← Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Caleb Williams and the Bears move on to the divisional round after putting Green Bay's season to bed
00:56:06
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- [00:01]
A
Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered Unfiltered on 312 Sports. Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered brought to you in partnership with my bookie. I am not kidding when I say my face hurts from smiling. Like ever since the end of that game. I don't know when you went to bed after we finished up the forward progress post game, I was up until 3:40 just because I was. I was still so excited and I couldn't get enough of the memes. I was watching everything. I was just scrolling, watching. I couldn't watch enough of Caleb Williams there with his tongue hanging out, grating cheese, doing the little Salt Bay cheese flick. Poor Colston Loveland isn't there. Doesn't know what to say, doesn't know what to do. DJ War is laughing and Caleb is just having the time of his life watching what Ben John said, watching the handshake over and over, over again. The handshake was hysterical. It would have been almost better if he just snubbed him. If he just said, like, I'm not going to shake your hand. Forget it. Like, this was worse.
- [01:16]
B
You saw the handshake that happened in Green Bay. The same thing that Matt LaFleur. The same thing Ben Johnson did. Matt LaFleur did to Ben Johnson in Green Bay. And nothing was made of it. I know now all of a sudden it's like, oh, it's bad sportsmanship and Ben Johnson's a bad guy and Ben Johnson shouldn't swear. Why is Ben Johnson so emotional? Like, shut up, man. Like, the criticism of Ben Johnson was insane.
- [01:40]
A
I. The whole thing's hilarious. And the feelings yesterday of just kind of being out and about and around in the city and the look on everybody's face, just the. Everybody was kind of floating for a whole day. Not to mention the idea of tuning into other football games when your team is still alive. When's the last time you get because the Bears played. And then it's like, oh, here's a whole day of football and pretty good football that you can sit and watch and say, oh, here's some other teams that are in the playoffs. Half of these teams will be going home. Bears aren't like, you're just sort of riding high off of that ridiculous victory and you get to watch the other teams beat each other up and play. Oh, you know what? Maybe you'll see one of these teams down the road. And here, let's get a look at this. Let's get a look at that. It's. It's Bears and it's Rams. And we'll discuss last time they played the Rams in a playoff game.
- [02:45]
B
January, what, 12th was that game. The game with the snow and Wilbur Marshall.
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A
And can you find Dieter Brock?
- [02:53]
B
I did. I found a photo of him.
- [02:55]
A
No, but can you find. We should give him a call. Okay. I'm not kidding.
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B
All right.
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A
Call Dieter, see what he's doing. See if he wants to hang out for a little while.
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B
All right.
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A
And just talk through what it's like for a Rams quarterback on a cold day to have some of that stuff go down, especially what's going on in that still photo you used in thumbnail.
- [03:17]
B
Yes. You'll see that soon. Yeah.
- [03:20]
A
That looks like a rough day right there.
- [03:21]
B
Yeah. I thought, I thought Jacksonville was going to show up a little bit more on defense yesterday. You know, I kind of. I wanted to bet with my heart on Josh Allen because I love him and Hank loves him, but I was like. I thought Jacksonville's defense would be. Would be there. It was disappointing because that killed my parlay.
- [03:37]
A
Oh, of course. That. God forbid.
- [03:39]
B
I had everything.
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A
I know you did. See, but that's why parlays are what they are.
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B
They're hard.
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A
Yeah. That's why they're. They're. They're kind of a difficult bet sometimes.
- [03:49]
B
But I get, I get. I get Texans tonight. And then, I mean, I had, you know, four of the five would have.
- [03:54]
A
Hit, so we'll get to that. Picks coming your way. But here's the thing. When the Bears coach and the Bears quarterback go full meatball, it gives cover for everybody, even people that don't really care about the packers or don't really care about the rivalry. When the example is set by the behavior of the coach and the quarterback, all bets are off. Mike Ditka and Forrest Gregg didn't like each other, and that went back to their playing days. That was real. The stuff between Ditka and Greg, that filtered down to the players, that was genuine. Those guys didn't like each other. And if you remember when Charles Martin Spiked Jim McMahon, Ditka called out Forrest, Greg and said, he's coached to do that. Something to that effect. Like when somebody does something like that, either he's just stupid or the coach is telling him to do that. And he made it very clear what he thought. I don't know what's going on between Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur. It seems like something Johnson has decided to foment and okay, he's the coach of the Bears standing in the locker room saying, fuck those guys. Yeah, Fuck. Someone else said it. It came from the back of the room. Somebody yelled it out and he grabbed and said, yeah. And echoed it.
- [05:29]
B
Yeah. He said, I don't like those guys. I think, you know, and I've thought through it, and this guy is very deliberate in everything he does. He's very steady and everything he does, and he does everything with a purpose. I truly. This is just my opinion on it. I really don't think that he hates Matt LaFleur and he hates the Green Bay Packers. I think he's truly buying into what he heard in his very first interview with the McCaskey family, that you've got to go out and beat Green Bay. And they probably said Green Bay more times than anything else in that interview, I would bet. And he's grabbed a hold of it and he's going to make it his own and turn it into something that the McCaskey family and his bosses really want and the city owns as well, too. I really don't think he feels as strongly as he does, but he's very deliberate. And, dude, everything has a purpose for this team.
- [06:24]
A
He's making a wrestling bid out of it, is what it seems. This seems like kayfabe, but okay.
- [06:31]
B
And I'm not saying that in a negative way or that I don't like it or don't appreciate it, I think because everything he does is very deliberate and is very. Is very purposeful for his team. And it's for the city and it's for the owners, it's for the organization, and everyone is rallying behind it. And it helps. It really, really helps that you win. That's the key. That's the important part. And when you win, you can go full on Captain Meatball with it. And an owner, to even take it.
- [07:00]
A
To another level, apparently did it at halftime where they're down 21 to 3. And he stood up in front of the team and said, here's how we are going to author the greatest playoff comeback in Bears history, starting right now. You know, and the team's like, okay, tell us what to do, Coach.
- [07:15]
B
I'm really excited that you mentioned that because I will bring. We'll bring that back and forth progress, because there's more to get into about that. Something that I learned and thought was really, really interesting. Talking about how deliberate and purposeful this guy is and everything he does as a coach.
