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

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.

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])

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]

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

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.

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.