If you didn't watch the Chicago Bears' season opener and someone told you they scored 59 points, you'd probably think Colston Loveland or Rome Odunze went off. You'd even think Luther Burden III or rookie Zavion Thomas had huge games.
But, with all due respect, not even the most optimistic Bears fan would ever think that Kalif Raymond, of all people, was the team's primary weapon in the passing game. Clearly, the Carolina Panthers' defense didn't expect that, either.
So, now that Brian Flores has a full game's worth of his tape, he'll have something ready for him. The Minnesota Vikings will account for him and adjust accordingly, and that's exactly what Ben Johnson may want them to do.
Kalif Raymond will be the Bears' premium decoy in Week 2
While the Vikings' secondary is vulnerable and Raymond can exploit those matchups, the Vikings will inevitably try to limit his explosiveness. Little do they know that they're walking right into Coach Johnson's trap.
With all eyes set on the former Detroit Lion, they won't be able to afford doubling anyone. Burden, Odunze, Loveland, and even Thomas will roam free in one-on-one matchups, and that's usually trouble for a defense.
There's a method to Ben Johnson's madness. The rest of the league has now seen what he can do with Raymond, but they just have to pick their poison. Someone can be a blocker and a decoy today and go off for 100 yards and two scores next week. You never know what's coming, and it's the uncertainty and second-guessing that kills other teams.
The Bears won't score 59 points every week, and chances are Raymond won't top 50 receiving yards very often, if ever, again this season. The problem opposing defenses are now left with is that, unlike other teams, the Bears DO have the potential to score 40+ plus a week and maybe have more 50+ point explosions.
This offense is just too stacked, too complete, too well-rounded. There's no efficient way to contain all of their options, and even if they do, they can always run the ball down your throat with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
Granted, this game goes well beyond just putting up points on the scoreboard, and they must also get stops to be considered a legitimate threat to go all the way this season. But in the meantime, defensive coordinators will just have to play the guessing game and stay up all night, trying to figure out who'll be the chosen one on Sunday.
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