- [07:30]
A
In Apollo 13, when Ed Harris. Ed Harris character says something, he says, I disagree, gentlemen, I think this will be our finest hour.
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B
Finest hour. Yeah. When they. They talk about it being the biggest disaster or the worst, worst, worst thing that ever happened for NASA. Yep. Yeah, I disagree. This will be our finest moment.
- [07:51]
A
Yep. Finest hour, I think is what he said. It sounds like a Churchillian sort of reference, but man, it's what the, the feelings of this weekend when you can tell that, that otherwise disconnected either Chicago people or non sports fans who for the first time in their lives are getting a sense of what this town is like in moments like this. To see everything lit up the way that it was to, to just see everybody. My, my pharmacist was like, go Bears. You know, like everybody, everybody everywhere has just kind of got that look in their eye. And it's not necessarily the schadenfreude of Packer fans being miserable. Maybe up near you it is. Maybe as you get closer, the further north you get, there's a little bit more of the direct schadenfreude of seeing unhappy, grimacing Packer fans. We just have the, the program director here of the drive. Big Packer fan.
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B
Oh, is he really? I didn't know that.
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A
Oh, you, you didn't know that, Keith? Yeah, he's big time Packer fan.
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B
I knew there was something about him. I just couldn't put my finger.
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A
But he's, he's really level headed about it. Very. And I, you know, I kind of gave him a look like I think he was expecting it. I think, I think he wanted a little bit of the, of the punishment, you know, coming in this morning. Probably was expecting it. Not used to it because they're not used to having sports people around here. But it's the, it's still a part of things. There's no doubt in my mind. And watching the Crash out videos, which I think are largely fake, a lot of these performative packers of individual fans.
- [09:33]
B
Yeah, I don't, I don't buy any of that stuff.
- [09:35]
A
Yeah, they're almost all performed and fake of people in bars and people just like, oh, here's, here's how I reacted. Okay.
- [09:44]
B
I have the Mike Ditka comment here. He says either you're coaching that or your players are stupid. That's what I'm going to say. In this case. I believe they were coached. That's why I never got along with Forrest Greg. To this day I don't respect him for that reason.
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A
That was right after Charles Martin threw Jim McMahon to the ground and sprained his shoulder after a play.
- [10:07]
B
Yep, yep.
- [10:08]
A
So I don't think it's that. I don't. But the idea of it. The concept of this is how they're going to set the tone. The quarterback is there with his tongue out, going grating cheese on the post game and Tony Gonzalez being all weird. I like you. I don't care if you like him or not. Who cares if you like somebody? Like he was making this big deal. Like he was. He was going to anoint them with his praise. Whatever, man. I like your work. It's all good. But, like you do, this isn't some newsworthy moment where you've decided you like the Bears. I like the Bears, too. I don't think that's newsworthy. What's not to like other than, you know, going down 21 to three at half? But the. I would just say this, too, when it comes to the Ben Johnson play calling and ever like, grumble, grumble, grumble. This is a bad gameplay. Get used to it. Get used to the cute. Get used to the going forward on fourth down from your own 31 or whatever it is that this is what it is. For better or for worse. He's. He's going to take big swings and he's going to take big risks and understand, like, oh, yeah, can we score right now? Are we. Do we have the ball? As long as we have the ball, we're not going to choose to give it back to you yet. When we do, we will. Tori Taylor, stand over here. He didn't punt. Yeah, he never punted, which is what I think Caleb Williams said to Tori Taylor when they drafted him.
- [11:45]
B
Right? Yeah. You're not going to punt much. Yeah. We said we're not going to need.
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A
You much or something like that.
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B
Something along those lines.
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A
Just a. Just a fascinating time in this city, do you think, this week, did you see whether or not the giant Bears helmets were on the Lions?
- [12:02]
B
I haven't seen it anywhere. Yeah, I haven't seen anywhere. I didn't walk down that direction.
- [12:07]
A
I haven't. We could go look. I don't know if we can see it from the other side of this floor. We might be able to. I don't. I don't know. I don't think. No. Yeah. I don't think you see the building. We're not close to Michigan.
- [12:19]
B
I think the angle I think right wouldn't get us.
- [12:21]
A
We can see the building. We just can't see the Lions from here. But I would say if you're going to do it, why not do it? Put them on there for the Rams game. And we're still waiting on a game time. It's going to be Sunday. We just don't know exactly when. The Bears are a four and a half point underdog and they would have been a two and a half point underdog, I think to the Eagles. But that Eagles offense did what the Eagles offense has been doing.
- [12:49]
B
Yeah, the early line here for my bookie is plus four. Okay, plus four for the Bears. And you know, you talk about Ben Johnson's play calling. I have zero issues with any of his play calling with the exception of that going forward on four. The at year 32. I don't, I don't understand. He'd have to explain that one to me. I don't get it. You're down 14 to 3. You're not moving the ball. Just pun it, just punt it. Unless he just thought, all right, they're going to score anyway. Even if they're 60 yards or 85 yards or if they're 30 yards away, they're going to score. Might as well make it quicker. I don't know if that's his thought process, then that's unfortunate you feel that way about your defense. But if that's the rationale, take less time for them to score, fine. That's the only thing I'll ever disagree with because, you know, you talk about Caleb missing some of the easy we and a lot of people talk about Caleb missing some of the easier throws that he should when he has a clean pocket and he has a firm foundation, an open receiver. Ben Johnson misses too. But like when Caleb comes through and needs the big plays and makes the big plays, Ben Johnson also has that little section of his playbook that says, all right, now is the time for this play that we've been working on for weeks. I've been saving this play for something. Here's that moment.
- [14:03]
A
And then you end up with a 25 yard touchdown to DJ Moore because they were apparently yelling out, screen, screen, screen, like they got him that badly. The packers thought, oh, we know this formation. We got this. Yeah. And they had already countered it and the packers had no idea that was going on.
- [14:23]
B
Yeah, we'll talk more about that play in forward progress as well, too.
