Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Post-Bears Victory (Episode Summary)

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein, with executive producer Matt Abbatacola
Episode: Chicago Bears beat the Washington Commanders 25–24
Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Chicago Bears’ thrilling 25–24 win over the Washington Commanders, focusing on how the Bears managed to eke out another one-score victory. With Bernstein’s signature blend of humor, honest critique, and Chicago grit, the hosts examine what the win means for the team, how coaching factored in, and what’s ahead. Dan and Matt also riff on Bears culture, coaching slogans, football philosophy, Chicago sports nostalgia, food, and banter about the new direction for 312 Sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears’ Second 25–24 Win: What Does It Mean?

• Two consecutive 25–24 wins for the Bears, both hinging on last-minute special teams’ heroics.
• "I do think the outcome... This is just a completely outcome-based understanding of where the Bears are." — Dan [07:01]
• The win is hailed as a psychological boost, not necessarily proof the Bears are “good,” but evidence they can close games and “are allowed to win” [07:01].
• Reflection on breaking the sense that “otherworldly forces” doom the Bears to failure: “There aren’t these otherworldly forces that make the Bears lose these games, even though we felt that way.” — Dan [07:01]

2. Coaching and Preparation

• Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen praised for simple, focused game planning.
• Matt credits win to “preparation and coaching”: "That win last night was really the result of some good coaching. That’s preparation and coaching and game planning from Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen.” [08:17]
• Bears’ coaching staff leveraging what the roster does best, with a “smaller menu” of plays, leading to more precise execution.
• “Ben Johnson after the game said, ‘this is probably the smallest menu we've had going into a week...’ Maybe that has something to do with us being able to execute a little bit better.” — Dan [13:05]
• Dan draws playful restaurant comparisons: “You know every one of those four entrees is good. They’ve pared it down already. They know it’s a small kitchen.” [14:39]

3. Bears’ Team Dynamics and Player Highlights

• Team generating takeaways despite lack of a classic pass rush (second in NFL turnovers to Jaguars) [11:40]:
  • "They're doing this without a pass rush... It's more than luck at this point. Whether or not it can be replicated and sustained, I don't know. But if they think it can, that's half the battle." — Dan [11:40]
• Improved pass rush through creative blitzing as players (Edwards, Kyler Gordon) return [12:19].
• Special mention of Montez Sweat’s standout performance [13:05].

Game Management & Caleb Williams

• Praise for rookie QB Caleb Williams’ late-game awareness, particularly running a play to stay in bounds and force Washington’s last timeout. “He slid inbounds that forced Washington to burn their last timeout... That awareness...was a big one.” — Dan [22:05]
• The Bears’ running game’s physicality and strategic execution highlighted, with detailed appreciation for outside zone and “cutback” runs [18:16].

4. Challenges and Areas to Improve

• Bears continue to struggle on third downs and accumulate too many penalties: “The Commanders had four first downs on Bears penalties. Overall nine penalties for 84 yards. I mean, that stuff has to clean up.” — Matt [16:15]
• Although improved, their pass rush is still among the NFL’s worst for sacks (30th in the league) [15:01].

5. Slogan & Locker Room Culture: “Good, Better, Best”

• Entertaining critique and riffing on Ben Johnson’s postgame motivational rhyme:
  • “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good gets better and your better gets best.” [03:25 & frequently revisited]
  • Matt jokes Ben Johnson is like Andrew Dice Clay: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good gets better. All over a chest, right?” [04:21]
• The bit returns as a recurring theme, including bedtime affirmations [27:45], and poking fun at how it would sound if the Bears weren’t winning [28:10].
• “These are football players. These good, better, best. Never let it rest. See, doing this in other voices...now I’m thinking Andrew Dice Clay...” — Dan [03:37]

6. NFL Matchups & Schedule Talk

• Bears’ upcoming schedule outlined (Saints, Ravens, Bengals, Giants) [10:51].
• Dan and Matt agree that several are winnable, expressing optimism (“They should be favored in the Saints game by six.” — Matt [10:51]).

