Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – “Caleb’s Late Game Heroics Saves Bears”

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola
Episode Date: November 10, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

On this episode, Dan and Matt break down the Chicago Bears’ continued success following a dramatic win—anchored by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ late-game heroics. They evaluate what the 6-3 record truly means considering the quality of the opposition, dive deep into Bears-specific positives and concerns, discuss growth from Caleb Williams, and examine broader sports topics—MLB gambling scandals, college football playoff intrigue, and Chicago Bulls updates. They keep things sharp, candid, and genuinely Chicago, with asides on pizza, sports broadcasting, and plenty of humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bears’ 6-3 Start – What Does It Mean?

[01:18–08:19]

• Dan opens by marveling at the Bears’ 6-3 record and signalling a crowded, competitive NFC North (“The Bears are 6-3… what that means we will discuss”).
• Quality of Wins:
  • The best team the Bears have beaten is the Cowboys, who are 3-5-1.
    Dan: “The best record, I believe, of any team they've beaten is the Cowboys at 3-5-1.” [07:09]
  • Both hosts stress that “a win is a win,” but they can’t ignore that Chicago’s schedule has been forgiving.
  • Matt highlights the paradox: Enjoying the growth and excitement, while insisting the Bears still aren’t beyond criticism—especially Caleb (“It’s amazing … to see some growth from Caleb Williams and to still have high expectations for him. Like, that’s the way it should be.” [08:02])
• The mood:
  • The Bears believe they’re good, and team energy and locker room passion matter—but the real test will come against stronger competition, especially within the division.
  • C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s high-impact play sparks debate for Defensive Player of the Week (“He makes a real argument for being Defensive Player of the Week in the NFC.” – Dan [06:00]).

Caleb Williams’ Performance & Growth – Balancing Excitement and Critique

[08:19–12:25]

• Caleb’s escapability:
  • Dan admires it but wants to see less reliance:
    “As much as I love Caleb Williams’s escapability, I would like to see less of it. He is amazing at teleporting while under duress…but I would like to see him do it less often.” [08:58]
• Drop Issues & Passing Critique:
  • Matt rewatched each offensive play and notes Williams’s best throw on the run yet, but also flags the high number of drops (six) and a few bad throws:
    “There was one particular play and it was the throw to Rome that gets off of Rome’s hands… That was easily the best throw that he’s made while on the run.” [09:35]
  • The hosts clarify drops aren’t officially tracked by the NFL stat crew, often leaving NextGen, PFF, or teams to decide.
  • Impact: Bears “cost themselves two touchdowns, period…But six drops from going back and watching this morning.” – Matt [11:57]
• Growth Acceptance:
  • Enjoyment is high, but they aren’t ready to anoint the team or the QB just yet.

NFL and Playoff Landscape

[12:25–13:54]

• Standing in Playoffs:
  • If the season ended now, three NFC North teams (Packers, Lions, Bears) would be in the playoffs.
  • More scrutiny is coming – each game now is a test of team quality due to lingering uncertainty.

College Football – Heisman Moments & Playoff Speculation

[15:04–21:04]

• Heisman Watch - Fernando Mendoza’s Bounce Back & Omar Cooper Jr.'s Catch:
  • Dan recounts witnessing Mendoza’s interception, then resilience:
    “He just started firing away down the field, undeterred… culminating in inarguably one of the most spectacular catches you could possibly dream of seeing.” [17:00]
  • “Gus Johnson passed out”—Matt deadpans about the broadcaster’s reaction [17:29].
  • The call and catch are likened by Dan to the “dementor” sucking out 100,000 Penn State fans’ joy.
    “There’s nothing like hot cockles, as I have long said.” [18:29]
• Playoff Rank Tweaks:
  • Matt expects major changes after the reveal of the new bracket, arguing some teams don’t deserve top-10 consideration.

Broadcasting Highs and Lows – The Gus Johnson Debate

[21:01–24:18]

• Dan launches into a mini-rant about emotional range in sports broadcasting, saying Gus Johnson’s constant “at 10” approach means he maxes out when moments really do deserve it:
  “When every positive play is the end of the world, it doesn’t give you anywhere to go when it deserves it…He broke because he maxed out.” [21:04]
• Broadcasting philosophy: You need to “budget your energy and budget your intensity…great advice when I first did play-by-play.” [23:31]

MLB Gambling Scandal – Ban for Life?

[27:23–34:32]

• Scandal Details:
  • MLB’s Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz (and broader pro sports) indicted for game-fixing, fraud, and conspiracy; the discovery is made almost comically easy because participants were so brazen and obvious.
  • “It’s easy to get stupid people. And it seems that the ham-handed gamblers and fraudsters are being picked up easily by the fail-safes that are built into the system.” – Dan [28:26]
• Worry Over Sophisticated Schemes:
  • Dan wonders out loud how many “smarter” operations are undetected.
  • Both agree: Leagues must act with “immediate and irretrievable ban for life…automatic, no reinstatement.” – Dan [30:22]
• Debate on Consequence Effectiveness:
  • Even a lifetime ban may not deter—addiction and the “rush” or potential extortion from criminal groups muddy the issue.

