1st and 10: Unlike Matt Eberflus, Ben Johnson lights a fire under the Bears

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams speaks with head coach Ben Johnson during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Oh, the irony. The Bears responded for coach Ben Johnson the way they never did for Matt Eberflus on Sunday — in part by torching Eberflus’ defense in a 31-14 victory over the Cowboys at Soldier Field.

A year after the Bears defined their season, the coach and their locker room by imploding game after game following the Fail Mary against the Commanders, Johnson faced a similar challenge after back-to-back losses that eerily looked more like a continuation of the Eberflus era than the dawn of a new one — and had Johnson…