From the moment Ben Johnson took over in Chicago, he wasn’t interested in small steps or moral victories. While some assumed he’d simply aim for gradual progress, Johnson made it clear he expected the Bears to compete immediately. With the team now sitting at 9–3 and holding both the NFC’s top seed and first place in the division, he isn’t getting caught up in any of it. His attention is locked on the upcoming showdown with Green Bay.

When reporters asked him about the team’s strong position, Johnson wanted nothing to do with it. In his mind, the Bears haven’t secured anything yet — not even a playoff berth. Until that becomes official, he views their record as irrelevant. As he explained his mindset, he also mentioned what he believes will be the minimum number of wins needed to punch a postseason ticket.

“The job is not done,” Johnson emphasized. “We haven’t achieved anything yet. We’re sitting at nine wins. I think this year you probably need to get to eleven to be in the tournament. That’s the target. We have to find a way to get there, and the only way is to go 1–0 this week.”

The NFC race backs up his point. Four teams already have nine wins, while Green Bay and Philadelphia are right behind them with eight. With competition this tight, nine or even ten victories might not be enough to guarantee a playoff slot.

Johnson is fully aware of how difficult the path ahead is.

Chicago has five games left on the schedule and must win at least two to reach Johnson’s projected benchmark. Only one matchup — next week’s game against Cleveland — appears comfortably favorable on paper. The other four are significantly tougher: two against Green Bay, one against San Francisco, and another against Detroit. The Packers are breathing down Chicago’s neck in the division race, the 49ers are 9–4, and the Lions embarrassed the Bears 52–21 in their last meeting. Securing that second required win won’t come easy.

This is exactly why Johnson keeps reiterating how little the Bears have accomplished so far. Respect isn’t given — they need to earn it. Going into Lambeau Field and beating their biggest rival would send a strong message to the rest of the league. Now it’s just a matter of whether Chicago can rise to the moment.