Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was caught on camera visibly regretting a crucial late-game decision during the Bears’ Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions.
With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, Johnson elected to punt on fourth down rather than keep the offense on the field. The choice quickly backfired, as the Lions drove downfield and sealed the game with a walk-off field goal.
Television cameras captured Johnson on the sideline mouthing, “Should’ve gone for it,” a moment later shared by Ryan McGuffey of The REKAP.
The decision came on a difficult fourth-down situation, with the Bears needing five yards from their own 31-yard line. Failing to convert would have handed Detroit a short field and an immediate scoring chance. However, punting didn’t prevent that outcome.
After the kick, Detroit marched 39 yards in six plays, setting up a 42-yard game-winning field goal to secure the victory.
Several factors may weigh heavily on Johnson as he evaluates the moment. Chicago’s defense struggled throughout the game, allowing Jared Goff to throw for 331 yards. Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for 139 yards, while the Lions totaled 122 rushing yards, consistently finding ways to exploit the Bears’ defense.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s offense finally found its rhythm late. After being shut out for most of the game, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, and the Bears successfully converted both two-point attempts. The late surge raised questions about whether trusting the hot offense would have been the better option over relying on a worn-down defense.
Because the Bears had already clinched a playoff spot, the loss ultimately only affected their Week 18 result, not their postseason positioning. Still, the sideline moment highlighted a rare public glimpse of regret from Johnson and underscored the razor-thin margins that define late-game NFL coaching decisions.
As Chicago prepares for the playoffs, Johnson will no doubt revisit the call — and the lesson — as the stakes only grow higher.
