Caleb Williams leads 2nd half charge, but the Bears fall short and lose division lead to Packers

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Ep. "Caleb Williams leads 2nd half charge, but the Bears fall short and lose division lead to Packers"

Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola (Co-host)
Podcast: 312 Sports

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Episode Overview

This episode brings unfiltered analysis of the Chicago Bears’ tough 28-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers—a defeat that cost them the division lead but, paradoxically, left the hosts more optimistic about the Bears than they've been all season. Dan and Matt break down everything that mattered in the loss, including Caleb Williams’ strong second-half performance, key defensive lapses, and where the Bears truly stand among the NFC’s elite. The conversation ranges from granular football strategy to the state of network broadcasts, college bowl season controversies, and the bleak situation of the Chicago Bulls. There’s plenty of classic Bernstein honesty and humor, making this an essential listen for Chicago sports fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears’ Loss to the Packers: Context & Takeaways

• The Playoff Picture Tightens

  • After the loss, Bears fall to 9-4, slip in playoff seeding; with four games left, this week’s matchup is declared a “must-win” against a struggling Browns offense.
  • "This is what real life in the NFL feels like... very little separates good teams as we get into the nut cuttin’ time when it comes to playoff seeding." (Co-host, [01:46])

• Why Optimism After a Loss?

  • Despite the loss, both hosts agree it’s the most confident they’ve felt about the Bears all year, crediting Caleb Williams’ steadying play and the team's response in the second half.
  • "It’s bizarre because after this game, after a loss, this is the most confident I felt about this team because that second half said to me, this is a real football team right now." (Dan Bernstein, [05:11])

• Defensive Letdowns

  • Major blame placed on blown coverages, missed tackles, and overreliance on blitzing, which Love exploited.
  • "They didn’t lose because of their offense. They lost because of their defense and the opposing quarterback’s accuracy, particularly against the blitz... you made things too easy on a quarterback who is just accurate." (Co-host, [07:10])
  • Key point: Need to focus more defenders in coverage versus blitzing Jordan Love.

• Tackling Issues

  • Ineffective tackling and defensive miscommunications were recurring problems; midseason practices and effort questioned.
  • "The hardest thing to do in the middle of a season is have the kind of practices that instill the reminders of how to tackle. The Bears have to stop missing tackles. The Packers don’t miss them. That’s a big difference between these teams." (Dan Bernstein, [09:45])
  • Personnel change: Noah Sewell losing snaps to DeMarco Jackson due to tackling issues ([10:32])

2. Coaching & Strategic Adjustments

• Blitzing vs. Coverage
  • The Bears’ blitz failed; advocates for “cluttering” the QB's vision in zone rather than blitzing.
  • "I'd rather have my resources against Jordan Love in coverage than blitzing... I'd rather clutter his field of vision than make him think that he's got an open hot against man." (Co-host, [26:22])
  • Discussion of a key Bears defensive breakdown: "...delayed blitzes. When you take a guy out of coverage and bring him late, that's not fast enough against Jordan Love... even if he does what he’s supposed to do, it’s still maybe not enough time to affect the play." (Dan Bernstein & Co-host, [11:51-12:36])

3. Broadcast Critiques and Humorous Tangents

• Frustration with Fox & Modern Broadcasts

  • The hosts vent about missed replays and “cutesy” graphics that interrupt live analysis.
  • "Fox has been doing a terrible job on replays... I wanted to see what was happening on the line... And they're so quick to want to prop up their color commentator... Let's see the plays..." (Dan Bernstein, [13:10])
  • "It's not just Fox... there’s an arms race now of these cute graphics... I don't need that." (Co-host, [13:48])

• Notable Malapropisms

  • Tom Brady’s mispronunciation of “Monongai” as “Monoghany/Monogony” gets playfully roasted: "He gave us Monoghany. Monogony. Do, do, do, do. Monogahy..." (Co-host, [16:40])
  • Playful bit about Caleb Williams being dubbed “The Great Hadooni” (instead of "Houdini") ([15:32])

4. NFL Culture Shift & Bears Mindset

• Praising Ben Johnson’s clock management and aggressive, unapologetic mentality postgame; Brady also commended this, which is seen as rare for the Bears.
  • "That kind of play calling... is not something people are used to. But that's the new mentality... They just got down too far. There's another quarter of that game, the Bears win it." (Co-host, [19:32])

5. College Football Bowl Opt-Outs & Playoff Controversies

• On Teams Refusing Bowl Invitations

  • Nuanced take: While big programs like Notre Dame skipping bowls feels “entitled,” hosts are sympathetic if it’s at the players' request or due to finances.
  • "If the players want to go, then go... If 41 of [80] kids don't want to go, then guess what, you're not going to go." (Dan Bernstein, [33:01]–[34:08])

• College Football Playoff Drama

  • The hosts blame ESPN’s CFP TV show for amplifying ranking controversies, noting teams like BYU got truly “screwed.”
  • "They painted themselves into a corner here because they can't explain why Alabama's there, why BYU's not..."(Co-host, [41:23])
  • "If there's one team that deserves to be there, that's not, it's BYU. Notre Dame, so shut the hell up." (Dan Bernstein, [42:13])

6. Cubs Offseason Rumors

• Cubs are actively seeking pitching; rumors about Michael King, Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, and even a possible Alex Bregman pursuit. Possible return of Kyle Schwarber discussed.
  • "Sounds like starting pitching is going to be the big expenditure... They are prepared to spend some money..." (Co-host, [52:47])

7. Bulls' Recent Struggles

• The Bulls have lost seven straight, look totally lost—calls for major changes, maybe even blowing it up.
  • "They're the worst team in the NBA right now... For a couple possessions they'll play hard, then they kind of stop and stand and look at each other." (Co-host, [57:18])
  • "I don't know what they're going to do. I don't know how you get out of this tailspin...something is not right with what's going on with the Bulls right now." (Co-host, [58:45])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Bears’ Progress:
  "After a loss, this is the most confident I felt about this team because that second half said to me, this is a real football team right now. They have weaknesses, they have flaws...yet...I walk away from this game saying, this is a real team this year in the NFL that can make some noise in the playoffs."
  — Dan Bernstein, [05:11]

• On Defensive Problems:
  "These were defensive failures in large part that cost them the game. What the defense has been so good at this year is not allowing stuff to get over their head...Matt LaFleur saw a weakness there and was willing to test that over and over and over again."
  — Co-host, [07:40]

• Broadcast Gripes:
  "We don't need all the silly stuff...If you're not doing everything from the lens of what can we do to make this better for the viewer, then don't do it."
  — Dan Bernstein, [16:24]

• Hilarious Malaprop Moment:
  "He gave us Monoghany. Monogony. Do, do, do, do. Monogahy..." — Co-host, on Tom Brady, [16:49]

• On the Bears’ Mentality:
  "We’re not going to play scared. We think we're good. We know we're good. We're going to carry ourselves like we're good and we're going to go win a game in your house."
  — Co-host, [25:29]

• On the Regular NFL Grind:
  "It’s just great to be in this spot—that the Bears are playing real football and living a real NFL life in a way they haven’t in a long, long time."
  — Co-host, [04:58]

• On the Bowl Opt-Out Debate:
  "If the players want to go, then go. But if it’s the school saying, ‘Oh, this is beneath us and our storied program’—bullshit."
  — Dan Bernstein, [34:12]

