Ben Johnson didn’t mince words when he talked some big talk this summer.

“You’ve got 31 other teams coming to training camp saying, ‘Our goal is to win the Super Bowl,'” Johnson told The Athletic's Dan Pompei. “I want more than that. I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts.

“Why can’t we do that? There has never been an undefeated season (since teams have been playing more than 14 regular-season games). The moon is the Super Bowl, but we’re shooting beyond that, for the stars. And I want these players to feel that each and every single day they come in.”

Led by an MVP-caliber performance from quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears walked the walk, backing up Johnson’s big talk by hanging 59 points on the defending NFC South Champion Carolina Panthers in a 22-point opening-day victory.

Unshockingly, Johnson didn’t back down from his challenge to his team, or his message to the rest of the league after Week 1.

"That will always be the goal," Johnson told reporters after his Chicago Bears’ beatdown in Carolina. "We want to be the highest-scoring, we want to have the most wins, we want to win Super Bowls. That's what we do. We didn't get into this profession trying to be mediocre or average."

So begins what feels like a singular mission towards the first of some very big goals for the Bears, making history by surpassing the Denver Broncos’ record set in 2013 as the highest-scoring team in NFL history, and hopefully winning the last game in February adding another Lombardi to the trophy case inside Halas Hall.

Peyton Manning’s 2013 Broncos record is one thing, but that mark was set in a 16-game regular season. For the Bears, playing a 17-game season means not just reaching 607 points to break the total record (35.8 PPG pace), but maintaining Denver's 37.9 PPG pace across 17 games would push the new ceiling to 645 points.

Manning has a Gold Jacket.

The Bears have a quarterback who’s already made some history of his own.

According to the NFL, there are only three other quarterbacks (Josh Allen, Michael Vick, and Cam Newton) who finished a game with at least 250 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, and a passer rating above 120.

That might not be the last exclusive club that Williams joins this season, given the vertical trajectory his career seems to be on the more snaps he plays in Johnson’s system.

Bears legend Erik Kramer holds the franchise record for passing touchdowns, and believes the pieces are in place for Williams to lead Chicago on a historic charge at the Broncos’ mark this season.

“I think the combination of Ryan Poles and his staff, Ben Johnson and his staff, the current cache of weapons Caleb has around him,” Kramer tells Between The Hashmarks. “Not to mention the weapon that Caleb is himself makes possible what we all just witnessed. This arsenal is just in its infancy. Scoring 59 pts in Week 1 against a pretty good Panthers team is impressive. I’m not saying he’ll put up the same numbers each week, but as far as Caleb and the offense looking in sync each week, get used to it because that’s now become the norm. 

“His skills are impressive, but skills alone never amount to long-term, sustained success. Caleb appears to put in the work. He has one of the brightest head coach/offensive coordinators in the game, who requires Caleb to stretch his comfort zone and become more precise every day. I think it’s the combination of Caleb’s inner drive, his instincts, his athleticism, the talent around him, and Ben Johnson as the architect that hones this show into a masterpiece.”

After lighting up the scoreboard against a Panthers defense that signed top pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, playmaking linebacker Devin Lloyd, and loading up on defense over the offseason, Williams, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift, and the rest of Johnson’s crew are off to a running start, well ahead of Denver’s 37.9 points per game pace.

Williams’ uptick in production, consistency, and comfort in the pocket, on the run, and in Johnson’s system has been spellbinding.

Since Week 9 of last season, Williams has passed for 2,295 yards with 17 touchdowns to just three interceptions, compared to posting just 1,916 yards with 12 touchdowns to four interceptions in his first eight games in Johnson’s system.

Johnson is asking for perfection on offense, and it all might be by design, given that this offseason Chicago did very little to address a mediocre pass rush opposite Montez Sweat, and while first-round rookie Dillon Thieneman looks to be an instant high-impact contributor, the Bears saw defensive backs Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson hit the exits after leading the league in takeaways as a driving force of a run to the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

One of the most nimble, astute, and tactical play callers in the sport, Johnson has a quarterback and a young, ascending collection of skill players on offense that is capable of powering an even deeper postseason run.

At least one former NFL head coach, who requested anonymity, though, believes the state of Chicago’s defense was the impetus for Johnson shooting for the stars … and the record.

“The Bears were fortunate last year,” the coach tells Between The Hashmarks. “They got off the field because they intercepted the ball; it wasn’t like they could stop people.

“This is why Johnson is trying to be the highest-scoring offense in football. It’s fun to watch, if you’re an offensive player or coach. Not so fun to play against if you’re on the other side of the ball.”

Against that backdrop, it isn’t surprising to see Chicago chasing the scoring record become this team’s mission statement.

The roadmap from Charlotte to Los Angeles is filled with opportunity for the Bears.

