The Chicago Bears had one of the worst offenses in the league last season, going from Shane Waldron to Thomas Brown to Chris Beatty as offensive coordinators during one of the most dysfunctional years in franchise history.
Caleb Williams never seemed to vibe with Waldron, and Waldron’s coaching style never seemed to capture the player’s full attention.
I was fooled by Waldon’s resume, but his nine games in Chicago showed how propped up he was by a strong head coach in Seattle with Pete Carroll. A season ago, the Bears didn’t have the leadership or football savvy up top to balance out Waldron’s approach, but they’re hoping new head coach Ben Johnson will bring the total package to the offense in 2025 and beyond.
Johnson’s offense in Detroit was among the league’s best all three years he was their offensive coordinator, and these two stats pulled from noted NFL analytics guy Warren Sharp show the drastic difference in what the Bears did in 2024 compared to Johnson’s Lions.
Starting strong on offense isn’t a guarantee for success, but it sure as heck is better than being the slowest starting team in the NFL.
avg yards gained on opening drives:
47 – TB
46
45
44 – KC
43 – NO
42 – CIN
41 – IND
40 – MIN
39 – BAL
38 – BUF, ATL
37 – GB, ARI
36 – CAR
35 – SF
34 – LAC
33 – DET, HOU, DAL
32 – WAS
31 – CLE
30
29 – MIA
28 – DEN, LV
27 – SEA, LAR, NYG
26 – NYJ, JAX, TEN
25
24 – PHI
23
22 – PIT…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 12, 2025
The Lions were middle of the pack for average yards gained on their opening drives last season, with 33.
While the Bears only averaged 10.
avg yards gained on opening drives:
47 – TB
46
45
44 – KC
43 – NO
42 – CIN
41 – IND
40 – MIN
39 – BAL
38 – BUF, ATL
37 – GB, ARI
36 – CAR
35 – SF
34 – LAC
33 – DET, HOU, DAL
32 – WAS
31 – CLE
30
29 – MIA
28 – DEN, LV
27 – SEA, LAR, NYG
26 – NYJ, JAX, TEN
25
24 – PHI
23
22 – PIT
21
20
19 – NE
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10 – CHI*2024 regular season
The Bears didn’t get a first down in 12 of their 17 opening drives, and they scored a grand total of six points on them.
Long scoring drives can be demoralizing for a defense, and no team had more 70-yard touchdown drives than Detroit’s 46 in 2024.
70+ yard TD drives last year:
46 – DET
45
44 – BAL
43
42
41
40
39
38 – TB
37
36
35
34 – BUF
33
32 – WAS, PHI
31 – CIN
30 – IND, ARI, NYJ
29
28
27 – KC, LAR, ATL, MIN
26 – SEA, SF
25
24 – GB
23 – JAX, DEN, CAR
22 – TEN, MIA
21 – NO, NYG, LAC
20 – PIT, LV, DAL
19 – NE
18 – CLE
17…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 16, 2025
And no team had fewer than Chicago’s seventeen 70-yard touchdown drives last year.
70+ yard TD drives last year:
46 – DET
45
44 – BAL
43
42
41
40
39
38 – TB
37
36
35
34 – BUF
33
32 – WAS, PHI
31 – CIN
30 – IND, ARI, NYJ
29
28
27 – KC, LAR, ATL, MIN
26 – SEA, SF
25
24 – GB
23 – JAX, DEN, CAR
22 – TEN, MIA
21 – NO, NYG, LAC
20 – PIT, LV, DAL
19 – NE
18 – CLE
17 – CHI, HOU