• On College Football Playoff Chaos:
  "They painted themselves into a corner...they can't explain why Alabama's there, why BYU's not..." — Co-host, [41:23]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:46] – Bears’ division loss and playoff scenario
• [05:11] – Host confidence in the Bears despite loss; Caleb Williams praised
• [06:44]-[07:40] – Game was “a defensive loss”, strategy missteps
• [09:45] – Missed tackles and midseason practice challenges
• [13:10] – Fox’s broadcast failings and unnecessary graphics
• [15:32] – The “Great Hadooni” Houdini joke
• [19:32] – Ben Johnson’s “big balls” clock management and Bears’ changing attitude
• [25:29]-[26:22] – Emphasizing the Bears’ new, aggressive mentality
• [33:01]-[34:12] – College football bowl opt-out debate
• [41:23]-[42:13] – Blaming ESPN’s CFP show and the BYU playoff snub
• [52:47] – Cubs offseason pitching targets
• [57:18]-[58:45] – Bulls struggles, failing mentality, need for overhaul

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Tone and Style

The discussion is candid, irreverent, and suffused with authentic Chicago sports angst. Dan and Matt’s banter manages to combine deep football insight, sharp media critique, and plenty of humor (often self-deprecating), always with passionate investment in the city’s teams and zero tolerance for nonsense.

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Summary

This episode delivers exactly what Dan Bernstein fans expect: unvarnished analysis of the Bears’ pivotal loss, including tactical breakdowns, strong opinions on team direction, and sharp wit throughout. The Bears may have lost the lead, but hope endures in the podcast booth—even if optimism is seasoned with hard truths about defense, tackling, coaching, and the grind of the NFL season. Listeners will also enjoy forays into college football’s postseason chaos, Cubs hot-stove rumors, and a withering review of the Bulls’ futility. The show’s blend of tough love, humor, and insight makes it an essential catch-up for Chicago sports fans this week.

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Co-host]

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[Dan Bernstein]

On 312 Sports.

[Co-host]

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered is brought to you in partnership with my bookie, and the Bears now find themselves at 9 and 4, and they have slipped down in the playoff rankings. But there's a lot of football left, and that's okay. This is what real life in the NFL feels like, and you can have all the fun you want with a coach taking his shirt off and free hot dogs and front running. But the reality is very little separates good teams as we get into the nut cut in time when it comes to playoff seating. And this is what you want. Now. The Bears are playing this level of game right now, and what it does is it makes this weekend's game, this Sunday's game, a must win. You got a team coming in here with three wins.

And it's time to win these games you're supposed to win and knock them out early. Come right after him, punch them in the mouth. You don't want to have to exert yourself too much in a game like this. And I Know it's football and every game gets crazy and the Bears have had to block kicks at the ends of games to beat bad teams. But here's a really, really good opportunity to back up what a lot of us are saying, that they're better now. They are clearly a better team than they were when they were trying to scrounge out wins against some of the lesser lights. This is a team you should put away and we know they can rush the passer. We know the defense is real. The offense of the Cleveland Browns I don't believe in whatsoever. And the Bears should prove that. But you got to win this one. And as fun as everything has been at Hallis hall, all the joyful stuff and all of the yelling and screaming and good, better, best, all, all of that has to go into how focused you are on, as they say, taking care of your business in this game. Because now you're doing real football business. Now it's that time. And it's as much as the packers game proved that they're about as good as the packers. And I think that's really the takeaway, that they're about as good as the packers. And we'll see how the odds makers will immediately win. This game is over on Sunday and we see what their, what the expectations are for the next week. I think it's going to be reflected in that depending on injury. But now that they are this good and it's going to slide around these, these seedings are going to be jumping all over the place for the next few weeks. And this is the opportunity to get win number 10, lock in that double digit win season and then continue to solidify your playoff position when you have the luxury of worrying about some of the, some of the seatings and some of the matchups and do you get a buy? Do you not get a buy? But it's just great to be in this spot that the Bears are playing real football and living a real NFL life right now in a way that they haven't in a long, long time.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think looking at this game, Dan, and kind of sitting back and taking a moment to breathe and replay the game and reevaluate my thoughts of the game.

The packers have been up and down. They've had some up and down moments like most teams in this league have, but they've been one of the more consistent teams from a national perspective as a top team in the nfc and I haven't disagreed with that. After that Lions game in week one, I remember telling you that I thought this team was going to finish as a top five defense. That's just what they looked like to me. And even through injuries, they're still. They're still playing defense at a. At a very high level. It's a very good defensive team. After the Bears beat the Eagles last week and they handled them from start to finish, the bear meatball in me says, this is great. I love this team. I always want this team to win. But my critical thinking always said I'm still skeptical of this team. And I. And I have been. And I have been critical of Caleb Williams and I've been critical of the team throughout the year. It's bizarre because after this game, after a loss, this is the most confident I felt about this team because that second half said to me, this is a real football team right now. They have weaknesses, they have flaws. They have a quarterback that drives me insane with his inaccuracy at times yet and even through injuries, when guys have stepped up and played through great coaching, I still have. I walk away from this game saying, this is a real team this year in the NFL that can make some noise in the playoffs. Now, are they going to be favored to win a Super Bowl? Absolutely not. Is there a guarantee that they make the playoffs? There still isn't there. You have four games. You have to win at least two of these games. Three are confident games.

[Co-host]

You got to win Sunday.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it's not going to be an easy game against the Browns. The Browns defensively against the run are pretty average. They're middle of the field now against the pass. They're excellent. They're. They're one of. One of the top pass defensive teams in the league right now due to their pass rush.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it's just.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's hard to show up. It's hard to have to show up, though.

[Co-host]

Oh, they have to do more than show up.

[Dan Bernstein]

They have to show up.

[Co-host]

They have to do more than that.

[Dan Bernstein]

And play like the team that played the packers in the second half at Lambeau. They have to. Yeah.

[Co-host]

The what my takeaways now that I've slept on it, too. This was really in large part a defensive loss. They didn't lose because of their offense. They lost because of their defense and the opposing quarterback's accuracy, particularly against the blitz and the failure of the Bears blitz and the failure of their pass rush. It was a propagating problem because you weren't getting home with four and you felt the need to heat things up with extras. You made things too easy on a quarterback who was. Is just Accurate. He finds guys and I don't know the one interception, what he saw, what he didn't see. But next time against Love, you clutter his vision a little bit more rather than trying to take somebody out of coverage to heat him up. I feel much better having more people in, in more spaces further down the field against him than I do sending a guy off the edge because I do think he can anticipate and I think he's accurate throwing to a guy who's got a step on his guy. That's what we saw. And this, this game, whether you want to single out Jalen Johnson or single out the pass rush, these, these were defensive failures in large part that cost them the game. Because what the defense been so good at this year is not allowing stuff to get over their head, not getting burned deep, not interfering deep and not allowing that. And it was clear that Matt LaFleur saw a weakness there and was willing to test that over and over and over again. And it, I know that Dennis Allen's gonna see it too. There are blitzes that are an important part of his defense. But I think this was a defensive loss. The other thing, and the, the, the hardest thing to do in the middle of a season is have the kind of practices that instill the reminders of how to tackle. The Bears have to stop missing tackles. The packers don't miss them. That's a, that's a big difference between these teams. And as much as they do practices in shells and their walkthroughs, it still matters. The I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but the, the angles of a non contact practice still matter. You still have to make sure that everybody is concentrating and moving with a purpose. In a low contact practice, you've got to get people there understanding the intent and it's got to keep being hammered home. When you've got a chance to stop or slow somebody in the open field, you, you cannot miss that opportunity. 4 can't be 12, minus 2 can't be 4. These are where games are won and lost. I've got to see the Bears tackle better. And if that's why Noah Sewell is losing reps to DeMarco Jackson, good. If that's why, if that's part of the reasoning. Because when you look at those snap counts and you start looking and DeMarco Jackson's taken a linebacker job here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, Sewell was back in at special teams yesterday and that was it. And demarco Jackson still on the field. And what was frustrating with yesterday's to defensive effort when you had miscommunication and misassignments in the defensive backfield. And you're talking Kevin Byard, Jalen Johnson, Nishan Wright, Nikola Cloud, cj, gj Now I get it. You're not going to go out and say those are the five guys. If you're starting a team, those are the five guys I take right now. Kevin Byard's having an exceptional season. Sean Wright, exceptional season.

