From Chicago Sun-Times · · 2m
'Good, Better, Best' is back in Chicago
Ben Johnson's locker room cheer returns after the Bears hang 59 on Carolina in the opener.
In brief
Ben Johnson's locker room cheer returns after the Bears hang 59 on Carolina in the opener. A 59-37 win got the cheer back, but Johnson framed it as a starting point, not a peak. Originally reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
The cheer returns
Ben Johnson led the Bears in 'Good, Better, Best' in the visiting locker room at Bank of America Stadium. The chant only comes out after a win.
““Good, Better, Best” is back.”
Fifty-nine points in Charlotte
Chicago beat the Panthers 59-37 on Sunday to open the season, an offensive outburst against a defense that was solid a year ago.
Just get on the plane with it
Johnson told the team his message before the game was simple: find a way to leave Charlotte with a win, however it looked.
“I said we need to find a way to get on the plane with a victory.”
Not pretty for 60 minutes
Johnson refused to sell the win as clean. He described a slow start, a stretch of weathering Carolina, then a team that settled in late.
“I know it was not pretty for 60 minutes.”
Weathered, then found footing
His three-beat account of the game: survive the opening storm, find footing in the middle, find a way at the end.
“We weathered the storm initially, we found our footing and we found our way at the end.”
It gets harder
Johnson cut the celebration with a warning about the schedule ahead, and told the room they already knew it.
“It's only gonna get harder from here.”
Three game balls
Safety Dillon Thieneman, the offensive line and running back D'Andre Swift got the game balls. Guard Jonah Jackson took the ball for the linemen.
Shout out to the play-caller
Johnson, who calls the plays himself, worked in a line praising the play-caller while handing out the honors.
“Shout out to the play-caller.”
Swift earns his money
Two days after a three-year, $33.75 million extension, Swift became the first Bears player since 2016 with 100-plus rushing yards and three scores in a game.
The dramatic pause
Johnson held the huddle in silence before the chant. One player broke and yelled 'I need it!' before the coach finally shouted the words.
“I need it!”
The defense has work
Scoring 59 papered over the other side of the ball. Carolina's 37 points is the number that decides whether this start means anything.
What matters most
A 59-37 win got the cheer back, but Johnson framed it as a starting point, not a peak.
