Just think if the Bears only needed a FG

to take the lead here 19-17.  There’s no shame in taking points (FG’s) when they’re available to take during a game for your season, Ben Johnson. 

Live and learn.  

AS

It’s the dumbest thing ever. Not even just Johnson but across the NFL and college. Especially the first drive a quick steal of 3 points. Dumb 

I feel like we will be having this conversation for years to come in the "new" NFL.

Meaningless, The game would have been completely different if he took the points on the 1st drive. 

@ATLSHARP

 Absolutely.............especially pts left on the field, the first FG. Rams drove the length of the field instead of taking the Kickoff. 3 pts in a game like that, HUGE

Also Kmet only three targets best hands on the team and you have a QB thats arguably one of the fastest in the NFL ( 21 mph ) and they didn't use his legs..............I'm here in Chicago and the Bears and Johnson waited until the last last game of the season to call their worst game and the defense played their asses off.

Gotta play all four qtrs, can't live on the edge 7 times in a season. The TD to Kmet gets caught  1 out 20 times ............maybe.

Just my humble opinoin.

It's called ANAL-ytics.

When they go for it on 4th downs and going for random two point conversions, the games become way more unpredictable. 

That's the way they want it since gambling is so prevalent this day and age. 

99% of football bettors lose and with the new ANAL-ytics, it'll get to 99.99% eventually. 

But life time losers love it since it gives them a bigger rush now than before.

Just look at all the 60 year old plus posters here that have lost 100s of thousands still so engaged with this bullshit league. 

They know what they're doing... 

It's ridiculous to think taking 3 points in the first quarter instead of going for it on 4th down would have mattered at the end. Like an earlier poster said, the game would have been played completely different. He's right, it's meaningless. 

Game would def be different but taking those 3 points isn’t meaningless. Come on now. 

@L0adingshow

Completely agree.  Having points means you can make different decisions at other points in the game and put pressure on the opposing team to have to go for it on 4th instead or have to push for TDs instead of just taking FGs.

Other guy acting like taking FGs vs turning it over on downs early in the game is completely meaningless is a braindead take.

I haven’t seen analytics win a game yet. Losers rely on analytics. Players win games. 

Ofcourse the game would of went a little differently. Maybe the Rams get a good kickoff return. Or maybe they muff the kick. Does mcvay call much different plays than he would otherwise on the following drive? No one knows.

But give us a case for why the Bears would have been in a worse position with the FG(or field goals), as opposed to without. 

So you're saying if the Bears get 3 points about 5 minutes in to the game instead of none, they win in regulation 20 to 17.... OK, got it....that's ludicrous thinking....

I have no issues whatsoever for electing not to take the field goal less than five minutes in the game, none whatsoever..... it's early in the game and if you don't make it then the opposition is pinned back deep enough where you rely on your defense to prevail and the game moves on....again an early gamble is justified and solidified with me.

What does NOT bode well for me is being midfield in overtime with the game on the line and instead of taking advantage of some soft zones where the defense does not want to give up any big plays, then dunk and doink a few pass play mixed in with a run depending on what's needed for an additional set of downs and at that point elected to even going for it on 4th down so be it that would of had been fine as well.

But to call a play to chuck the ball down field into double coverage is just totally unacceptable and the bears deserve after that boneheaded play to just sit, watch and wonder what could of been all the while watching the Superbowl in their respective man caves.

You only needed 15 more yards to head to the Championship game you Dipshits!! 

This coming from a diehard bears fan.....yeah I'm pissed with that uncalled for and atrocious decision.

Oh yea, the 3rd and 1's bit them at least three times. Why not QB sneak it twice. Or as you said, be more creative.