[Co-host]

It's a rough day, but they've been.

[Dan Bernstein]

Playing enough and they're veteran enough guys to say the misassignment shouldn't happen. The, the slant route to Christian Watson that went. Went for a lot of yards. I think, I think he was covered by Gardner Johnson and if you remember on seeing the replay of it, and let me get to that too about Fox as well, he gives him the inside. He gives him the inside position. Like he moved off to the outside shoulder before the ball was snapped, which I didn't quite understand at all. Like why give him the center of the field? I just, I just didn't understand the positioning whatsoever. So if that's on him in making a mistake or if it's on whoever was supposed to help in deep coverage, either way, Kevin Bayard, either way, that.

[Co-host]

They read a blitz and they. There was an accurate ball delivered to a guy in stride.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. And what I went when I have an issue with the delayed blitzes. When you take a guy out of coverage and bring him late, that's not fast enough against Jordan Love. It's just not quick enough.

[Co-host]

That is what Jalen Johnson was supposed to do on the second quarter, third.

[Dan Bernstein]

And 10 when he just sat there in no man's land.

[Co-host]

Exactly.

[Dan Bernstein]

He didn't move.

[Co-host]

But when his guy stays in, that's a green dog. When he realizes his guy is not out in a pattern, you immediately go attack the quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not only that, he just. He didn't do anything. He didn't drop back. He didn't like. He didn't even misses assignment of going in. But even then, worst case scenario, do something.

[Co-host]

But even if he executes there and watch is a sign, even if he did what he was supposed to do, it's still maybe not enough time to affect the play.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Even if he does, even if he does go in in the blitz, he's. He's not impacting. Jordan loves throw at all. Not. Not on that play. No, not. Not on that particular play. And standing there is probably the worst thing you could do. And watching. So again we asked it yesterday in the post game you know, was he. Okay, real quick, before I forget, because I didn't say yesterday. Fox has been doing a terrible job on replays on immediately showing a play that just occurred. There was, There was a blitz by the Packers. Two guys got in. In like a single in like a line, one guy behind the other on Caleb Williams. Really good play call on their part.

[Co-host]

And we never saw it again.

[Dan Bernstein]

And we never saw it again. And like, I just. I wanted to see, like, what was happening on the line. I wanted to see. And I get it. I'm at the mercy of that, of the, of the broadcast network, whoever it is, whether it's CBS or Fox or prime or wherever they show games. But they've.

[Co-host]

It's, it's, it's.

[Dan Bernstein]

It stood out to me this year a lot more that they're just really bad on, on. On replays. And they're. They're so quick to want to prop up their. Their color commentator, whoever it might be, that they're more willing to show what that guy wants. And I get that. I get it. That's why he's there. But like, let's, let's see the plays. Like, I'd be okay with seeing a replay of a play that was a significant happening in a series.

[Co-host]

While we're talking about this, let me get to a couple of things that had been further down on my list that I was going to mention yesterday. If we're talking about what Fox. It's not just Fox, but there is. We've got an arms race now of these cute graphics, whether it's the tortoise and the hare or some themed animation that they can't wait to find the time to get to because they've got people working on them and people coming up with these, oh, let's do the tortoise and the hare for the division with the Colts. I saw that. And then you miss something because in the can they have an animation that they're so pleased with and so happy about that. They can't wait to spring on you. I don't need that.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, not at all.

[Co-host]

I'd recover the game. Yep. If there's a. That's what halftime is for. That's what pre game is for. For all your cutesy stuff. I don't know when the idea of some of these silly animated graphics became like, in the game, you've got to find a time to do this. I don't know why. I don't know who's asking for it. I don't know. Are you trying to Interest children and reach out to them and make it silly and fun and graphic. I don't know why there's been this. Every network is doing it. We don't need it.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, we don't need it. Use it for your pregame show, your studio shows. Use it there. Don't use it in the game. So I'd be curious to know what a network says. All right, this is what we've learned. And what portion of the audience or what new audience are you trying to attract with it? Because it doesn't help the game at all. So stop doing it. It's not needed at all.

[Co-host]

And the best part is when they went to one in this last game, it was Caleb Williams as the escape artist, Williams as the Great Houdini. And they go to it.

And then he goes, caleb Williams has been Houdini. I mean Houdini. So I'm still laughing about the Great Hadoony. I didn't know that he was this fabulous, the little known Lebanese magician. And they stole his work from him and they gave it all to Eric Weiss, who became the Great Houdini. But little known that it was actually Hadooni. It was the Great Houdini who only in the circles of Lebanese magic was doing all these wonderful things and he had it ripped away and never got the credit he deserved. The Great Hadooni.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it doesn't. It doesn't. It doesn't benefit the game. It doesn't benefit the viewer at all. And if you're not doing everything from the lens of what. What can we do to make this better for the viewer? Yeah. Then don't do it.

[Co-host]

Give me the game.

[Dan Bernstein]

And if there's a question about it, and if you're questioning it, then don't do it. That's probably. You're leaning in that direction. Just don't do it.

[Co-host]

Then the other awesome malaprop we got to start the very first time Tom Brady tried to pronounce Monongai.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Co-host]

He gave us Monoghany.

Monogony. Do, do, do, do. Monogahy. There's those of us of a certain age immediately noted that and thank Tom Brady for it. I will say Brady's getting better. Brady is definitely getting better.

[Dan Bernstein]

I told you that last time the Bears had him.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

It felt, it felt watching the game, it felt like he'd actually attended meetings. He talked to people, he got information from clubs and he shared things. And it wasn't just, you know, the. The filler talk of his years and years of being a quarterback. He actually talked about the two teams.

[Co-host]

And he's certainly not busy with the Raiders, I guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Co-host]

Remember that whole thing that, oh, it's unfair that Tom Brady's gonna lure all the talent and take everything away. He's in the booth. Okay. Whatever that's doing, you can keep doing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. If I'm, if I'm a fan of or a member of a team in the AFC west, let's keep Tom Brady, you know, with the Raiders as long as possible because that's not doing much.