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A
This is going to be a hell of a week. It already is. The last few days have just been phenomenal. And in hearing what is being said nationally and watching people kind of come to the party and see what's going on, I don't know how Dennis Allen did it and did what he did with the defense and whether or not the keeping them in, man, and blitzing everybody is sustainable. It's, it sped things up a little bit to the point where it allowed them to save time. I think a lot of that blitzing really was a, hey, we're behind, we got no choice. I don't think it is a strategy other than it was a strategy for that game to say whatever you're going to do, you might hit a couple of these. But we're, we're going to make your life difficult and it's going to be hard to run because we're going to have an extra guy in the box and we're going to have somebody that they brought brisker way down close. So there's a lot to discuss, there's a lot to figure out strategically and we're going to do that all week, especially when we get more news about injuries and about the defensive backfield, what some of the plan is right there. Because either Kyler Gordon's back or he's not.
- [15:32]
B
Yeah. And I think what's happened too is the level and the play of Grady Jarrett has increased every week for the last several weeks. It has.
- [15:39]
A
He still gets hung up on blocks too easily.
- [15:42]
B
He plays, he plays the run game so well. And that's why there was a difference in the second half. Well, was shutting down the packers run game. Grady Jarrett's a part of that. DeMarco Jackson was a big part of that as well too.
- [15:54]
A
Dominique Robinson, Dominique Robinson had a great game.
- [15:56]
B
We mentioned him in the post game show in playing against the run. Jaquan Brisker was all around the run. But they shut down the packers run game in the second half, which made a difference. So, you know, tomorrow on Ford Progress Day, we're going to have Tim Jenkins join us.
- [16:08]
A
Sweet.
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B
And we've talked already a little bit about taking a look at some defense and what they did differently in the second half because Ben Johnson said scheme wise they didn't do anything different. That's what he said in post game. But I know he might change that after he goes back and watches the film or maybe talks with with Da a little bit. But I don't know if the play of DeMarco Jackson makes that much of a difference in the run game than, you know, in what we saw in that second half because it really was significantly different, I think. And even though I love him, our guy, Big Bill.
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A
Yeah, they were better without him.
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B
They were better without him. It's, it's a, it's a different ability to move and be flexible on the defensive line without him there faster. And I know he clogs up two guys, but that's really all he does. And he'll take up two bodies because they double team him a lot, but then that's pretty much it. And if you can, if you can eliminate him, you're eliminating a full body of work, which he doesn't get unglued and doesn't have really the ability to even come off those blocks to make those plays. So they're probably better without him, which is unfortunate to say, because I love the guy. I love watching him play the football.
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A
Playoffs are here and my bookie is where you turn bets into bankroll. Everybody's betting. The NFL is in do or die mode. College football is down to the last two teams. Super bowl is just around the corner. I really don't need to paint much more of a picture right now with what's going on for you in sports, especially Chicago sports, having one of their great nights. If there ever was a time to get in the game, it is right now. And especially because my bookie makes it so easy to play. It's one account, it's one wallet. You can bet the spreads, you can live bet second half. And then during commercials, you want to hit the casino. It's right there for you. All in one place. And you have the power. All you do is you go to MyBookie AG, you use the promo code DBU, Dan Bernstein Unfiltered. And then you get your first bet covered up to 500 bucks. That is called the bet back bonus token. And what that means is you make a bet, you know, $500 bet, $499 bet, or the, you know, maybe less than that. Wherever you're comfortable. And if it doesn't hit, you can run it back. It's like it never happened. You got to use the promo code DBU when you register and make your deposit. Don't just watch the playoffs, make them pay. Bet anything, anytime, anywhere. Only at my bookie. Lots more in depth bear stuff coming up on Forward Progress. But it wasn't just the Bears that were making news because during that game it crossed and we all said, okay, can we make sure this is real? Is this note from Jeff Passon actually the case? And it was with the Cubs doing what we have asked and asked and asked. They signed Alex Bregman to a five year, $175 million contract. Yeah, I'm confident that we're gonna have enough money to field a good team. Apparently that's the case is they are right up against that luxury tax line. And now you Have a. There are no opt outs. It is a no trade clause. This is the highest average annual value contract the Cubs have ever paid out. And they do it for a guy who's going to be around 32, like around the time the season starts. He is your third baseman for the next five years.
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B
Yep. And 70 million of that's deferred.
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A
But he makes the extra money because he got the opt out. The way Scott Boris played, this was perfect. He bid everything up and he got a big number. He got like 40 million, some crazy upfront number Last year got his opt out and now he ends up with a full 215 million over six seasons.
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B
Do you think the Cubs are done here, though?
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A
Well, there has been rumor that they might have to move a deal to get away from that, that tax level. But I'll be really pissed off if they move Nico Horner because he's too important. He's too represent on the field, off the field, work ethic, leadership, all of the stuff that is not measurable that you can't do that right now.
- [20:41]
B
It really pisses me off as a Cubs fan that they're dictated by that luxury tax line. It's really unfortunate with the amount of money they make and the money they have to be so concerned to deviate from that. When you really do need another bat and you have to have a bat in right field, you have to. And if it's not Kyle Tucker, it should be Cody Bellinger. Looks like Bellinger might land on the Mets. From everything I'm reading about, Tucker's not going to the Dodgers, so he's still possibly in play. But go for it in 26, win in 26. You need to add one of those two guys, in my opinion, for right field, you have to. But I just, I don't know if they're going to. This may be the final move. And they say, all right, we'll piece together what else, whatever else we need to with smaller parts and not go for another, another home run.
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A
I know it's going to be a little bit before the zips projections or the fan graphs or baseball Prospectus Pakota projections come out. But if you just look at this, simply adding a four win player, or let's be conservative, say it's a three and a half win player and adding Cabrera. My guess is that when you're talking about these likelihoods, these ranges of wins.
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B
What were they last year going into the season?
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A
I think they were right around 90.
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B
Yeah, I thought it was right around 90.