But, playing in a division that features some of the most gifted pass rushers and maniacal defensive coordinators, not to mention facing a first-place schedule, means that the road to history and to a championship is littered with landmines.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ path to breaking the record, in hopes of shaping reasonable expectations for whether Johnson can make good on his promise and the Bears etching their name into the record book …

Williams, Johnson, and the Bears will have some more feeding frenzies this season.

These are the defenses that, at least on paper, seem to be vulnerable to an offensive attack as multi-faceted, balanced, and explosive as the Bears’ that field paired with offenses that may struggle to keep Chicago’s offense off the field.

Week 5 at Green Bay Packers

There’s a decent chance that the Bears are going to catch the Packers’ defense without Micah Parsons, the first time around.

Coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defense is fresh off Carson Wentz putting up 39 points in the opener. The Packers, albeit a minuscule sample size, rank 16th in Defensive DVOA after Week 1.

However, since losing Parsons for the season in Week 15 last season, the Packers’ defense has allowed an average of 30.5 points per game.

Likewise, Sunday in Minnesota, the Packers had six offensive possessions where they held the ball for five plays or less, so Williams should have plenty of added opportunities and extra drives.

Week 6 at Atlanta Falcons

This is a game that could get out of hand quickly.

If the Bears served up a 59-burger against the Panthers’ defense, what is Williams capable of doing to the Falcons, who just allowed 206 yards to an Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers offense?

What makes this such an opportunity for Johnson to chip into the number of points needed to set the record (entering Week 2 at 549) is how absolutely inept the Falcons’ offense is outside of Bijan Robinson’s otherworldly elusiveness and explosiveness.

It might be Cooper Rush behind center; it could be Michael Penix Jr.; in all likelihood, it isn’t going to matter, for an offense that managed just 65 yards from anyone not named Bijan Robinson in Pittsburgh.

The Falcons’ offense ran eight drives with five plays or less, so if the Bears can create some takeaways or that trend continues, Williams and the offense could have a field day.

Week 11 vs. New Orleans Saints

Perhaps the only thing standing in the way of Williams and the offense causing the Soldier Field scoreboard to short-circuit against the Saints may be whether the wind is whipping off Lake Michigan, if there’s snow or freezing rain in the air, or if the strongest El Niño event in recorded history actually presents an unseasonably warm afternoon at the offense for Johnson’s troops.

Because, anyone who caught a glimpse of the Saints’ defense in the opener against Detroit can see the opportunity the Bears have to be prolific.

Not only did the Lions score 31 points in an overtime win, but the Saints surrendered 369 yards of total offense while quarterback Tyler Shough and the offense had six drives of five plays or fewer in the overtime marathon at Ford Field.

Week 14 at Miami Dolphins

Beware the frigid weather team flying south to take on the Dolphins in November or December, but that may be the lone resistance that Miami offers this Bears offense.

Miami emerged from Week 1 as the No. 23rd-ranked defense in DVOA (-2.3), and the offense didn’t fare much better against the Las Vegas Raiders, having two drives ending without gaining a single yard.

If Kirk Cousins, Ashton Jeanty, and Jack Becht were able to put up 27 points in the Dolphins’ opening game, what will Williams, Luther Burden, and Kyle Monangai be capable of, come December?

The Bears are going to have their opportunities, in almost ideal circumstances to exploit some of these potentially overmatched defenses on the schedule.

Johnson’s system, according to Kramer, is the kind of scheme that’s built to dictate to opponents week in and week out.

“Defenses have to prepare extra for it during the week,” Kramer said, when asked what it takes for a quarterback to thrive in Johnson’s versatile scheme. “That requires more study during the week and more mental strain during the game. Strategic, creative motions and formations are designed to expose a weakness in the defense for the offense to attack. That’s the beauty of this offense. It’s a lot of the same things you’re seeing in San Francisco.”  

Not every game is going to be a shootout, though.

Not every defense is going to have secondaries Williams can exploit, or soft front-sevens that D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai can run over and through on the way to frequent visits to paydirt.

“If I had them on the schedule,” the coach we spoke to said. “You must limit their possessions to 10, by keeping your offense on the field, taking time off the clock with your running game, especially early in the game, and never hike the ball until there are four seconds on the clock. Run the clock down as much as you can when you possess the ball offensively.

“And, it’s critical you make first down on defense a lot of two-deep in coverage to prevent the vertical passes to make them go on long drives.”

If Chicago is going to set, keep, and ultimately beat the pace set by Manning’s Broncos, consistency will be critical, and so too will be not stumbling against some of the stingiest defenses and brilliant defensive coordinators the league has to offer.

Week 2, Week 18 vs. Minnesota Vikings

Brian Flores is the combination of a brilliant lunatic paired with a cavalcade of elite athletes at his disposal to fearlessly unleash some of the most exotic blitz packages found in the sport on opposing quarterbacks.