[Co-host]

It's all good. Feel free. But thank you for managing I. And for the great. And the great Hadooney, which is fun.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Let's get better on replays. Let's get better on replays. Let's lose all the graphics. We don't need them. We don't need all the silly stuff.

[Co-host]

I will say too, that if you noticed how complimentary Brady was at the end about Ben Johnson's clock management, I've come to realize something in between that and now that this aggressive, really strongly, almost selling out aggressive mindset. This city's not used to it. They're not used to it. What is Ben Johnson doing? You know what he was doing, as far as I can tell, and you tell me if I'm wrong. I thought he was saying, here's what's going to happen. We're going to score, we're going to go for two, we're going to get it and the game's going to be over. That's what I thought he was doing. Like, look at the. Check out the big balls on Ben that, that clock. Management to me said, yeah, run it down, go ahead. We're going to run a play here. We're not. We're going to score a touchdown, we're going to get the two point conversion and we're going to get the hell out of here with a win. Now, it didn't happen. Yeah, but that approach, nobody seems used to it. And Brady was like, yeah, I like this because Brady is used to it. Brady is used to that kind of thing rather than this sort of, you know, mealy mountain. I don't know, maybe should be time or maybe we'll score, maybe we won't, and then we'll make a decision. That's not what Johnson was doing. Johnson was trying to set up that clock to go steal a road win and get on the bus and drive home safely. Yeah.

Yeah, that's what I thought it was. And correct me if I'm wrong, but that, that kind of play calling and that kind of approach to a game road or home is not something people are used to. But that's. That's. The new mentality is. Yeah, we're. We figured this out in the second half. We're right with you right now. We got you. They just got. They got down too far. There's another quarter of that game. The Bears win it. And I was thinking about this. If they play 10 times, the Bears win four and a half.

That's how. That's. I probably. That's the difference right now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

If this. This Bears team, that Bears team, as currently constructed that roster, even without Kyler Gordon, that roster, I think if. If they played 100 times, the Bears win 45.

Is that fair?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's probably fair. That's probably a fair, accurate depiction of where these two teams stand. And I think the main part of that is where. Is where the quarterbacks are at. I think that that's really the main difference. Like, each. You know, each team is going to have its ups and downs, which they've had throughout this season. And I think the Bears have done a good job overcoming injury, as have the Packers. They have injuries, too. And they. They still, you know, they're. They 9, 3 and 1.

[Co-host]

And we saw the coaching fight there, too, that. I think Ben Johnson figured some things out. I think if Dennis Allen had to do that all over again, that maybe you don't use the Kyler Gordon game plan when you lose him right before the game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Yeah. Ben Johnson didn't seem to think that was as big of a deal. At least that's how he let on to the media after the game.

[Co-host]

I did that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. It would have. You know, it's nice to have preparation, but even with that guy going down in pregame, we're still ready to step up. And next guy up. And Dennis. John. Dennis Allen has. It. Has. Has the guys good to go. And Dennis Johnson and Dennis Johnson. And he's. Yeah, he's going to play good defense on you and be one of the worst players on a great team.

[Co-host]

What?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Co-host]

Wow. Strays for Dennis Johnson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Strays. That's straight on, man. I'm like, Kyle. Kyle Manon guy taking helmets out. How about that run, by the way? We didn't even mention yesterday.

[Co-host]

Broke a helmet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Broke a helmet. Like, Jesus, man. Shattered a helmet and still kept his feet underneath him.

[Co-host]

Yeah. He's like, what would old Cole Comet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Have done in that situation? Because he falls down on his own if.

[Co-host]

If I were like, if I were Kyle. But Guy Today, all I would do is say, ow.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Oh.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he, like, he kept his feet. How does he kept his legs? He was like his wits were still about him that he turned and he knew where to go.

[Co-host]

Yeah, he's. He's. If he were like 15.

[Dan Bernstein]

He broke a helmet, dude. Like, a piece of helmet fell off.

[Co-host]

I know.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's insane.

[Co-host]

Yeah, that's like the Mike Singletary stories from Baylor. Remember that? He was so crazy that he.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, his eyes would break helmets. He would just stare at a helmet and it would shatter.

Yeah. No, he's like, what is that? What's the Marvel guy? So the cyclops. Is it Cyclops? One of the guys, the beam.

[Co-host]

That's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's Singletary. Just shatter helmets.

[Co-host]

No, but seriously, he was that big a maniac that would break his own helmet, like during warm ups, smacking his head into things. And they had to tell him to sit over here and listen to classical music or something.

Because he was just too crazy.

[Dan Bernstein]

So that's your kid without a helmet, though.

[Co-host]

Well, that's only during WII Tennis.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's taken after Mike Singletary. He's the Mike Singletary of WII Tennis.

[Co-host]

Look at his eyes. Look at the intensity. Oh, he tripped over his shoe and he hit his head on a wall and concussed himself. I had to text him after two, lane one. And I just. I had a. When they're storming.

[Dan Bernstein]

What? To make sure.

[Co-host]

Oh, did you see them storm?

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't see them storm. No, I didn't.

[Co-host]

Okay, so I didn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't. I turned off the game.

[Co-host]

So Tulane wins and the student section in the end zone there. And I've watched the game from there. It's fun. And they all start pouring out onto the field. And Beth and I look at each other like, oh, God. Cause we start seeing students in the back.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cause he's going to get hurt.

[Co-host]

Well, not just that. Just don't be an idiot because everybody was hammered and I'm just worried that he's gonna get. Somebody's gonna see him on camera. This is abc. This is like. This is not espn, right? Where there's four people watching. Just think, oh, please, please, please don't be an idiot. Don't show up on camera. And the problem is everybody looks like Jason.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, he's fine. The hair you've got. They're probably all dressed the same.

[Co-host]

They're all white. It's like every.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's like sweatpants or pajama pants and a hoodie.

[Co-host]

Because when they started, I Was thinking about the thing from the Borat movie. As the student section is empty, I look at meth and I go, the running of the J. Here they come.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no.

[Co-host]

They've unleashed all the privileged Jewish boys on everybody and everybody looks like Jason. And I'm just like, oh, no. Is that. No. Is that. No, it's not. No, it's not. No. Who's that? No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you speak to him? Was he.

[Co-host]

That's Josh Friedman from Scarsdale.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did he survive? Did he come out injury free? Is he unscathed?

[Co-host]

Right. They left to go drink.

[Dan Bernstein]

He didn't. So he didn't stay for the. They did a quick lap storming of the field.

[Co-host]

They did a quick lap or the castle? No, they had fun storming the castle. They walked around. They're like, okay. And then they all. Because then I looked and find my friends like, oh, wait, he's in his room. Like, they had to re. Gather for the party. And then we got a text from Waffle House at 4:29am oh, boy.

[Dan Bernstein]

What was the text?

[Co-host]

The text was just like, I love you guys and thanks, you know, thanks for everything and you guys are awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

Emotional drinking.

[Co-host]

Yeah. It's like you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I think it might be your kid.

[Co-host]

He's like a really happy, appreciative, you know, like, late night Waffle House drunk. So, you know, he sends all. And then he's just like, I love you. And then hashtag sagmajean. Oh, God. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, definitely your kid.

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no doubt.

[Co-host]

Okay. But I was like, all right. He's all right. But that was.

