The Chicago Bears are 3-1, have already started three different quarterbacks and somehow appear to be getting stronger under Ben Johnson. That's not exactly how most teams draw up their first month of the season, but it's certainly getting people's attention.
Among those paying attention is former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, who had plenty to say about Chicago ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
During the October 8 episode of the Gruden Family Football Show, Gruden made it clear that he believes the Bears have a significant advantage over their longtime rivals.
And his reasoning should give Packers fans something to worry about.
Jon Gruden believes the Packers are in serious trouble
Gruden and his brother Jay were discussing Chicago's impressive start when the conversation turned toward Green Bay's offensive struggles.
The Packers managed only 283 total yards in their victory over Tampa Bay, and their inability to establish a consistent rushing attack has become a concern.
Green Bay also ranks 31st in time of possession, while Chicago ranks second. That difference becomes especially important when considering how effectively Johnson's offense has controlled games.
Gruden pointed to Green Bay's struggles running the football and the absence of linebacker Edgerrin Cooper before delivering a warning.
"They're in real trouble against the Bears. I think they know that," Gruden said.
That's a pretty significant statement from a coach who spent years competing against some of the NFL's best teams.
But Gruden wasn't finished.
He believes Chicago's rushing attack presents a problem that Green Bay might not have an answer for.
"It's not just a statistic, it's an ass kicking," Gruden said. "They are kicking your a** running the ball with two different backs."
Gruden praised Johnson's ability to attack defensive fronts with different looks and create favorable matchups.
Then he made his prediction.
"I love the Bears to win and cover," Gruden declared.
Jay Gruden agreed, adding that Green Bay simply doesn't have enough offensive firepower.
Ben Johnson is changing how the Bears are viewed
Perhaps the most interesting part of Gruden's assessment wasn't his prediction. It was how much respect he showed Johnson.
The Bears have navigated quarterback injuries without allowing their offense to completely fall apart. Tyson Bagent has helped keep Chicago competitive, while Johnson has leaned into the team's rushing attack rather than asking his quarterbacks to do too much.
Jay Gruden praised the Bears for running the ball effectively, converting third downs, protecting the football and keeping their quarterbacks out of difficult situations.
Chicago's 23-12 victory over the New York Jets provided another example. The Bears outgained New York 492-157, an enormous difference that demonstrated how thoroughly Chicago controlled the game.
Jon Gruden even compared the Bears' quarterback situation to his own Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, which also used three quarterbacks during its championship season.
"Ben Johnson to me, he is the man," Gruden said.
That's the kind of endorsement Bears fans have been waiting to hear about their head coach.
Chicago hasn't needed perfect quarterback play to win games. Instead, Johnson has established an offensive identity that allows the Bears to control possession, move the chains and put pressure on opposing defenses.
It's also a style of football that could travel well to Lambeau Field.
The Bears have an opportunity to change the rivalry
Beating the Packers would mean more than improving Chicago's record to 4-1.
For years, Green Bay has been the team setting the standard in this rivalry. Chicago has frequently entered these matchups needing to prove something, only to leave with another disappointing result.
This time, the conversation feels different.
The Bears have an identity on offense, a head coach earning national respect and a defense capable of creating turnovers. Green Bay, meanwhile, is trying to solve problems with its running game and offensive consistency.
None of that guarantees a Chicago victory. Playing at Lambeau Field is never easy, and divisional games have a way of ignoring whatever happened the previous week.
But Gruden's comments illustrate how much the perception of the Bears has changed in a relatively short period.
He's not picking Chicago because of a lucky bounce or an injury to the opposing quarterback. He believes the Bears are better equipped to win this particular matchup.
For Packers fans accustomed to watching their team control this rivalry, that's a different kind of warning.
And for Bears fans, Sunday's game offers another opportunity to show that the early success under Johnson is becoming something much more meaningful.
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