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A
Yeah. So what I would say right now is minus. Even if they don't add another bat. As it stands right now, adding Bregman, you have and Cabrera, you've probably gone from the range of 86 to 90 right back up to 89 to 93 at a minimum. A minimum would be my estimation. So this is the way the Cubs lineup looks right now. Michael Bush at first, Nico Horner at second, Ian Happ in left, Sessuki and right. The DH is probably because he's a lefty. Moises by Asteroids at the moment, Bregman at third, PCA and center, Dansby Swanson at short and Carson Kelly as your catcher. Yeah, that's pretty. And by the way, PCA is having himself a time in Chicago. He's having himself. He's everywhere. You notice that? Yeah.
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B
Good for him. Should young guy. He's got money. Go on, have fun, man.
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A
I got a text in the wee hours of the morning.
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B
It's not the season, you know. Don't do anything stupid.
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A
I got a text.
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B
Don't get arrested.
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A
I got a text in the wee hours of the morning from my son.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Who said. He just said PCA is here.
- [23:28]
B
Oh yeah.
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A
I said, how's he doing? He goes, he's in a great mood. He said he's very, very happy. I said, as long as he's behaving himself, as long as you're not like Pete Kaner Armstrong at that point, you're.
- [23:44]
B
Fine, you know, falling asleep and sleeping somewhere in Wrigleyville.
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A
Kyle Farnsworth right at the pool table at Ties. Yeah, I mean, go ahead. I have, I think he's, he's, he is a. He's a young man on the town and enjoying himself. Good for him. But when the worst hitters in your lineup are, it's like Carson Kelly and Dansby Swanson.
- [24:06]
B
Yeah, yeah. No, it's, it's all good. I just, I want one more like let's go out and do it for real. You know, those two guys are still sitting out there. Do something to make it happen.
- [24:18]
A
So if you're looking at where the fall off may be as Bregman ages, this is something I was curious about, about what we can expect here because his, his bat control pitch selection is elite. His ability to, to not chase. Joe Sheehan wrote that signing Bregman isn't risk free. He missed a few weeks in 2024 with bone spurs in his right elbow, undergoing surgery after 2024. Last year he was limited to 114 games following a right quad strain. These are the things that happen as players push into their 30s when healthy. We've seen him lose some productivity against fastballs. Measuring his weighted on base average and expected weighted on base average using the expected numbers are better because that just actually measures how the ball's coming off the bat. 2022 he was at 370 23, 3782024 he was at 349 and rebounded last year to 357. And then Joe Sheehan uses the context of league weighted on base and X woba, which is the expected numbers. He said he's still above average at third. Also, you'd expect some slippage over the life of his contract. Now this is now this is not me here when I give you this comparison. So tell me if you agree with this, Sheehan writes. I look to Cubs history for the best comparison. In the winter of 2014, 2015, Theo Epstein went into the market for a highly rated 31 year old free agent and paid him 155 million. This is what was written at the time. This is from December 13, 2014. The Lester signing is the first step in the next phase, shaping the talent into the form of a championship team. The core of young position players allows the Cubs to pay even overpay for starting pitching, something they don't have much of in their system. Lester may not be a number one, but he's a solid number two with a track record of providing innings whose skills have not deteriorated as he's reached 30. There's some risk here, but signing Lester a high price starting pitcher is the next phase of the plan. Okay, that's what was written in 2014 and this is what was written now. The John Lester signing is the Alex Bregman signing, the use of money to back up a strong player development run. The former led to a November dogpile in Cleveland and the latter may produce a similar outcome. So that is some optimistic stuff from somebody who has been one of the high men on the, on the Cubs when it comes down to some of these things, but is generally somewhat conservative when looking at these projections. Bregman also is a good talker, interesting guy and we shall see how he fits into everything. But, but looking at Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson on that side of the field. Yeah, no, it's a horner at that. That's, that's, yeah, it's pretty good.
- [27:43]
B
It's a, obviously a great signing and it's looking at some of the contract numbers. I mean you have about half your roster is making the, like, like, like a minimum, you know, projected for 2026 at $820,000. That's a lot of your young pitching.
- [28:01]
A
These are, these are exciting times. They're not done. They're never going to be done. Whether it's now, whether it's close to the deadline, seeing how they come out of the gate, but they are. They've done. We have to praise them for doing what we asked. I have to praise them for doing what I asked, and that is spend the money when it's time. And they did. They did. Is it a little overpay as far as the length of the deal, the average annual value, the whole thing? Maybe. But as I said in the underpants metaphor, if you need underpants, you go buy underpants.
- [28:39]
B
Right. Whatever they want, cost. Right. And at this point, knowing, not knowing what's going to happen beyond 2026. I don't care. As a Cubs fan. I mean. Yeah, I never care.
- [28:50]
A
You absolutely shouldn't.
- [28:51]
B
But it's about winning this year. Like, go all out to win this.
- [28:54]
A
Year and see what happens to win the World Series.
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B
Right? Yeah. And the fact that it happened in the middle of the Bears comeback was just, was just extra special.
- [29:03]
A
It was great. It's. You might as well. And then the Hawks won and the Bulls demolished the Mavs, too. If you need Windows, now's a great time to get them because Russ Armstrong is waiting for your call. He actually comes out to your home to give you the estimate, too. It's Chicago window, guys. 847-302-9171. Just talk to Russ before you do anything else you're thinking about Windows, just call him or go to chicagowindowguys.com look at all the five star reviews. And that way Russ can explain to you if you're worried about, well, if I'm missing out, I turn on the radio and I hear all these buy one, get one free deals or it's 50% off. Right now he's going to explain to you what Windows really cost, why good Windows cost what they cost, and the difference between some of those fake deals and a real deal. And he's got a price match guarantee. So if and when you're doing your getting your quotes and various people are coming out, he'll match. And he'll also give you more peace of mind because when you talk to these other companies about who's installing my Windows, who's coming out and measuring, they don't know sometimes, most of the time they're using subcontracted labor. They're using third parties to do all this stuff. Russ doesn't. Anybody who is out there works for him. It's his factory here in Chicago. He will custom make the windows for your house. So call him 847-302-9171 and check out Russ's five star reviews at ChicagoNowdownGuys.com I watched Indiana in the first half. We were out to dinner, so I was. I was watching kind of a little bit here and there, and then I was watching a little more closely. And I'll tell you something. I don't know a lot about Kurt Signetti, but I think just off the top of my head, we may be watching one of the greatest coaching jobs that's been done in sports in a long time. It isn't just the fact that they're winning games. It's the fact that he keeps plugging in players. They don't miss a beat and they don't make mistakes. They don't. They don't make mistakes. Everything is where it's supposed to be. Everyone is on time in these plays. It's like playing the computer. Depending on how it's all set up. It's like playing against the computer. Like, oh, this isn't fair. Oh, it just. It just went up a level like, I can't. You can't beat the computer. And there's not a lot of romance in it. But playing the Signetti Hoosiers is like turning up the levels, turning up the difficulty and playing against the computer.
