Johnson dissects the formidable Niners defense, praising their relentless play style and strategic versatility ahead of their crucial Sunday night clash.
Rarely are there genuinely high stakes games in the NFL regular season. There will be a high stakes matchup on Sunday Night Football between the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers.
The winner of the game has a chance to push to the top of the NFC playoff standings.
Several players and coaches will play a huge role in the game. San Francisco, the home team, has any number of weapons and football minds on both sides of the football. Yet for Chicago head coach Ben Johnson, it's about the 49ers defense, its play caller and its relentless set of players at all three levels.
Johnson gave effusive praise to nearly every component of the Niners defense ahead of Sunday's game. Here's what he had to say.
"It all starts with – I shouldn't say all, but it starts with play style with them. It's been that way ever since he's been coaching. I think I went against the Jets one time when he was there. It was a trademark of that defense. It's a trademark of San Francisco's defense. Now these guys go all out every single snap. They try to get as many defenders in the frame at the end of the play that you possibly can. I think that right there, when you know it's a play style like that, that's a challenge in and of itself because they could potentially out effort you if you allow them to do that.
Those guys come flying off the ball. It's a unique front, speed at the second level, good cover guys. He mixes up the coverages. It used to be you could just count on it being cover three, that’s not that case anymore. He does a good job mixing in the mans, the shell coverages. It has a little bit more front variety than maybe he's had in the past. It makes it very, very difficult. But I always stand firm, the trademark of a Robert Saleh defense is how hard they play. And that shows up on tape."
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson walks along the sideline during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Soldier Field. David Banks-Imagn ImagesThe game is significant because of the great minds on either side. Certainly, Johnson is having little trouble taking his elite offense from Detroit last season to Chicago. Second-year starter Caleb Williams is thriving in the new offensive system. Yet the Niners have elite minds on both sides of the football in Saleh and head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Whoever wins the matchups will be in good position for playoff seeding. San Francisco's options range from the No. 1 seed to a wild card spot. To secure the top seed, they will need to win out. That all starts with Chicago on Sunday night.
Ben Johnson is aware of the challenge that Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and company present on the defensive side. Sunday will reveal which team has the upper hand in the matchup.