I was back to what Brady said, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

Sorry. Get used to that. Get used to the fact that the Bears at least had a mentality of. Yeah, we're going to go get it. We're not going to play scared. We think we're good. We know we're good. We're going to carry ourselves like we're good. And we're going to go win a game in your house.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. So it's crazy. They lose in Lambeau. 28, 21. And yet it's the most confident I felt about this team all season long. That second half was really something to see, and I really hope they are able to use this film and get a good week of practice in to put a game like that together. Now we're in December and they've played one of their best halves of football. We need to see four quarters. We need to see four quarters of good football. And I'm curious to hear from Dennis Allen this week too about those explosive plays that they gave up that were the factors in this game that led to the outcome of 2821 and we'll.

[Co-host]

Probably talk about it next week. But the lesson that I learned if I'm a defensive coordinator is I'd rather have my resources against Jordan Love in coverage than blitzing just in general. Pick it. There's a time and a place based on personnel, based on score and situation and position on the field, but everything else taken into consideration. All things being equal, I'd rather clutter his field of vision than make him think that he's got an open hot against man.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I agree.

[Co-host]

If you are a last minute holiday shopper, you know that feeling. You put it off. You put it off and then you go in and then shelves are empty and you click around and the sizes of everything that you want are all gone and ideas are running low. I got something for you. Aura Frames is the solution. It is a gift that feels personal and can handle your last minute shopping needs, especially if it's somebody for whom you struggle to shop. The Aura Frame is a digital photographic frame to which you can upload unlimited photos and video. You download a very simple app, you connect to WI fi and then you have this beautiful frame that is constantly showing whatever pictures you want in perfect digital clarity. You can preload photos before it ships and keep adding from anywhere anytime. You can personalize it with a message before it arrives and you can share photos and videos straight from your phone all year long. It includes a gift box. Every frame comes packaged in a premium gift box with no price tag. And obviously this idea of family and togetherness. You can't wrap it, but you can frame it for a limited time. You can save on this perfect gift by visiting Aura Frames. It's a U R A frames.com to get 35 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by wire cutter by using the promo code DBU at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code DBU. This deal is exclusive to you, the listener and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. December does not have to be the most expensive month of the year if if you're betting with my bookie and our DBU picks are going to be coming up later in this show. By the way, I hit all three legs of that little throwaway bulls parlay that I gave you. Yeah, you did Friday. All three 12 days of Christmas is coming soon. Daily offers dropping back to back across sports and casino. So that's bet and gets, that's profit boosts, that's free spins, that's surprise drops. If you're a social and telegram user, December is packed. You get everything you want. You got all the NFL bowl season and there's some opportunities in bowl season because there is depending on who's playing, who's not playing, who's where, that there's a lot of variance in bull season. That should mean opportunity for you. College hoops is giving you chances to all of these opportunities to cash. So go to my bookie now. You know the promo code. Our promo code for this show is DBU for Dan Bernstein unfiltered. And get your first bet covered up to $500. If you go big and miss on that first one, then you have a bet back bonus token so you can run it back, bet on anything, anywhere, anytime. Only with my bookie. So some of these poor bowl games are trying to find people who want to compete. And they're calling in teams like, yeah, we don't wanna. We're gonna stay home. And.

These bowl committees of some of these florid faced guys in their peach colored jackets walk around press rooms and with their puffy chests, they're making phone calls and they're sweating it out today because teams would rather just not. They'd rather not play in some of these events. So I'm torn. As much as I would love to just pound Notre Dame's ass for refusing to go to a bowl, and I've seen all the memes and just how entitled they are, I'm taking my ball and going home. I kind of don't blame them. Like, I understand it, it's all true that it does look petulant and entitled, but I also do get it. Like, what's the point of going to the Ass bowl and you get a big bag of ass and your player. These are employees.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but I mean, I mean seriously though, like what, what bowl? Because I know you're making fun of it. You know the Ass bowl isn't an actual bowl. I checked last night after we did this post game show. I was one of it because I'd never heard of the Ass bowl and I wanted to see where the Ass bowl was played in case we get out.

[Co-host]

It's the. It is.

[Dan Bernstein]

I want to take the kids to see the Ass Bowl.

[Co-host]

I believe it's sponsored by the National Ass Committee.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Or the Ass Growers of America. I Believe or ass producers of America.

[Dan Bernstein]

I like the ass growers of America.

[Co-host]

People who grow ass. All of the. Our national reserves of ass. So, yeah, you go there, you get a bag full of ass.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, like, I struggle with this because I get that if you're an actual legitimate college football program with legitimate college football players that have a chance of going to the NFL, I understand why you maybe wouldn't want to play a meaningless bowl game.

[Co-host]

And.

[Dan Bernstein]

But now that we've come to the fact that that bowl games are meaningless, is that. Is that just because of the structure of the playoff format? Okay, fine. So if that's the route we're taking and that's why we're saying why they're meaningless now, if Notre Dame wants to gripe about it and say we deserve to be in the top 12 and we didn't make it, we're not going to go to a bowl, I can get their sense of entitlement because they're entitled assholes. And I get their thinking to it.

[Co-host]

I do.

[Dan Bernstein]

I understand it. But a team like, what other team isn't? Isn't. Isn't going to a bowl game is not going to go to a bowl game like Kansas State, okay, is Kansas State ever going to be in the top 12? Is Kansas State ever going to play for a national championship? You're not. Play your goddamn bowl game.

[Co-host]

Illinois is going to a bowl game. Illinois should go to a bowl game.

[Dan Bernstein]

And so should Northwestern, because they're not going to. They have no beef with the top 12, man.

[Co-host]

My rule is, so if you don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Have a legitimate beef to be in the top 12, go to your bowl game.

[Co-host]

I think, because you know what, because.

[Dan Bernstein]

There are kids on that team that aren't going pro, more kids are not going pro than growing to the NFL. But let's go to the ball game and play.

[Co-host]

Here's. Here's what I think is critical when we talk about you, College X, what does it mean? Does it mean we're talking to the athletic director? Does it mean we're talking to the coach? I think what's important is to know that we're talking equally to the players and to the administration. As long as the players are represented and have agency in this and that. When we, when we say you, Kansas State, that we're not just. If the players want to go.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, then go.

[Co-host]

I. That's really. If the players don't want to go, you don't have to drag them.

[Dan Bernstein]

Fine. That's fine. That's fine. And like, how many Kids are on a college roster. 80 some kids, something like that. Okay, let's say, let's say there's 80 kids. I don't know. I'll look it up.

[Co-host]

Yeah. And if the pros don't want to play, they don't have to play.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. And if, if, if those 80 kids, they vote and say, yep, you know what? 41 of us don't want to go, then guess what? You're not going to go. But if it's the school saying, oh, this is beneath us and our, our.

[Co-host]

Storied program bullshit, and some of its money, too, I remember it was, yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

What about the money that you make going to a bowl game?

[Co-host]

Some don't. I think years ago when Northern Illinois went to the Orange bowl, do you remember that? And they got railroaded by Florida State. Yeah. And we learned that some teams can end up losing money on those trips, that if you got all these tickets and you got to sell some of the tickets and then you got to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bring everybody and you're doing all this.