- [32:14]
B
Yeah, they just go out and they execute.
- [32:16]
A
They don't make mistakes. Yeah, they don't beat themselves.
- [32:20]
B
Mendoza was 17 of 20 Dan for 177 yards, five touchdowns.
- [32:24]
A
He has more postseason touchdowns than incompletions. Think about that.
- [32:34]
B
That's good, right?
- [32:36]
A
More. More touchdowns than incompletions. As coach who somehow has gotten a team, and this is a college practice schedule, it's not. You don't practice the way pro teams practice. You don't get that time. It's an incredible coaching job. And if you listen to the show that I did here with Jerry DiNardo, it was really interesting to hear Jerry talking about it, and he was great. If you want to go back and listen to that show, by the way, there's a lot of insight into everything that's happening here, especially with Signetti in Indiana, because Jerry coached there. He knows the way things had worked in Bloomington.
- [33:23]
B
Yeah, that was released on December 24th. Yeah.
- [33:26]
A
Yeah. It's really interesting stuff. And when Jerry says, look, you Only get this once. You only get to bring your guys over. Your group from jmu. You only get this one time. But I'm not worried about this because Signetti's found a type. He has found these older, established, like professional college players essentially, where he'll have a few freshmen, a few young people out there, but he's gonna beat you with grown ass men. And that's a huge. That's a big difference between a 21 year old and an 18 year old. There just is. And we saw a little bit of this happening in college basketball with the senior laden mid majors. But boy, when you. This is the first time, I think that we've really seen this approach in postmodern football in the era of Nil and the transfer portal to have guys who are mature mentally and physically.
- [34:24]
B
The Ducks were, I think they were 6 or 7 in total defense this year. I mean, that's a real. That's a real football defense.
- [34:30]
A
Yeah. And just. No, no, it's all real. And this team. I want to say that the average age of the Hoosiers is up there with some of the younger NFL teams. Like when you're dealing with experienced, professionalized collegiate players or collegiate professional players. Wherever we are in these brackish waters between college and pro. He's found something. I don't know if it works without him, but it is. I. There is no doubt in my mind that Indiana is going to win the national championship, if not romp to the national championship. I don't think there's a. There is a question. I haven't even looked at a spread yet. I don't care who they're playing. I don't care. They're too damn good. Go ahead and prove me wrong, Mario Cristobal. You want to do that? I don't think you can, but I certainly invite you to try.
- [35:26]
B
You know, there's an actor that he looks like and I can't. I can't place it and I can't.
- [35:30]
A
Who, Signetti?
- [35:31]
B
No, Cristobal.
- [35:32]
A
Because Signetti looks like Nick Schepkowski.
- [35:35]
B
Oh, God.
- [35:35]
A
Doesn't he? That's funny. He's like. But not as cute. He's like if, like, not as sort of like, you know, smiley, cute. He's like if Dick Schepkowski frowned all the time, he would look like Kurt Signetta.
- [35:49]
B
Cristobal. I can picture the actor, but I can't remember anything I've seen him in.
- [35:53]
A
See, now you're going to do this to me.
- [35:54]
B
Drives me insane.
- [35:55]
A
Darn it. Is it Is it one of those guys just can't remember.
- [36:02]
B
Something he's been in?
- [36:07]
A
I don't know. That's not an easy one for me. He just. He's got the whole coachy, coach, coach face thing going on. I don't know.
- [36:15]
B
I'm sure somebody will.
- [36:17]
A
Is it Jon Bernthal?
- [36:19]
B
John Bernthal? No, it's not.
- [36:21]
A
You know who that is?
- [36:21]
B
Yes.
- [36:22]
A
Okay. I'm just trying to think of somebody who's got, like, that meat face that he's got. It's all right. There's a little bit of Pat Fitzgerald, but, I mean, that's all. You only want to lose. There's maybe a little bit of Harbaugh face. He's just coachy, coach face.
- [36:41]
B
No, there's an actor. I'll. I'll figure it out. Somebody will remember after they hear this.
- [36:45]
A
It'S not Mark Ruffalo.
- [36:47]
B
Somebody will point it out to me and say, yep, it's this guy.
- [36:50]
A
And you'll know for sure who it is.
- [36:53]
B
No, stop thinking about it. Don't waste your brain.
- [36:55]
A
Oh, and then it'll pop in when you least expect it.
- [36:57]
B
Yeah.
- [36:57]
A
Put on the back channel. Okay, I get it. Should I read the story that's been making me laugh?
- [37:08]
B
Is it the one you sent me? It is.
- [37:09]
A
Yes, I should.
- [37:11]
B
Yes.
- [37:12]
A
All I'm going to do is read this. Purely the AP copy.
- [37:18]
B
That's the one you send me.
- [37:19]
A
That's what you'll get. Yes, yes, the AP copy. And I promise you, I'm not editorializing. I'm going to read this straight through. This is the AP story as we get ready for the Olympics. And by the way, I'm actually kind of. Kind of ready for some of it.
- [37:37]
B
Why?
- [37:37]
A
I don't know. Hearing Mike Tirico talking like he's great with the Olympics. He's unbelievable. He's unbelievable at everything. But the. Just because it's the. I. We can pretend to get excited about these sports and pretend we know everything about curling. I was. I was supposed to go curling Saturday night.
- [37:56]
B
Oh, yeah? Yeah. Before the. For the Bears game was scheduled.
- [37:58]
A
Yep. So at some point, I will be going curling.
- [38:01]
B
All right.
- [38:02]
A
I was supposed to go. They had. It was postponed.
