Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed satisfaction with his team’s Week Five bye, the earliest this year, as it allows time for evaluation after a month of play. He believes this early break is ideal for his first-year coaching staff to assess the team’s strengths and weaknesses, especially given the new head coach, assistants, and players, which may require up to half the season for cohesion. While some coaches prefer later byes for player rest, Johnson argues that an early bye enhances the Bears’ chances of making a playoff push.