[Co-host]

And if you're trying to do right by everybody, you end up losing money. And for program and for an athletic department like Northern Illinois. Yeah. You get whatever hullabaloo and hoopla and rigamarole that you get from it, but you don't necessarily see a return on that investment. So whatever the reason why you'd turn down a bowl, just if, as long as the players have agency, as long as the players themselves, you say, hey, yeah, we'd go play, we'd do that. Just make sure that they, as employees are represented.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I agree with that. I hope the players have a vote in it. And as a state, as a state school, if you are, and it's like, financially, it just, it's not, it's not responsible to go to a bowl game. I can understand that as well, too, that, that makes sense to me, especially.

[Co-host]

Now, because some teams don't know who their coach is. Right. And so they're busy trying to find another coach and what are we doing and where are we? And it isn't just the national rankings and the playoff. It's the transfer portal.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Co-host]

Because you have players like, I'm not playing for this team anymore. I'm playing somewhere else. And you have a coach of that team who may say, yeah, let's. I don't care if you get hurt in a bowl. I'm running you off where I'm bringing in other people.

[Dan Bernstein]

But now the transfer porter window doesn't impact teams that aren't in the Playoffs. It just doesn't because it impacts teams that are in the quarterfinals and beyond.

[Co-host]

Well, it still impacts. I mean, just not as much because the time.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. I mean. Yeah. The timing of it. Right, sure. But. But as far as playing in a bowl game. Well, I'm not going to play in this bowl game because I'm going to go to this school. Well, yeah, you might. You can't go to that school till January.

[Co-host]

But not even that. You could be hurt in that bowl game. Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I, yeah, I get it, I get it. I get that aspect of it. But you know, an entitled school like, like Notre Dame who thought they deserved to be in the top 12, and I was telling you they're not a top 12 team in this, in this country. I've been telling you all damn season. And I barely know college football.

[Co-host]

That's the best part.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. And I barely know college football.

[Co-host]

I feel very strongly. And I'm not sure exactly what I'm talking about, but I know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Dan Bernstein]

Early season losses. They lost their first two games to ranked teams and they started out.02 and it did. But then listen, they beat Syracuse's, Stanford, NC State, Boston College, Arkansas and Purdue 9 and 40. That's half of their damn schedule. Independent football can kiss my ass.

[Co-host]

Join a conference.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Co-host]

Join a conference.

[Dan Bernstein]

Join a conference and have your losses and your wins have more significance. Yeah. They didn't beat a top 15 ranked team all year and they think they should be in the playoff because you're. And I thought they would get in based on money and generating money revenue through watching tv. That's the only reason I thought they'd get in. I'm so glad they're not in because they're entitled and they don't deserve to be in.

[Co-host]

The best thing, their schedule tells me that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Look at the damn schedule.

[Co-host]

I'm going to tell you the best thing I've read about this whole thing in just a second. But first I want to let you know about the best sale yet, your best chance yet to get that fabulous big box of meat from Omaha Steaks. And maybe more importantly, give it as a gift because this is now the Sizzle all the way sale. 50% off site wide@omaha steaks.com 5 0. Have you seen what beef prices are doing?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's everything. Well, everything's expensive. Beef's insane. But 5, 0 is that. You said 55, 0.

[Co-host]

Yeah, but there's more than that because if you shop regularly and you're looking at beef Prices like even when I shop in the discount bin, I'm like, whoa, what is this? This is already outrageous. This is discounted meat. My prices have discounted meat.

[Dan Bernstein]

As you step on it, as it's.

[Co-host]

Crawling away, you're like, but even everything, a pound of beef. Now marijuana is like seven bucks for a pound of ground beef.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not true.

[Co-host]

Well, during fake news, I don't know. During the way sale. 50% off site wide@omaha steaks.com.

[Dan Bernstein]

That'S awesome.

[Co-host]

And $35 off with the promo code Bernstein at checkout.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, you can use both?

[Co-host]

Yep. It is 50% off [e-mail] and $35 off when you use my promo codes. This means for you if you want to stock up on beef and pork and chicken and everything else that's expensive or if you want to give a gift. Orders placed by 5 o' clock Chicago time in the afternoon. Ship same day. It's Omaha Steaks. Unrivaled quality and variety. Every bite backed by a 100% guarantee. Every steak is perfectly aged to maximize tenderness. Hand cut by master butchers in America's heartland. Grass fed grain finished beef from Omaha Steaks, America's original butcher since 1917. They carry their mouth watering burgers. I've got some of those in the freezer. Oh, my God. Chicken, pork, seafood, and the desserts. Do not forget those caramel apple tartlets. Save big on gourmet gifts and more holiday favorites with Omaha Steaks. Right now, visit omaha steaks for 50% off site wide during the sizzle all the way sale for an extra $35 off. Use promo code Bernstein. Just my last name at checkout. Terms apply. See site for details. That's Omaha steaks.com code Bernstein.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait a second. This is. This is crazy. Why? So I can get this box. Four butcher's cut top sirloin filets, four boneless chicken breasts, jumbo franks, apple tartlets, Omaha seasonings. And they're going to throw in four Omaha steak burgers for free? Yep. That box is 90 bucks. That's the sale price. And I get 35 bucks off of that too. For using DBU.

[Co-host]

Yeah. So that makes it what, 55.

For all that?

[Dan Bernstein]

For all that? Yep.

[Co-host]

I'd buy that for 55. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Co-host]

It's pretty crazy. That's pretty crazy. Yeah. So do that.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a great deal. Yeah. Most places don't give you the discount and the code to you. You can't use both together, but they're giving you 50% off site wide.

[Co-host]

Yeah, I know.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you get the 35 bucks off.

[Co-host]

For DBU, I guess, before they realize what they've done.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Oh, should I stop? Sorry.

[Co-host]

Omaha steaks.com 50% off signing and 35% off.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hello.

[Co-host]

Steak friends is B E R N S T E I N so I think this is some of the best stuff that I've read is basically for this far as the College Football Playoff, blaming the television show and blaming the reality show that ESPN has made into this massive draw and moneymaker for them that the college.

[Dan Bernstein]

The selection show, the overall.

[Co-host]

The updates, the weekly updates of the CFP rankings. Rankings, rankings, rankings. And then it's like we moved everything around and we don't. We can't really explain why, but this is just how it is. And you can't do that. You gotta get rid of the show. You gotta just spring the bracket on people. Because once you start tracking, this team's here and this team's here. Why did this team go up? Why was BYU punished for losing in the conference championship? And Alabama isn't at all. They can't explain any of this stuff. But the deal with espn, it's all about the television programming. All of this is about the television programming. And there's no way they're going to go back on it now with the number of eyes that are drawn to it. So.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then the revenue attached with it.

[Co-host]

It's never going to happen. But they painted themselves into a corner here because they can't explain why Alabama's there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. If you want to talk about a team that got screwed, like, really screwed, is byu. BYU really got screwed.

[Co-host]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

If there's one team that deserves to be there, that's not. It's byu. Notre Dame. So shut the hell up.

[Co-host]

It's. It's just really funny because when you can see how they've got to sort of pay the piper for this sellout, like they. They've created a monster here that they can't control. It's Prometheus. It's. It's Frankenstein's monster that it's. It's run amok. They should not have been messing they. With these godlike powers. Damn it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, there's only one way to fix it. It's to create a college football league that you got to pay an entry fee to get into. There's enough money out there with boosters to do it, and you play within your own, Your own schedule, your own division, your own conference, however you want to set it up. And then, hey, and you just go by win losses and you take all the subjective opinions out of it.

