season in 1995: Darnell Mooney (1,055 yards in 2021 to 414 in 2023 at 26); Allen Robinson (1,250 yards in 2020 to 410 yards in 2021 at 28); Alshon Jeffery (1,421 yards in 2013 to 821 yards in 2016 at 26); Brandon Marshall (1,508 yards in 2012 to 721 yards in 2014 at 30); Marty Booker (1,189 yards in 2002 to 715 yards in 2003 at 27); Marcus Robinson (1,400 yards in 1999 to 244 yards in 2002 at 27); and Curtis Conway (1,049 yards in 1996 to 426 yards in 1999 at 28).

6. Browns guard Teven Jenkins, who was a fan favorite and stand-up guy through four frustrating seasons with the Bears, returns to Chicago on Sunday, likely as the starting right guard with Wyatt Teller injured.

Jenkins often played at a Pro Bowl level with the Bears but couldn’t stay healthy. He played on offense in 44 of 68 games and left with an injury in 12 of his 38 starts. He signed with the Browns in the offseason and played mostly special teams until starting for Teller in a 31-29 loss to the Titans on Sunday.

7. Raiders coach Pete Carroll raised some eyebrows when he had Daniel Carlson kick a 46-yard field goal on the final play against the Broncos with the Raiders trailing 24-14 with five seconds left. It wasn’t entirely meaningless. By losing only 24-17, the Raiders covered the 8½-point spread.

Pete Carroll . . . Vegas . . . hmmm . . .

It’s only the sixth time since 1978 that a game ended on a field-goal attempt with a team trailing by more than a touchdown. But the last two times, it has affected the point spread. In 2023, the Rams kicked a field goal on the final play to beat the spread in a 30-23 loss to the 49ers.

8. Quick hits: The Bears’ 315 total yards (and 247 in the second half) were the most against the Packers at Lambeau Field this season. . . . Williams is no longer on pace to break the Bears’ single-season record for passing yards (Erik Kramer had 3,838 in 1995) after throwing for 186 against the Packers. He’s now on pace for 3,803 yards. . . . The Bears have been called for four penalties in each of their last two games after averaging 9½ in their first 11 games.

9. Josh McCown Ex-Bears Player of the Week: Lions defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad had three sacks in a 44-20 victory over the Cowboys. He leads the Lions with nine sacks.

10. Bear-ometer — 12-5: vs. Browns (W); vs. Packers (W); at 49ers (L); vs. Lions (W).