Bears’ Head Coach On The Receiving End Of Unimpressive Statistic
The Chicago Bears were impacted by some major pre-kick off news on Sunday, when they found out the Lamar Jackson was not set to suit up for the Baltimore Ravens, and instead they would be facing backup quarterback, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley.
Despite Huntley being a supposedly less difficult opponent than the former two-time MVP winner, the Bears were unable to secure victory, losing by a two-touchdown score of 30-16 as the former undrafted QB had one of his best games as a pro in the NFL.
There were a few things that went wrong for Bears in week 8, including their defense, who conceded 177 rushing yards. But perhaps even more noteworthy are the numerous penalties allowed by Chicago throughout the game – and indeed the season as a whole.
On the day, the Bears allowed 11 penalties for a total of 79 yards. And, per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, this completes a rather unfortunate trend that reflects poorly on rookie head coach, Ben Johnson.
The Bears had 11 penalties today, their third game of the season with 10+ penalties.
They haven't had at least three games with double-digit penalties since 2019, and it's only Week 8.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) October 26, 2025
Bears Have Conceded A Lot Of Penalties In 2025
According to Fishbain, now that the Bears have conceded double-digit penalties in three games in 2025, which equals their most since 2019, when they had three games with 10 or more on the entire year.
“The Bears had 11 penalties today, their third game of the season with 10+ penalties.” Fishbain wrote after the loss on Sunday.
They haven’t had at least three games with double-digit penalties since 2019, and it’s only Week 8.”
The fact that the Bears still have nearly 60% of their games to go, makes the statistic even more unforgiving for the franchise, who fell to 4-3 on the season, although they remain in third place in the NFC North after the Vikings lost to the Chargers earlier in the week.
Through eight weeks, Chicago has conceded the sixth most amount of penalties. However, they have played one fewer game than the majority of NFL teams as they had an early bye week.
And amongst teams that have also only played 7 games through eight weeks, only the Jacksonville Jaguars have been penalized more, with 65 to Chicago’s 64.
What Do The Bears’ Chances Look Like In The NFC North?
Sitting at 4-3, the Bears have certainly been in worse positions to start the season in recent years.
Caleb Williams has showed his immense ability, arm strength and potential in reasonable chunks, but the team feels like it has yet to reach to top gear, especially given the amount invested into the skill positions, offensive line and the offensive-guru head coach in Johnson.
Chicago stands at the cusp of being a top-10 offense in the league by total yards, although they do rank as both a top-10 unit in terms of the pass and the run game individually.
Yet, as a team, there is still work that needs to be done in the cycle of the Bears as a team. Chicago has not beaten a team that currently lies at or above .500, with them having secured victories against the Cowboys, Commanders, Raiders and Saints.
The second half of the season will reveal a lot about Johnson as a coach and the team’s mettle moving forward into his tenure.
Dak Prescott Appeals Brutal NFL Ruling After Spitgate Shakes Cowboys-Eagles Rivalry
Dallas, TX – Dak Prescott, backed by NFLPA counsel, has officially filed an appeal after the NFL handed him a one-game suspension and a $10,000 fine for what the league ruled was spitting at Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter in the season opener.
The appeal argues the punishment is excessive and based on a misreading of the video. Broadcast angles, Prescott’s representatives contend, show him lowering his head and spitting toward the turf in a pre-snap routine, not deliberately targeting Carter.
At the heart of the filing is intent. The appeal distinguishes between spitting at an opponent—a sanctionable unsportsmanlike act—and spitting to the ground, a common in-game habit. It asserts the NFL has not demonstrated deliberate hostility or contact.
“Dak did not spit on an opponent. He expelled toward the ground in a high-stress moment,” the filing states. “Intent matters. Without clear evidence of targeting, the current sanction is disproportionate and should be reduced or vacated.”
Prescott’s camp also notes context: quarterbacks often clear their mouthpieces or spit downward before a snap. The footage, they argue, shows no droplets hitting Carter and instead supports a natural downward motion. They add that Carter’s retaliation, not Prescott’s act, escalated the confrontation.
The appeal references precedent. In 1997, linebacker Bill Romanowski was fined but not suspended for spitting on an opponent, a case cited to argue Prescott’s penalty is out of proportion. With no prior disciplinary history, the Cowboys quarterback insists his reputation should matter.
Fan reaction has been split. Cowboys Nation flooded social media with hashtags defending Prescott, arguing the league is targeting Dallas’s leader. Eagles fans countered, saying the appeal is an excuse and that the video speaks for itself.
Under the CBA, the appeal will be heard by a jointly appointed officer who can uphold, reduce, or vacate the punishment. For Prescott, the question is simple: was this a