[Co-host]

So Heisman votes are due by this afternoon?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, they are.

[Co-host]

My votes are in. I saw all I needed to see by. I guess it was early Sunday morning, late Saturday night, Team Lodge, that I decided. Hey, man. No, I just. That's when I think I had enough information to make my decision and do what I had to do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, when did you make your decision?

[Co-host]

I made it after the championship games. I was able to see the games, I was able to see the performances, and my vote is in and I feel very confident about it. I'm not allowed to say much, but there were some impressive performances and some that solidified some previously held beliefs. I don't think anything was really called into question. I don't think. I didn't feel confronted with any sort of dilemma. I didn't think that this was a particularly difficult vote. And I'll leave it at that. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, congratulations to Diego Pavia.

And his brothers.

[Co-host]

Well, see, if I could have voted for the Pavia brothers. The Flying Pavia. Somebody asked via email if Pavia is already plural. Is it the plural of pavium? Do you have one pavium and two Pavia?

[Dan Bernstein]

The Pavia is the Pavia?

[Co-host]

I don't know. But who are they? It's not. Is it Raul?

[Dan Bernstein]

Raul and Francesco?

[Co-host]

No, it's not Francesco, because I'm confused.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because Mendoza and their other brother, Cisco.

[Co-host]

No, Mendoza's guy. A brother, too, because did you see that when Mendoza got hurt and then they had another Mendoza, his brother, running the field, Alberto. It's like they brought in the non union, lesser expensive equivalent. Here he is. We don't have Francisco Mendoza, but we.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do have Alberto, Javier and Raul. Is it R O E, L? Is that Raul?

[Co-host]

I don't think it's Raul.

[Dan Bernstein]

Roll.

[Co-host]

Is that right?

Are you sure?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm looking at it right now. Javier and R O E L. Oh, Roel.

[Co-host]

That's what it is, Roel. It's Roel and Roel and Javier and Javier, the flying, drunken Pavia brothers. If there's an award for them, bring them to the ceremony and have them on the dais. I think they can rock it, too. Yeah, I think they should be up there in full gear, just blitzed out of their minds, throwing up on each other and punching people. Because then you got a Heisman ceremony, then you got something to tune in for there. Because they're fun and believe me, Diego wants them. He says you got to get them drunk or you can't win way they win. It's the only way they win.

[Dan Bernstein]

They have the. The Pavia boys have a younger sister as well, too. I'm glad she stays out of the fray.

[Co-host]

Oh, does do we know she does.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, we haven't heard anything about her.

[Co-host]

I think they're waiting to unleash her.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Co-host]

Well, I don't want to say this if she's like 11. Is she of age? I have no idea. Okay. Because mama is out there in front of cameras too. She's having the time of her life. I don't know if she's throwing back kamikaze shots too or whatever. What's their drink of choice? They not have alcohol? No. They gotta have a deal with somebody.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would. They look like Goldschlager guys to me.

[Co-host]

You think?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they needed something with. Something with floaties in the.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because Jaeger. No, maybe they're Jaeger guys.

[Co-host]

Jaeger the Rowell. Hi, I'm Roel Pavia. You may know me from getting arrested at the Texas game. Like those. They need a deal of some kind. Get them out there and have them. Or like 4 loco might be.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they need some kind of malt liquor.

[Co-host]

I think they. They nerfed for Loco though, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Co-host]

Today I think they did. Yeah, they took all like the caffeine out of it. I think they took something out of it that made it fun. Too bad. You need windows, especially this time of year. You're thinking about it because you go near a window and say, well, why is it cold over here? Because your windows suck. Because they're old and you haven't thought about getting new ones. And then you think about it because you hear about. Well, wait a sec, maybe I should listen to this deal. No, call Russ. You hear about all these other deals, but Russ is going to match any price that you hear about. What about this deal? What about that deal? Just call Russ and he'll explain it to you. And then he will make for you the best windows you're going to get. And they're at a factory here in Chicago, so there aren't any sort of delays for things to come from all the way across the country. Russ's number is 847302, 9171. And you can check out his five star reviews at ChicagoNowdownGuys.com when you are getting quotes on windows, ask the other sales reps, hey, who's installing my windows? And they'll go, ah, people they don't know because they use subcontracted labor. Russ doesn't. Russ has a crew of installers that work for him and only for him. And those are the people that will be installing your windows. Soon they will be installing more windows in my house, and the very same people will be installing yours. All Russ windows have a lifetime guarantee on parts and labor. So if your dumbass kid breaks a window and he throws a ball through, trade him in. Trade in your kid, Russell. Replace your kid with a better kid and he'll replace your window absolutely free. We mentioned Russ's factory right here in Chicago. He custom makes all the windows for you. So don't wait. Get those windows. 847-302-9171 and the five star reviews [e-mail].

[Dan Bernstein]

I think this brand of vodka, I've never heard of that. Have you heard of kinky pink liqueur?

[Co-host]

Kinky pink?

[Dan Bernstein]

Ever heard of it?

[Co-host]

No. I've heard of pink. Whitney.

[Dan Bernstein]

No Kinky liqueur offerings. A kinky pink which stars notes of mango, blood orange, and passion fruit. It's great as a shot or is mixed with lemon lime soda.

[Co-host]

You think that's good for the Pavia brothers?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Or Mel. Melda Kuiper's Pucker watermelon schnapps.

[Co-host]

Ooh.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oof.

[Co-host]

That's got like, regret. That sounds like a big bottle of regret.

[Dan Bernstein]

Absolute mango. How's that sound for you? Or how about Fabrizio Limoncello?

[Co-host]

Oh, yeah, well, that's at the end of the evening, though. Limoncello. You don't want to. You don't want to get drunk on Limoncello.

[Dan Bernstein]

New Amsterdam Vodka. UV Blue, which apparently is a vodka Malibu rum.

[Co-host]

I don't know. They all looking for somebody.

[Dan Bernstein]

Fireball. I think Fireball is good for the Pavia boys.

[Co-host]

The new one, the apple one.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I think they're. They're hardcore cinnamon flavored Doc McGillicuddies. Ooh. Used to like that.

[Co-host]

That's the mint one, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, they have a lot of different flavors, but yeah, menthol. Menthol Mint, I think is their main.

[Co-host]

That's like old Matabaticola. This is your life.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I'm looking at. I was. I was trying to find something good for the Pavia boys. I wanted to see if we could. And I found this. Some article. The 19 cheapest liquors every student should know about.

[Co-host]

What about the Captain?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's on the list.

[Co-host]

Is it? Go get yourself the Captain.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's good stuff.

[Co-host]

The winter meetings are occurring as we speak and it sounds like the Cubs are in the market for pitching based on everything everybody is hearing that even though Dylan Cease signed elsewhere that the Cubs had discussions with Cease and his peeps and are continuing to possibly throw around some big money for another starter. They are said to be involved or the word that was used here by our friends Patrick Mooney and Sahad of Sharma of the Athletics say that the Cubs have re engaged with All Star third baseman Alex Bregman.

Re engage Mavic. Re engage Mav.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's not a pitcher.