7. Media, Broadcast, and Fan Reactions

• Pushback against Bears fans calling out negative national TV commentary (Aikman and Buck):
  • “For some reason it doesn’t — football games, it tends not to bother me quite as much unless it’s really egregious. But it was definitely a theme across bearsdom last night.” — Dan [16:33]
  • Matt: “A lot of hatred for...Joe Buck, which I ignore...the Troy Aikman thing, I...just kind of let things slide off.” [17:07]

8. Food Tangents, Sleep, and Personal Anecdotes

• Trademark Bernstein tangents on late-night pastrami feasts [33:25], potato pancakes, Taco Bell runs, and favorite sandwiches.
• Various stories veer into food nostalgia, parental anecdotes, and personal routines.
• Humorous segment about Dan’s son drawing genitalia on his golf balls and the imagined fallout of them being found at a country club [51:50].

9. Other Chicago Sports and Podcast Network News

• Celebration of new sports podcasting network expansion (312 Sports), and the return of the basketball podcast “Organizations Win Championships.”
• Dan explains upcoming plans for more Bulls/NBA content and increased coverage across Chicago sports [55:25].
• Fun announcement: “We have taken control of OWC away from Odyssey Corporation, and it now belongs to us here on 312 Sports.” — Dan [54:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Bears’ fragile progress:
  “It’s all right for it to matter that they can be a winning team. This advances them in their own mind a level and tells them...they’re allowed to win some of these games.” — Dan [07:01]
• On pass rush and turnovers:
  “They’re doing this without a pass rush. Usually, you get turnovers...as a function of your pass rush. So this is very different.” — Dan [11:40]
• On late-game management:
  “He slid inbounds that forced Washington to burn their last timeout...That awareness...was a big one.” — Dan [22:05]
• On coaching simplicity:
  “The smallest menu. I love that. That’s exactly, exactly what we were discussing about how to approach a bye week for a young team this year.” — Dan [13:05]
• On Bears’ defensive improvements:
  “Having [Edwards] on the field, Kyler Gordon, having him back helps your secondary so much...Monte Sweat had his best game of the season so far last night.” — Matt [12:19]
• On Bears’ culture and slogans:
  “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good gets better and your better gets best.” — Recurring bit
• On fan/media negativity:
  “People have these false perceptions of Joe Buck and his hatred for Chicago.” — Matt [17:07]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening and Network Announcements: [00:35–01:44]
• Chat Room & Meme Humor: [01:52–03:25]
• Ben Johnson’s “Good, Better, Best” Slogan Bit: [03:25–06:33, recurring]
• Outcome-based Bears Analysis: [07:01–09:43]
• Coaching/Preparation and Roster Talents: [09:43–13:05]
• Menu Metaphor for Coaching Simplicity: [13:05–14:39]
• Bears Defensive Takeaways and Stats: [14:39–16:05]
• Bears’ Penalties and Officiating: [16:05–17:44]
• Broadcast/Media Complaints: [16:33–17:44]
• Running Game and Key Plays: [18:15–22:26]
• Washington’s Late Mistake and Bears’ Takeaway: [22:48–23:36]
• Early Black Friday & Food Tangents: [33:25–34:11, repeated throughout]
• Golf Balls Anecdote: [51:50–54:03]
• “Organizations Win Championships” Podcast Relauch: [54:53–56:00]
• Closing Affirmation & Slogan: [57:01, 63:30]

Episode Tone and Style

• Signature Bernstein: irreverent, smart, always honest, with tangents ranging from hard sports analysis to food, 80s pop culture, and parenting.
• The vibe is loose, relatable, and filled with Chicago sports humor.

In Summary

This episode is equal parts therapy session, sports strategy breakdown, locker room--and locker-room--humor, with plenty for Bears fans to chew on. The Bears’ two close wins are celebrated but not overblown; coaching and player progress are analyzed soberly. The guys keep it fun with riffs on motivational slogans, food tales, and upcoming podcast news. It’s classic Dan Bernstein: if you missed the episode, you’ll leave this summary feeling like you were in the room.

For a deep x’s and o’s breakdown, more fan questions, and live chat wackiness, listen to “Forward Progress” and catch Dan’s take on the infamous Bears postgame chatroom experience.