[Ben Johnson](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/09/01/the-bears-and-their-fans-needed-a-truth-teller-they-got-one-in-new-coach-ben-johnson) has scored 30 or more points against Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores every time he’s called plays against him.
“That’d be nice,” [Bears](https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears) tight end Cole Kmet said.
Whether it’s realistic is another question altogether — and one the Bears’ new head coach will answer when he faces the Vikings in their “Monday Night Football” opener.
Johnson and Flores have squared off against each other four times as play-callers — twice in each of the last two years, with the Lions winning every game.
In 2024, the Lions averaged 31 points and 323 yards in two games against Flores. The rest of the league averaged 17 and 356 against him.
In 2023, the Lions averaged 30 points and 419 yards in two games against the Vikings. The rest of the NFL averaged 19 points and 354 yards.
“We’re a completely different team — I’ve been saying that all along,” Johnson said Tuesday. “It’d be easy just to copy and paste the plan from the past, but that’s not the case. It’s not who we are, that’s not what we’re gonna do.”
So what will the Bears do? They’ll try to stay efficient on first down so as to not let Flores dial up blitzes on second- or third-and-long. They’ll give quarterback Caleb Williams easy reads — or as easy as they can be, given Flores’ propensity to put defensive backs on the move either right before the snap or just after it.
Williams was solid against the Vikings last year, posting a 96.7 passer rating and throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions in two losses. He was sacked five times — a big number, but still below his league-worst average of four per game. That performance gives Johnson belief that Williams will handle Monday’s game well, but he knows Flores has something up his sleeve.
“You just don’t know what it is until you get into the game,” he said. “I think that’s what makes them so dangerous.”
The Bears will likely help out Braxton Jones, who was named the starting left tackle Tuesday, with blocks from their tight ends and running backs.
They figure to lean into their run game, too. The last four games against the Vikings, Johnson has called plays that led to 10 rushing touchdowns and 4.6 yards per carry.
“In general, when you’re able to run the ball well against any type of defense it softens you up,” said cornerback Nahshon Wright, who played for the Vikings last year. “When he can key in on what you’re going to do, Flores can get to those exotic blitzes that he likes.”
Johnson, though, reserves the right to tilt his play-calling to either extreme. That’s what Flores does on his side of the ball.
“If that means we can run the ball 50 times a game, great,” Johnson said. “If that means we need to throw it 50 times a game, that’s great as well. We’re going to find a way to move the ball ahead, and each week’s kind of its own puzzle that we’re looking to solve.”
This week’s task, though, is unique.
“What doesn’t create a challenge?” Johnson said. “He’s an outstanding coach. All kind of issues.”
Consider:
• No NFL team blitzed more often than the Vikings, who brought an extra rusher 38.9% of the time last year.
• The Vikings led the NFL with 33 takeaways last season. They had a league-high 24 interceptions and were tied for 13th with nine fumble recoveries.
• Linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel finished tied for fifth and eighth in the league in sacks last year, respectively.
• The Vikings were the second-best defense in the NFL on third downs and the best on fourth downs.
“They’ve got some really good players, they’re really well coached, they’re really ball-conscious,” Johnson said.
Johnson was a Dolphins assistant from 2012-18 while Flores was a Patriots assistant. Playing in the AFC East, Johnson grew to admire the way Bill Belichick and his assistants morphed their game plans from game to game. Though he’s known for his blitzing, Flores is rarely predictable.
“You don’t really know what you’re going to get,” he said. “You have to adjust in the middle of the game. Our guys have to be open minded and willing to understand we’re going to get hit in the teeth a couple times. That’s the nature of doing business with this crew.”
Flores — who did not retain Johnson when he became the Dolphins’ head coach in 2019 — interviewed for the Bears’ head coaching job in January. Like Johnson, he shared Boston College connections with general manager Ryan Poles. He impressed members of the Bears’ hiring committee with a holistic plan that extended beyond his defensive chops.
Flores finished second in voting for Associated Press Assistant Coach of the Year last season, with Johnson taking 29 first-place votes. A strong showing this year could land Flores his own head coaching job.
Johnson has spent his whole life waiting for his own first game as head coach. He’s got a plan ready.
“We’ve got some things that we feel really good about getting our guys in space, potentially,” Johnson said, “and letting them go to work.”