Chicago Bulls & NBA Check-In

[37:32–44:08]

• Dan excited to scout Victor Wembanyama at United Center.
  • Reminisces about physically towering athletes he’s known, likening Wemby to Chuck Nevitt and Ralph Sampson, “but Wemby’s a guard, which is insane.” – Dan [40:27]
• Bulls’ Weak Spots:
  • “They need rim protection and they need shot creation. Kobe White, when he comes back, will…help with shot creation. …But they have no rim protection at all.” – Dan [42:39]
• Josh Giddey Ankle-Breaking:
  • Matt and Dan reflect on Josh Giddey’s going viral after getting crossed up by DeAndre Hunter. Thomas Bryant’s sideline antics are deemed “bush league…Pick your spots a little better for what you’re celebrating.” – Dan [44:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Bears & Caleb Williams

• “It doesn't matter how good I think the Bears are right now… What matters is at the moment, and it's cool the Bears think they're good and I think that that kind of matters.”
  — Dan [05:14]
• “It's amazing that it's a really enjoyable season to see some growth from Caleb Williams and to still have high expectations for him. Like that's the way it should be.”
  — Matt [08:05]
• “As much as I love Caleb Williams's escapability, I would like to see less of it.”
  — Dan [08:58]
• “There was one particular play… the throw to Rome that gets off of Rome's hands… easily the best throw that he's made while on the run….”
  — Matt [09:35]
• “In those bad throws, in the drops, the Bears cost themselves two touchdowns, period.”
  — Matt [11:57]

Broadcasting, Media, and Humor

• On Gus Johnson:
  “When every positive play is the end of the world, it doesn’t give you anywhere to go when it deserves it…He broke because he maxed out.”
  — Dan [21:04]
• On Chris Collinsworth’s phrasing:
  “He's the most chipped human being on earth when it comes to football.”
  — Chris Collinsworth (relayed by Dan, [47:24])
• On what ‘most chipped’ could mean outside football:
  “The third one, and that is Steve Buscemi's character in Fargo, where he was actually placed head first into a wood chipper.”
  — Dan [49:42]

Pizza, Food, and Lighter Moments

• Beer Church Margherita Pizza Review:
  “The margherita pizza that I had at Beer church, brewery—the Naples pizza, 1A. The Beer Church pizzeria, 1B.”
  — Matt [59:18]
• “If you have had real Neapolitan pizza, this is the real deal. Okay?”
  — Matt [60:04]
• On Hostess Cupcakes’ shrinkflation:
  “They're way smaller. I rescued a box from the back of Mariano's for $2.40…And they're one bite.”
  — Dan [04:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp Start | Notes | |------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Bears’ 6-3 record & playoff meaning | 01:18 | Main theme introduction | | C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DEF Player debate | 05:14 | First player highlights, “found a home”—Dan | | Schedule strength, “win is a win” | 07:08 | Matt’s schedule take | | Caleb Williams critique & growth | 08:19 | Balancing excitement vs. development | | Six drops, offensive miscues | 11:57 | Matt’s film rewatch count of drops | | College Football: Heisman & Mendoza’s comeback | 17:00 | Dramatic catch and broadcast moment | | Gus Johnson “boy who cried wolf” rant | 21:04 | Broadcasting philosophy | | MLB gambling scandal – ban for life | 27:23 | Setting the standard, examining the risk | | Bulls preview: Wemby in town | 37:32 | Wembanyama excitement, Bulls’ needs | | Thomas Bryant “bush league” meme | 44:12 | On professional etiquette and basketball karma | | Collinsworth “most chipped” quote / Fargo riff | 47:24 | Segment of comic relief | | Beer Church pizza review | 54:45 | Enthusiastic food breakdown | | Final picks and wrap-up | 62:20 | DBU picks – Eagles +1, Saquon Barkley receiving yards |

Summary Table: Notable Quotes With Timestamps

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------| | “The Bears are 6 and 3. What that means, we will discuss.” | Dan | 01:18 | | "He makes a real argument for being Defensive Player of the Week in the NFC." | Dan | 06:00 | | "It's amazing that it's a really enjoyable season to see some growth from Caleb Williams and to still have high expectations for him. Like that's the way it should be." | Matt | 08:05 | | “As much as I love Caleb Williams’s escapability, I would like to see less of it.” | Dan | 08:58 | | “In those bad throws, in the drops, the Bears cost themselves two touchdowns, period.” | Matt | 11:57 | | “When every positive play…is the end of the world, it doesn’t give you anywhere to go when it deserves it…He broke because he maxed out.” | Dan | 21:04 | | “He's the most chipped human being on earth when it comes to football.” | Chris Collinsworth (via Dan) | 47:24 | | "The margherita pizza that I had at Beer church, brewery—the Naples pizza, 1A. The Beer Church pizzeria, 1B." | Matt | 59:18 |

Tone

• Direct, sharp, unfiltered—a classic Dan Bernstein product, with Matt serving as both sounding board and food critique specialist. The episode balances analytical sports debate, irreverence, and off-the-cuff cultural commentary.

For New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential Chicago sports dissection. You get:

• Bears analysis that’s clear-eyed: Not just “homer” optimism, but also legitimate excitement at the team’s direction and Caleb Williams’ highs and growing pains.
• Wider sports conversations: MLB cheating scandals, college football drama, broadcast quirks, and NBA check-ins.
• Signature banter: Irreverent riffs on food, viral moments, and infamous TV quotes.
• Local flavor: Pizza reviews, Chicago-centric humor, and a pulse on what matters to local fans.

If you want both insight and entertainment—with a dose of real Chicago sports fan reality—this one’s for you.