# 59 points, and Ben Johnson wants more

> The Bears hung 59 on Carolina, and their coach used the moment to say the quiet ambitions out loud.
- Title: 59 points, and Ben Johnson wants more · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: The Bears hung 59 on Carolina, and their coach used the moment to say the quiet ambitions out loud. Johnson isn't chasing respectability, he's chasing…
- Keywords: bears, ben johnson, nfl, offense, chicago, news, local, points, Ben, Johnson, wants, more
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/09/14/bears-panthers-59-points-ben-johnson-mediocre-super-bowl-highest-scoring-nfl
- Published: 2026-09-14T09:52:08.475+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bears, ben johnson, nfl, offense, chicago, news, local
## Fifty-nine in Charlotte
The Bears beat the Panthers 59-37 on Sunday. Minutes later, coach Ben Johnson was already talking about what the team still hasn't done.
## Mediocre is the enemy
Asked about the outburst, Johnson framed it as the baseline expectation of the job rather than a highlight worth savoring.

> We didn't get into this profession trying to be mediocre, average.
## Every decision serves the win
Johnson said the week's choices all run through one filter: what gives the football team the best chance to win that game.

> We make decisions over the course of a week, what's best for our football team to win the game.
## Third-most in franchise history
The 59 points rank third all-time for the Bears and are the most the franchise has scored in 46 years.
## A personal best as play-caller
It topped anything Johnson had called before. His 2024 Lions hit 52 twice, against the Titans and the Jaguars.
## One game beat whole seasons
The 2022 Bears scored 52 points across their first three games. The 2023 team managed 47, the 2024 team 53. Sunday alone was 59.
## Fourth-and-one from the 21
Johnson went for it on fourth-and-one from his own 21 in the second quarter. He said his attitude about mediocrity wasn't what drove that call.
## Chasing the 2013 Broncos
He repeated a training camp goal: beat the league record of 37.9 points per game set by Denver in 2013.
## Undefeated, and more than one ring
Johnson's stated targets go past a good season. He wants a perfect record and multiple championships, not a single title run.
## He just says it out loud
Nearly every NFL coach wants the same things. The difference with Johnson is that he names them in front of a microphone.

> We want to be the highest scoring, we want to have the most wins, we want to win Super Bowls.
## Key takeaway

Johnson isn't chasing respectability, he's chasing records, and one Sunday in Charlotte showed what that looks like on a scoreboard.