[Co-host]

He's not a pitcher. He's a third baseman. But he's.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean I'll take him, but I just don't. I don't see them going after and getting Bregman.

[Co-host]

As far as the pitchers love it, one name to focus on is Michael King.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would like them to get Michael King. I'd be okay with that.

[Co-host]

Pretty good. And he was a reliever, wanted to be a starter, turned into a really good starter, ended up being an important part of the Juan Soto trade and in his first year with the Padres, first year fully as a starter, seventh in Cy Young voting. He's had some injuries. He's heading into his age, 31 year old. But that's kind of wheelhouse for the Cubs. They'll look at his pitch mix, they'll get him in the lab and they'll say more of this, less of this. And this is how we're going to idealize what you do. Michael King's going to be interesting. The number would be interesting on that. And the other name to keep an eye on is going to be the Japanese pitcher Imai. So it sounds like Tatsuya Imai is going to have the Cubs on his list of possibilities for now and I'm interested. He's only 27 and Imai has been immensely successful with a 1.92 ERA, 27.8% strikeout rate, a 7% walk rate. And that's after three years of having an ERA around 2.3 in the NPB. So let's just keep a close eye and some bullpen possibilities as well there for the Cubs here in as the winter meetings go on.

Sounds the preponderance of evidence seems to suggest that the Cubs know that they're in their window. They are prepared to spend some money and it it other than Bregman, it sounds like starting pitching is going to be the big expenditure. Probably not going to replace Kyle Tucker and that's going to be letting some combination of Owen Casey and Moises Ballesteros Take up some of those at bats.

[Dan Bernstein]

Unless there's a veteran guy out there, they get.

[Co-host]

They get cheap.

[Dan Bernstein]

Later in the off season, maybe they've.

[Co-host]

Got like every team, they've got all the money. And the latest report is that a reasonable offer has been made by the Pirates of all teams to Kyle Schwaber. Oh, that maybe the market center for Schwaber could be the Pirates. In which case jump in there. Because my guess is that the Pirates, if the bidding goes up, and it always does, my guess is they're not going to hang too long. So I'd go ahead. That's not a franchise that scares you off when it comes to bidding on some of these dudes. Yeah, I'm confident that we're going to have enough money to field a good team. Good. I'm glad that the Chicago Cubs are confident they'll have enough money to field a good team. Puke. December does not have to be the most expensive month of the year. If, if, if you're betting with my bookie, the DBU picks for my bookie coming up in just a bit. The 12 Days of Christmas is coming soon. My bookie's 12 Days of Christmas means offers every day. They drop back to back across sports and casino. That's profit boosts, that's bet and gets free spins. There's also going to be surprise drops that are only for social users and telegram users. December is full of opportunities right now. All the stuff we're talking about, the NFL, the college games, the bowls, college hoops, these are all chances for you to cash in. So go to my bookings. Don't forget our promo code. Dbu. Just those three letters, dbu. Punch those in and get your first bet covered up to $500. If you go big and you miss on that first bet. Aha. You can use the bet back bonus token and then you can run it back. So bet on anything, anywhere, anytime, only with my bookie. Last couple thoughts here. I tuned into the Bulls last night.

I don't know what they're doing. I really don't. I don't know what they're doing.

They'll try for a couple possessions and then they kind of stop and stand and look at each other.

[Dan Bernstein]

Lost. The warriors lost.

[Co-host]

And they were never really in it. Warriors were just toying with them. They'd get with. They'd get. They'd lead down to around 9 or 11, and then the warriors would hit consecutive threes and go to what, you know, 16, 17, 18. And they were never a threat. They're just never a threat. They started in a zone. The Bulls were in a zone, and the warriors are, oh, you're in. So you want us to shoot? Okay, okay, thanks. We'll just shoot. We'll do that to the NBA. And we're the Golden State warriors without Steph Curry and without Draymond Green. So you can say, well, the Bulls are hurt. Okay, well, they didn't have Steph Curry or Draymond Green. Two hall of Famers, two automatic walk in the door. Hall of Famers. They didn't have them. And. And it was just still a cakewalk because Brandon Pajemski is out there and Jimmy Butler's out there doing the things that they do. Jemski was, you know, he's. He's tough little player. So I don't. I don't understand it. The Bulls have lost seven in a row. They're the worst team in the league. They are not a competitive team. They are the worst team in the NBA right now. And somehow this has got to stop. And it's like for a quarter, they'll play hard. For a couple consecutive possessions, they'll play hard. You'll see it. They'll go on a run and Javon Carter hits a couple threes, everybody gets excited. And then the other team goes down and hits two more threes and it's back to a 14 point lead. And they're just standing there looking at each other. We're getting to the point now where they might need a major trade, that you might need a blow up here to get closer to winning a championship, Whether that's Anthony Davis or.

Somebody else who happens to become available or a little bit more foresight in finding somebody younger. Is that Trey Murphy on the Pelicans? There's already been some deals out there. We're going to talk about all this in depth. Constructing some of these deals on organizations win championships. When that drops tomorrow afternoon, because there are some proposed deals out there that have some possibilities. But I think this is it for Vuch and maybe for whether it's. I mean, Kobe. White's still coming back from the injury and he's hurt again. The other leg is hurt. Speaking about a double leg injury, we're talking about that in forward progress as Daniel Jones thing is just gross. But I don't. I wish I had a simple answer for the Bulls right now. I don't. I don't know what they're going to do. I don't know how you get out of this tailspin and I don't know how you get some of these guys back healthy. It doesn't take much to hurt some of these Bulls. They sneeze and they're out for three games. And finally I've heard some criticism of that, of saying there's a difference between being hurt and being injured. But now it's you, somebody breathes on you and you're out for four games and that just becomes the norm. I know that there are veteran players that are really unhappy about that. I'm not falling into that quite yet. I don't like questioning injuries, but something, something is not right with what's going on with the Bulls right now. And I don't think there's any easy solution that is going to emerge anytime soon.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep, Bulls have lost seven in a row, two and eight in their last 10. That is the largest losing streak currently in the NBA. The Raptors have lost three. The Wizards have lost three. That would be closest to that Bulls losing streak of seven. They are now Dan on the outside.

[Co-host]

Looking in even of the play in.

[Dan Bernstein]

Even of the play in there. They are behind the Milwaukee Bucks who are the number 10 seed in the Eastern Conference right now.

[Co-host]

Time now for DBU picks presented by my bookie. I'm going to keep mine simple Tonight against the LA Chargers I am going to take Saquon Barkley over 70 rushing yards. He's had a difficult year coming off his record setting year last year. At some point he's got to have a get right game. He's too good, he's too young to be having numbers like he's like he's Travis Kelsey or Patrick Mahomes. At some point he's going to have himself another game. Why not? Tonight I'm going with saquon Barkley over 70 rushing yards.

[Dan Bernstein]

I am going to stay with that game as well. Looking at Chargers and Eagles. Eagles going to LA for this game. I'll take the Chargers and the points Chargers plus two.

[Co-host]

Lock in your picks now with my bookie. Bet on anything, anywhere, anytime. Like to thank the Chicago Window guys for being our dear friends and sponsors of today's show. We are brought to you in partnership with my bookie and that is Dan Bernstein Unfiltered for Monday on 312 Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered.

[Co-host]

Unfiltered on 312 Sports.