- [38:05]
B
Yeah. I'm curious to hear your take on that. If you had. If it's fun, if you enjoy it, because I know. I mean, I've known half a dozen people that have ever done it. Oh, yeah. People.
- [38:13]
A
Like.
- [38:13]
B
Enjoyable.
- [38:14]
A
Yeah.
- [38:16]
B
Yeah.
- [38:16]
A
I just.
- [38:16]
B
I don't. I want to get your take on.
- [38:18]
A
It, because I'm looking forward to doing it. I don't know when it's going to be yet because it took us forever to find this date. They reserved the thing and then we had to cancel.
- [38:26]
B
Yeah. Natalie wants to try it.
- [38:27]
A
Curling. Yeah. I've just. I've never.
- [38:30]
B
I think she has friends up in Wisconsin that have done it or do it consistently. I don't know.
- [38:36]
A
Yeah.
- [38:36]
B
If you enjoy it, I maybe go give it a whirl one time, see if it's fun.
- [38:40]
A
I'll be completely honest whether or not I think it's fun or not, but. Okay.
- [38:44]
B
Read this story.
- [38:45]
A
Okay. US Bobsledder Chris Horn survived a frightening ride down the track in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Sunday after his three teammates failed to make it into the four man sled at the start of a World cup race. Cool runnings. Horn, the driver, got in first, as is common in bobsled. But his three teammates, Ryan Rager, Hunter Powell and Caleb Fernel, all had trouble getting in. Open the door, Unlock the door.
- [39:37]
B
Like you would think that if that ever happened, it'd be one guy that doesn't get in. But for only the one, for the.
- [39:44]
A
Only one, when all three of them. Well, I mean, I would suggest probably not doing Jaeger bombs immediately before the Pavia party. Don't have the three Pavia brothers. See, that would have been perfect if it's Roel, Javier and Diego.
- [40:05]
B
And Chris Horn.
- [40:06]
A
And Chris Horn. All the Pavia brothers were there with like the sunglasses on and the gold chains and the whole thing. Come on, guys, we're leaving. No, we'll be there. No, we're leaving now. Go ahead. You got this. All right. So Ryan Rager, Hunter Powell and Caleb Furnell all had trouble getting in, leaving Horn to navigate the course with no other weight in the sled and nobody to pull the brakes at the bottom. That's a problem, right?
- [40:39]
B
That's the biggest issue.
- [40:41]
A
So here he is. So think about what he's going through. Right? He's in. And this is a choreographed maneuver. You've seen it. 1, 2, 3, 4. It's. It's bang, bang, bang, bang. And they're in and they're locked. And the brakeman's there, and off they go.
- [40:59]
B
Now, I haven't watched a ton of bobsledding, but I've watched enough to know that I've never seen three guys not make it in. Like one guy you've seen.
- [41:10]
A
Yeah, I haven't. I haven't seen one guy.
- [41:12]
B
You've seen a guy fall before?
- [41:14]
A
I. I don't know if I maybe.
- [41:16]
B
Like in like bloopers or reels. But you've seen a guy fall. But for three guys not to make it in, they must not like Chris Horn. I wanted to find out more.
- [41:25]
A
Chris Horn, you're good.
- [41:27]
B
All right, this is the run, guys. We're all going to fall.
- [41:29]
A
Go get him, Chris.
- [41:30]
B
Fuck this guy.
- [41:31]
A
Yeah, Watch this. See if he makes it. See if somebody can pull the brakes on this. So Rager appeared to be the first to stumble, and the domino effect took over from there. Powell appeared to get thrown somewhat violently toward the track wall, hitting his back on the hard packed ice. Icy surface. After he couldn't get into the sled, and Fernell couldn't make his way into his spot either. None of the US Sliders suffered serious injuries, and all X rays taken came back negative, the team said. Powell said, I'm a little sore. I should be fine in a couple days. Without any weight in the sled, Horn basically careened down the track.
- [42:22]
B
But still.
- [42:22]
A
Reach the speed of around 75 miles per hour during the run. Now, think about it. Going 75 miles an hour in a car, pretty fast.
- [42:32]
B
Yeah.
- [42:32]
A
Have you ever gone like 50 on a jet Ski?
- [42:38]
B
I rode a Jet Ski once. I don't like feeling out of control.
- [42:41]
A
Okay.
- [42:42]
B
And I don't know how fast I was.
- [42:43]
A
I rented a waverunner on Delavan.
- [42:46]
B
Okay.
- [42:47]
A
And had no idea. I thought a waverunner was like. Like you could putter around a little bit.
- [42:53]
B
Yeah.
- [42:53]
A
You get up there and the kids were little.
- [42:55]
B
You had them on the thing with you.
- [42:56]
A
Yeah, had them on the thing with. Course. Jace is like, oh, faster, faster, faster. Zoe's screaming. Zoe says, drop me off. Drop me off.
- [43:04]
B
Yeah.
- [43:04]
A
This is terrifying.
- [43:05]
B
Right.
- [43:06]
A
She goes, drop me off at the dock. And Jason, we go faster. And I. And it's a high performance. Like, we were going, I don't know, 45 or something, and it feels like a 200.
- [43:16]
B
Yeah. It just. I. I felt like I had zero control. It just. Yeah, I didn't. It's not for me.
- [43:20]
A
Have you been water skiing at like 30 miles an hour? Yeah. So he careened down the track at 75 miles an hour. It lasted just over a minute. Horn drove the sled across the finish line, then thankfully had the presence of mind to scoot toward the back of the sled and pull the brake handles. Athletes and coaches from several different national teams rushed to the finish line to ensure that Horn was fine. As the sled skidded to a stop, some simply shook his hand and nodded their heads in disbelief. Horn, whose start in Bobsledding was as a brake man. So he knew what to do. He waved to the nearby television cameras to show he was okay. We are fortunate it wasn't worse. USA bobsled head coach Chris Fogged. Fogt. F O G, T Foged.
- [44:20]
B
Let's call him Fog.
- [44:22]
A
No, it's.
- [44:22]
B
No, there's no T. Don't pronounce it.
- [44:25]
A
There's a T. F O, G, T. Yeah, it's silent. Chris Fogg.
