Bears 'desperately need this win' in potential trap game vs. Browns

D’Andre Swift was incredulous.

“I never really believe in trap games …” the Bears running back said. “What is a trap game?”

Google it, and the first answer to pop up might as well read: Bears vs. Browns, noon Sunday at Soldier Field.

Last week was a Bears-Packers game. Next week is a Bears-Packers game. In between is a matchup against a three-win team in single-digit temperatures.

Perhaps that’s why Bears head coach Ben Johnson was so emphatic in his focus this week, both publicly and inside meeting rooms. The 9-4 Bears believe they need to win at least two of their last four games to make the playoffs for the first time in five years. No game will be easier than this one; the final three games are against playoff contenders.

“We have goals and we know what’s out in front of us,” Johnson said. “It’s just that awareness that every game matters … [When] you go from an emotional rivalry game like we just played, this week is equally important.

“We need this win. We desperately need this win.”

When the Bears hired Johnson in January, they praised his play-calling prowess but didn’t know how he’d handle the leadership responsibilities of a first-time coach. His Bears team, though, has lived in the moment all season, not letting the previous week impact the next.

Previous head coaches couldn’t say that. Matt Eberflus had a hand in the team’s two longest losing streaks — 14 games from 2022-23 and 10 last year. Matt Nagy had losing streaks of four games, five games and six games.

The Bears have lost consecutive games just once this year — the first two of the season. That’s impressive for a team with so little winning experience that it was favored in Week 7 for the first time in 344 days.

“The playoff mentality, the championship mentality … that’s where we want to be,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “That’s where you want to be every year. …

“And then managing those expectations and managing actually being possibly in that position … that’s going to take experience. That’s going to take trusting in [Johnson]. That’s going to take us just trusting the process.

Johnson has prepared his Bears for the final stretch of the season, saying as far back as September that he planned for them to play their best brand of football in December. As the Bears went undefeated in five November games, Johnson acknowledged the reality of playing for playoff position, but didn’t dwell on it.

That tone resonated with players.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Swift said. “You never want to look too far ahead. That’s what it should be in life.”

Coaches and veteran players have helped the locker room focused on what’s important, Johnson said.

“It helps when the younger players are hearing that constantly, that they do the best that they can to avoid the distractions,” he said. “I think it’s harder this day and age than ever before.

“It’s so easy to get caught up on what’s being said outside of the building, but we just try to keep the focus on how we see it — the truth that we see — and how we can continue to get better.”

The Bears have about a 70% chance to make the playoffs. A win Sunday increases their odds by seven percentage points — but a loss drops it by 16.

“I don’t necessarily want to call it a must-win,” safety Kevin Byard said, “but we have to keep stacking wins. ... That’s what we’re focused on. We’re focused on this week — and then, obviously Green Bay when Green Bay comes.”

They have to step over the trap first.

“Everybody knows the bigger picture here,” receiver DJ Moore said. “But we have Cleveland first.”