Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 5
Bears coach Ben Johnson won't use short playoff prep week as an excuse
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson speaks into his headset on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-TimesAshlee Rezin/Sun-Times
The Packers didn’t play their starters Sunday but the Bears did. While coach Ben Johnson defended his decision after the game — “Some teams, they rest their starters [but] we don’t, we play football,” he said — the playoff schedule might have conspired against him.
Bears players will have one fewer day to recover because the Bears are playing the rival Packers on Saturday night — and not Sunday — at Soldier Field.
Johnson wasn’t ready to make it an excuse.