In the Bears’ two games against the Vikings last season, Chicago managed just 24 and 19 points, respectively. That’s not going to put any scares in the record.

Against the Packers in the opener, Flores and the Vikings unleashed hell on Jordan Love, posting a 78.3 percent blitz rate, holding the Packers to 22 points while creating two takeaways.

These two games could be speed bumps on the road to history.

Week 3 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Coordinator Vic Fangio and the Eagles’ defense are among the most taxing for any offense in the league, given their dominance along the line of scrimmage in front of two of the league’s most technically sound cornerbacks.

In the opener against Washington, Philadelphia held the Commanders to 22 points, and the Bears only mustered 24 when they ran the Eagles out of the building on Black Friday at Lincoln Financial Field last year.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense, though, could give the Bears a boost, after producing the fewest first downs in the league in Week 1 (10) in a trend that goes back to last season’s struggles, and were only 6-of-14 on third down against the Commanders in the opener.

If the Eagles can’t control the clock, shorten the game, via long drives, it could present the opportunity for Williams and the Bears offense to pick up some added possessions to pad their season-scoring total.

Week 8 at Seattle Seahawks

Across the NFL, there might not be five defenses that boast more talent and are more aggressive than head coach Mike MacDonald’s Seahawks.

Whether it’s Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence unleashing hell up front or Devon Witherspoon being equally stingy in coverage as he is lethally dangerous as a blitzer, there’s talent on all three levels that thrives on flexing their muscles and tilting games in Seattle’s favor.

The Seahawks just held Drake Maye and the Patriots to 10 points, and capped Week 1 as the fifth-ranked defense by DVOA.

Points could be at a premium for the Bears in this matchup against the defending champs.

Week 16 vs. Green Bay Packers

There’s a nonzero chance that this game has major playoff implications, and, in all likelihood, a healthy and revenge-obsessed Micah Parsons back on the field.

The Packers are simply a different and more dominant defense when Parsons is part of it, the chaos he creates- 12.5 sacks and 79 pressures in just 14 games last season has a trickle on effect on the rest of the defense.

In games that Parsons appeared in for Green Bay last fall, the Packers kept opponents to just 20 points per game.

The Bears better get their rocks off and their points on the board in the first meeting between these teams, when the getting figures to be good.

In order to contextualize what the Bears need to do to break the record, it’s worth looking back on how Manning and the Broncos set the mark in the first place.

This was a methodically efficient season, until the moment it wasn’t, at MetLife Stadium, when the Broncos were barnstormed and resoundingly beaten by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

However, not only did the Broncos open the season by hanging 49 on the Baltimore Ravens, but Denver scored at least 40 points in five of their first seven games and at least 30 in each of those contests.

They didn’t play with their food at any point along the way, either.

Even in Denver’s three losses, they still posted 33, 31, and 20 points.

All told, the Broncos scored at least 35 points 10 times.

At some point this season, Johnson is bound to have some intrusive thoughts about just how seriously to take this quest that he’s sent his team on.

If Chicago is leading the Dolphins 28-3 in the third quarter, does Johnson leave Williams, Odunze, and Cole Kmet in the game chasing a record or err on the side of caution, protecting his players from potential injury with the far more significant goal of a Super Bowl being the ultimate prize?

Each of the Broncos’ three losses came to a team that finished the season with at least a .500 record, including against the eventual AFC East Champion Patriots and AFC South Champion Colts.

There were no letdown games. Manning didn’t slip into any trap games. It was all gas and no brakes for 16 games.

Can Johnson keep his team that focused, and is Williams capable of replicating the same success that Manning operated at for an entire season?

Those answers just might define not only whether the Bears set the record, but also whether it winds up mattering in the bigger picture.

Consistency and fundamentals, just like from snap to snap within a game, are going to be paramount for the Bears, if this team is going to make good on Johnson’s stated mission.

“Be good at what all elite offenses are good at,” Kramer says will be the biggest key for the Bears’ offense. “Protect the ball. Minimize penalties. Create consistent gashes running the ball. Hit big chunk passes. First downs eventually add up to touchdowns. Minimize injuries. Play fast and confident. Isn’t that what we all just saw in Carolina?”

Against the Panthers, the Bears got off to the fastest of fast starts, but like championships, records aren’t etched under the September sun. They’re carved into stone amid the swirling snow of frigid Januarys, defined by the consistency of the odyssey.

Johnson didn't come to Chicago to build a fun story or a high-flying highlight reel … he came to the Windy City to shatter the ceiling of what this franchise believes is possible.

It sure looks like Williams and the Bears have the firepower to make a run at eclipsing Denver’s record, but history won't care about the final scoreboard total if it doesn't end with confetti along Michigan Avenue.

The Bears aren't just chasing 607 points … That’s just one stop on their chase for immortality.