Potential Chicago Bears head coaching candidate Ben Johnson showcases creativity Sunday

CHICAGO – Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta took a couple seconds to think about what he wanted to say Sunday afternoon after he started answering a question inside Soldier Field’s visiting locker room.

LaPorta and the Lions had just beaten the Bears, 34-17, to earn a franchise-record 13th win. But LaPorta wanted to find the right words to describe a play that stole the show in Sunday’s blowout win.

Instead, LaPorta chose to praise the architect of the play that everyone was talking about.

“Our offensive coordinator [Ben Johnson], our staff, does a great job of noticing tendencies, of things that happen on tape and rare scenarios,” LaPorta said. “They noticed that on tape and we executed it.”

Bears fans had few reasons to tune into Chicago’s ninth straight loss, but Johnson’s offense was likely a top one. He brought in one of the NFL’s top offenses and put on a show as the Bears search for their next head coach.

There were few things to dislike about Johnson as a play caller of an offense that averages 32.9 points per game after Sunday’s win. But if there was any play that showcased Johnson’s talent, it was the Lions’ fourth touchdown of the game in the third quarter. The one LaPorta wanted to find the right words to describe.

The Lions faced first-and-10 from the Bears 21 yard line when quarterback Jared Goff appeared to fumble the ball while running back Jahmyr Gibbs fell to the ground. Instead, Goff held the ball the entire time and found a wide-open LaPorta for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

It was a fake-fumble play the team called “stumblebum.”

“That was great,” LaPorta said. “[Johnson’s] as creative as they come. It was great to go out there and execute that. All 10 other guys executed it. So cool to get that one off the call sheet and come over the touchdown there.”

Goff told reporters after the game that Johnson had first approached him Monday to see if he could fake fumble the ball. He had noticed a tendency in the Bears defense and wanted to exploit it with a fake.

After Goff didn’t seem comfortable with the proposition, Johnson decided to have Goff appear to stumble while holding the ball with Gibbs falling to the ground and the offensive line yelling “fumble.”

Lions players said they practiced the play a few times during the week and had its best run Sunday during the game. They also didn’t doubt it would work.

“We think every play is going to work that he has,” Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said. “Obviously, Ben is smart. He’s watching tape, tendencies, things at work, things that can work, so almost all the plays that he draws up, there’s a reason behind it and there’s intent behind it. So we understand that. So any player that he draws out for us we’re trying to execute so we can win the game.”

The fake play was the final touchdown of the day for a Lions offense that put on a beating once again. Detroit finished with 475 total yards of offense while Goff threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Seven different Lions players caught at least one pass while four finished with more than 40 receiving yards.

Detroit used a quick offensive start to build momentum Sunday. The Lions scored points on their first five possessions, including three touchdowns, and took advantage of two first-quarter fumbles by the Bears.

“Our offensive coordinator [Ben Johnson], our staff, does a great job of noticing tendencies, of things that happen on tape and rare scenarios. They noticed that on tape and we executed it.”

—  Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions tight end

Meanwhile, the Bears haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in the first quarter for four straight weeks and haven’t scored in the opening frame 11 times this season.

“We’ve got our first opener plays, it doesn’t mean we’re always gonna stick to them, but we’ve got plays that we want to get off the sheet pretty early that we’re intent on,” Goff said. “I think [Johnson] does a good job of setting up plays later on by doing that. He’s very aware of how to start fast.”

Whether the Bears will hire Johnson and pair him with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams remains to be seen with two games left in the regular season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported before Sunday’s game that “Johnson is intrigued by the Bears' job and he is going to be willing to listen.”

The Lions are used to speculations surrounding their offensive coordinator. Johnson was one of the top candidate in last offseason’s head coaching hiring and will be a top one again this upcoming offseason.

LaPorta will appreciate Johnson for as long as he can.

“He’s as detailed as they come, as creative as they come,” LaPorta said. “So fantastic coach.”