The Detroit Lions’ playoff run hit a brick wall, and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson isn’t holding back on what went wrong. That shocking loss to the Washington Commanders? Chalk it up to the basics falling apart. The fundamentals bottomed out when the team needed them most, and the Commanders pounced.
Missed plays, shaky execution, and many “What just happened?” moments left fans losing it.
Ben Johnson Owns the Lions’ Playoff Collapse and Eyes Redemption With the Bears
The Lions’ playoff dreams hit a wall, and Johnson isn’t sugarcoating it.
After the team’s stunning loss to the Commanders in the Divisional Round, the former offensive coordinator said, “I always look at myself first. Anytime a play doesn’t work, I question why it was called and when it was called.”
Johnson called out the ugly truth: the Lions weren’t clean when it mattered most. “We had five drops, a couple of false starts, and five turnovers. That’s just not winning football,” he admitted. And, honestly, he’s right. Mistakes like that are playoff killers.
Ben Johnson takes accountability for Detroit's loss to Washington:
"I look at myself first. Anytime a play doesn't work, I question why it was called and when it was called. I always look in the mirror."
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The Lions came into the postseason riding the momentum of a No. 1-ranked offense in 2024 (including PFN’s Offense+ metric), a feat Johnson orchestrated. But all that regular-season brilliance evaporated in a storm of turnovers and missed chances. The Commanders pounced, turning the Lions’ mistakes into a ticket to the NFC Championship.
“You don’t have that margin of error. Every team is good, and that’s what we found out,” Johnson said. It’s brutal, but it’s the postseason reality — no room for second chances.
Now leading the Chicago Bears, Johnson’s focus shifts to his next chapter. His track record speaks for itself: top-five offenses every year since 2022. But this loss clearly left a mark. For the Lions, it’s a painful reminder of how the smallest cracks can bring down even the strongest teams.
One thing’s for sure, Johnson doesn’t shy away from taking the heat. Be it fixing mistakes or building something new in Chicago, he’s ready to roll. In this league, you earn everything, and the Lions learned that the hard way.
Ben Johnson’s Swagger and Grit Make Him the Perfect Fit for the Bears
The Bears didn’t just snag a coach, they locked in someone who’s all about grit, grind, and zero shortcuts. Johnson walked into his intro presser like he’d already been there for years. His words, though? Even better.
“I was the best in every role, as far as I’m concerned. That’s how I view it, point-blank. I didn’t take any shortcuts.”
He didn’t fall into the NFL. He climbed, scraped, and earned it. Starting as a grad assistant at Boston College (2009), he made his way to the Miami Dolphins in 2012, leveling up to wide receivers coach before the rug got pulled. Johnson wasn’t just out of a job, he was questioning everything.
“Truthfully, I was in my darkest moment,” he said, looking back at being out of work and trying to figure out his next move. His answer was taking a step back to quality control coach in Detroit — far from flashy. But by 2022, he was the Lions’ offensive coordinator, running one of the nastiest offenses in the league.
Johnson’s confidence isn’t cocky, it’s earned. He’s proven he can rebuild players, schemes, and now, maybe a franchise.