- [44:28]
B
Or the G is silent. It's fogged.
- [44:30]
A
Fought. Chris Fought. Said in a text message. It was a rough weekend for Chris Horn, who also crashed out of the man World cup race on Saturday.
- [44:40]
B
Oh, man. Maybe he's the issue.
- [44:44]
A
His break man for that race, Carsten Vissering, suffered abrasions and was unable to compete on Sunday in the four man rager. Took Vissering spot on the four man sled.
- [44:57]
B
Yeah, I think that was deliberate.
- [44:58]
A
Well, see, if that's the thing, he's the. He's the guy that started the whole thing. The backup who came in for the other guy who suffered abrasions and he was out.
- [45:08]
B
He couldn't do it.
- [45:08]
A
No, he was too abraded.
- [45:10]
B
Can you imagine how hard that would have been to scoot back in a bobsled?
- [45:14]
A
Yes.
- [45:15]
B
All that force pushing you forward. I mean, that's crazy.
- [45:20]
A
Going 75 miles an hour and then having the presence of mind. I better lean back and stop this thing.
- [45:24]
B
Right?
- [45:26]
A
Just what is he thinking when he's really. Boy, this is really light. Cause he may not know. He's tucked in there and looking. He's like, this thing's handling, guys. Oh, yeah.
- [45:38]
B
I wonder, was there. Yeah. Was there any comments from him? I didn't see any about. About that. Because I wonder like, when he did know if that's something, you know, right away.
- [45:48]
A
Well, I think you understand that the sled is missing £600 because you're. I mean, like all designed for an exact weight.
- [45:56]
B
Yeah, I know, but you're tucked in there pretty.
- [45:57]
A
But everything's calibrated to an exact weight. There's no he. Of course he knew.
- [46:02]
B
He's like, man, this is riding really loose today, Right?
- [46:04]
A
That's right. You guys feeling this too, guys? I'm slipping a little bit out of these turns here, guys. How we looking back there, Goose? Hey. Oh, boy. All right. I guess it's just me. Okay, that's great. Turns the radio up, puts on yacht Rock. I can finally listen to this and nobody's bitching about it. All right, well, that's either Some bad luck.
- [46:26]
B
Or they don't like riding with the guy. One of the two, but you're right. Does it happen twice?
- [46:32]
A
Come on now, show this. If you want to really get everybody excited for the Olympics, you don't need Lindsey Vaughn talking to Scarlett Johansson about falling down a mountain or whatever it is. Meanwhile, did you know she has a knee replacement? Lindsey Vonn?
- [46:48]
B
Yeah.
- [46:49]
A
I didn't. How crazy is that? She's falling down a mountain at 80 miles an hour. She's got a knee replacement.
- [46:57]
B
That's how it happened.
- [46:58]
A
Yeah, but that's wild. Like, what a medical marvel that is.
- [47:04]
B
Because she's been doing this for a while. Like, isn't there anyone else younger?
- [47:09]
A
Well, Michaela Shifrin, but it's a different sport, I guess for her, though.
- [47:14]
B
That's great.
- [47:14]
A
Yeah, I guess she wants to come back and do it and they sing the anthem and it's all good. Good for her. All cool by me. Ow. Ow. I'm sure. Ow. Ow.
- [47:29]
B
You all right?
- [47:29]
A
My face hurts from smiling. I'm telling you. It's only happened to me. Like, when you go to a comedy show or something and somebody's really good, you see a great set. And I get it because I cry a lot when I'm laughing. And my eyes, like, just from using a napkin or something to wipe my eyes, I'll get these red streaks here. But, yeah, the bears have just been. It started everything out, and I'm finding things funnier than maybe I otherwise wouldn't find funny.
- [47:55]
B
Yeah. I didn't stay up as late as you did on Saturday.
- [47:58]
A
It wasn't my intent. I just didn't. I couldn't.
- [48:00]
B
I got done doing our work and then I got in bed and then laid there for, like, I don't know, 40, 45 minutes. I could. I couldn't fall asleep.
- [48:08]
A
I just kept following the memes and I just was looking what everybody was posting and all the funny stuff that was going on.
- [48:15]
B
I can. I can't do what you do, though. When you get in bed and look your phone. I can't do it.
- [48:19]
A
I'm not surprised.
- [48:20]
B
It'll. Because I'll stay up and keep watching things. We might do that. Like, we'll do it together. Natalie and I will, like, watch stuff together, but maybe for 10 or 15 minutes tops, but. Because I could sit there and just keep watching and watching and watching. Then all of a sudden, it's 2 o' clock in the morning.
- [48:35]
A
See, we can't see the TV from our bed. The TV viewing area is kind of off to the side.
- [48:44]
B
Oh, so you can't see it from your bed. Oh, so you can't lay in bed and watch tv.
- [48:47]
A
Correct.
- [48:48]
B
You have to sit up. Up. Okay. No, I thought you.
- [48:50]
A
I can't see the TV at all from my bed.
- [48:52]
B
All right. I thought you lay in bed and watched tv. I didn't know that. Or Beth.
- [48:55]
A
At least I thought she knows she's got a little couch. It's like a whole.
- [48:59]
B
That.
- [48:59]
A
That's the murder cave.
- [49:00]
B
Okay. Yeah, okay.
- [49:03]
A
The murder cave is a little murder cave.
- [49:04]
B
Has the tv.
- [49:05]
A
Correct. But it's. It's you. You can see the whole murder cave. You can see the side of the tv. You can see. You just can't see the TV from the bed.
- [49:12]
B
I thought you guys laid in bed and watched tv. No, because I would love to do that. I love when I'm at a hotel, I get to watch TV in bed. But we don't. Yeah, we don't have a tv.
- [49:19]
A
Yeah, I didn't. I don't really want that. Cause it's part of my wind down thing. I might watch a couple things, maybe return a couple of emails. I know it's supposed to be bad for me because of the blue light and all that, but it seems. Because then I'll do a crossword puzzle.
- [49:31]
B
Yeah. Because we have the bedrooms just for sleepy time and sexy time.
- [49:34]
A
Sexy time. Explosion. Well, that's what it should be like. Ideally, you don't. You know, it's not a college dorm room where it's your playroom and your kitchen and everything. El. It helps you sleep better when you know, you've dedicated all that time just to that. So you're actually doing it right in that regard. But the bears just make. When the bears are good, it just makes everything better. Like food tastes better.
- [50:05]
B
So we had dinner Saturday night for the boys birthdays. And then Natalie, I asked Natalie to get me a big bucket of the wings from the Jules.
- [50:15]
A
Okay.
- [50:15]
B
Jules wings. They're great.
- [50:17]
A
Now which. Which boy got to decide where you went for the.
- [50:22]
B
No, we. We picked the. We picked the location based on their. They like steak. And so we went to Jimmy's char house in Libertyville. Yeah. But no, we. We just picked it based on the game time of the. The bears. Because we knew we only had from 5:30 till 7. It was a short window. So we couldn't go anywhere really far.
- [50:40]
A
Right.
- [50:41]
B
And so yeah, we picked it. They didn't get to pick it.
- [50:43]
A
Okay. But they get to have. Did you do the. Did they have them Bring out a cupcake with a candle, a piece of chocolate cake.
- [50:49]
B
Okay.
- [50:49]
A
Yeah.
- [50:50]
B
Yeah. Because we were celebrating Hank and. And Lucas.
- [50:53]
A
Good. You shouldn't have to share your birthday. That kind of sucks, you know? But hey, you know, it's a birthday dinner.
- [51:00]
B
They're fine.
- [51:01]
A
Yeah. They get what they want.
- [51:02]
B
They don't give a shit.
- [51:04]
A
They're probably excited for the Bears game too. They wanted to hurry home, right?
- [51:07]
B
They were. Yeah, they were in the basement playing mini nerf hoop while the. And then I told you, I called them up. And the Bears final drive. I'm like, come on up here. Watch the end of the game altogether. So that was fun.
- [51:18]
A
Well, here we are. Matthew Stafford apparently, indeed has a sprained index finger on his throwing hand, but is said to be okay. And we will follow a lot of that on. If you want the full breakdown of everything that's going on, we're going to get in depth, in detail, not just today, but all week. Forward progress.
- [51:40]
B
Looking forward to it.
- [51:41]
A
A Chicago Bears podcast. Why bet the playoffs anywhere else when my bookie gives you everything you need to get paid? NFL playoffs are live. College football's down to the final teams super bowl is just around the corner. And with one account, with one wallet, you can bet the spread. You can live bet the second half. You can hit the casino during commercials. It's all in one place and you have the power. So go to MyBookie AG right now. Use our promo code, DBU. The initials of this show Dan Bernstein unfiltered. Get your first bet covered up to 500 bucks. And then if it doesn't hit, you've got a bet back bonus token. And what that means is you just invoke that and next thing you know, it's like it unhappened. And then you can run it back. Don't just watch the playoffs, make them pay. Go to my bookie register, use the code dbu. Make your deposit. And then you can bet on anything, anytime, anywhere. Only at MyBookie. Which leads us to our Monday set of DBU picks. DBU picks are presented by my bookie. And we've got another wild card round playoff game tonight.
- [52:58]
B
Last one. So this one will determine who plays the New England Patriots. We had a real thriller last night over the Chargers.
- [53:05]
A
Yeah, Poor Justin Herbert. I don't know what goes on when these things start to matter. And all of a sudden he just becomes a vegetable.
- [53:14]
B
Yeah.
- [53:15]
A
But not great.
- [53:16]
B
Nope. Not good at all. You want me to start?
- [53:18]
A
Go ahead.
- [53:19]
B
All right. I. So just looking at that game I'm going to continue on with what I had in my parlay, but now we're just doing it by itself. The Texans minus three. So we'll take that. Lay the points. Texans minus three. And I also have a little prop bet too. I'm going to take the Aaron Rodgers over 21 and a half passing attempts.
- [53:39]
A
Only because that's completions.
- [53:41]
B
Is it?
- [53:42]
A
You sure? Yeah, because I have him under.
- [53:45]
B
Oh no, I got to change that because I don't want to do completions. Yeah. Because in his passing attempts he's only gone in all of his losses. He's been over 21 with the exception of 1 and generally is over 30 in the losses and they're losing tonight. So he's going to be throwing the ball a lot. So. All right, I'll. I'll correct that. But we're going to take Texans minus three for sure.
- [54:07]
A
Okay. I have. At least as I read it, I have Aaron Rodgers.
- [54:12]
B
Right.
- [54:12]
A
I'm sure you're right. I have Aaron Rodgers under 21.5 completions and I have so much respect for this Texans defense and the way that d' Amico Ryan's has them depending on what uniforms. Like when they were in those all red uniforms, they looked like blood cells moving around. I have JALEN Warren under 52 and a half rushing yards.
- [54:41]
B
OK.
- [54:41]
A
I just. I think that the Pittsburgh offense is in tough against this physical and disciplined defense. So Aaron Rodgers under 21 and a half completions. Jalen Warren under 52.5 rushing yards. Those are my DBU picks. Lock in your picks now with my bookie. Bet on anything, anywhere, anytime. Make sure you stay with us all week on Dan Bernstein Unfiltered as we keep you apprised of everything that is going on. And of course Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast where we're going to get in depth and X's and O's and lineups and injuries and everything that you want. You mentioned Tim Jenkins. Yes.
- [55:27]
B
Tomorrow for forward progress.
- [55:29]
A
All kinds of other surprises as well. But that is going to do it for dbu.
- [55:34]
B
You were right about that too. I read that wrong.
- [55:35]
A
Yes. Completions.
- [55:36]
B
Yeah. You had complete. I thought I had attempts.
- [55:39]
A
Okay.
- [55:39]
B
Gosh darn it. Because he's not going over 21 and a half completions. Shoot.
- [55:44]
A
No, that's why I thought it was a nice easy little bet right there.
- [55:47]
B
It was an easy one. God damn it.
- [55:49]
A
I thought.
- [55:49]
B
But that's my next segment.
- [55:52]
A
I thought. I thought. God damn it.
- [55:57]
B
All right.
- [55:57]
A
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