Dan Bernstein Unfiltered: Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles – Ben Johnson's Offense vs. Vic Fangio's Defense

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host(s): Dan Bernstein, with Matt Abbatacola
Episode Air Date: November 26, 2025
Episode Focus: A rich, straight-shooting breakdown of the upcoming Bears-Eagles Black Friday game, with particular focus on the schematic chess match between offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive mastermind Vic Fangio. The second half of the episode covers broader college football controversy, Heisman talk, and personal anecdotes.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into one of the most intriguing tactical matchups of the NFL weekend: the battle between Chicago's newly minted head coach/playcaller Ben Johnson and the legendary defensive coordinator Vic Fangio of the Philadelphia Eagles. Dan and Matt analyze what makes Fangio's system unique and discuss what to watch for in the game, especially from the standpoint of young Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. They also cover broader sports issues, including college football playoff standings, coaching controversies, and close with stories about travel and holiday advice.

Key Discussion Points

Holiday Banter & Segue to Bears-Eagles (01:12–03:36)

• Thanksgiving Prep Talk: Dan and Matt start with a lighthearted discussion about brussels sprouts, bacon, and grilling each other on garlic quality and gravy recipes.
• Football as Holiday Relief: They both appreciate that Bears fans can relax on Thanksgiving itself, with Bears-Eagles set for Black Friday.

Ben Johnson vs. Vic Fangio: Xs and Os Breakdown (03:36–12:25)

The Fangio Defense Unpacked

• Disguise and Discipline:

  • Fangio specializes in "disguised coverages" — showing offenses one thing pre-snap, then rotating post-snap into something entirely different.
    • Dan Bernstein:

      "What Vick wants to do is give you a pre-snap look...even the smartest quarterbacks are gonna walk up to that line of scrimmage and say 52's the mic... [but] in Vick's mind, it's not the mic. That was the read that he wanted you to make...by the time your eyes return to the field, you had the wrong mike." (05:33)

  • It's a system best suited to NFL-level athletes due to its complexity and speed.

• Front Four Emphasis:

  • Fangio prefers not to blitz—more interested in keeping numbers for coverage and trusting the front four to generate pressure.

• Coaching Chess Match:

  • Dan sees this game as a high-level mental contest:

    "This is the cat and mouse game. This is going to be a very material coaching game. And my belief is...the advantage goes to Vic Fangio, who is up in his glass case of emotion and will be calmly looking down on everything and simply playing his game with the little moving pieces like it's electric football." (10:22)

Ben Johnson’s Offensive Response

• Multiple Plays in the Huddle:
  • Facing Fangio likely means more audibles—possibly conveying up to three plays per huddle to adjust against defensive deception.
• Scripted Plays & Early Drives Matter:
  • Urges listeners to watch the Bears’ first few drives and see how they try to gain an edge with formations and play calling.

Caleb Williams’ Crucial Test

• Quarterback’s Mental Challenge:
  • Fangio’s defense will force Caleb Williams to process and adjust post-snap at unprecedented speed.
  • Matt Abbatacola:

    "Vic Fangio's defenses give more post-snap movement than any other defense that Caleb will see this season. So there's going to be a lot required of him in the recognition and comprehension, as you say, to be able to execute the play they want..." (16:54)

• Practice Shift Toward Under Center:
  • Bears deliberately increased Caleb's dropbacks under center the previous week, prepping for this very matchup.
    • Matt:

      "For the first time...he had more drop back opportunities under center than in the shotgun for the first time in his NFL career. That was deliberate getting into this game..." (17:54)

Playoff Stakes & Eagles Overview (22:23–27:27)

• Why Accuracy Now Matters:
  • In playoff-type matchups, “almost” plays become critical—Bears can't afford early overthrows or missed opportunities against top-tier opponents.
  • Matt:

    "That's why the conversation about Caleb's accuracy has been so prominent...you can't miss those. And that's why...everyone's talking about executing better offensively." (23:17)

• Eagles at a Glance:
  • Coming off a bitter loss to the Cowboys, Eagles are 8-3 and tough at home; low point differential despite recent offensive sluggishness.

College Football Corner: Playoff Ranks, Heisman, and Dark Side (27:34–38:15)

• Playoff Ranking Banter:

  • Light mockery of the playoff ranking system, Notre Dame's position, and the absurdities of lopsided college scores as proof of merit.

• Heisman Voter Insights:

  • Dan is a Heisman voter, discusses it’s “quarterback's award” tendency.

    • "It has become in large part a quarterback’s award just because...the quarterback...is a more valuable position..." (32:10)

• College Coaching Scandals (Art Briles, Brian Kelly, Penn State):

  • Art Briles Rehired:
    • Outrage over disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles returning to US college football at Eastern New Mexico.
    • Dan:

      "I hope Art Briles’ Thanksgiving culminates with him getting lost in the New Mexico desert and being chased by coyotes until he's eaten as slowly as possible." (44:51)

  • Penn State Still Honoring Paterno:
    • Incensed to see Penn State staff still celebrating Joe Paterno despite his role in the Sandusky scandal.
    • Dan:

      "You are wearing a badge to celebrate that guy. Brutal. For every one of Jerry Sandusky's victims and there were a lot..." (45:21)

    • Matt:

      "Football wins are more important than what you went through." (51:54)

• Zero Tolerance on Abuse:

  • Both call for all child predators—regardless of fame, politics, or affiliation—to be imprisoned with no exceptions.
    • Dan:

      "I'm going to presume that every billionaire sucks until proven otherwise." (35:13)

Travel & Airline: Alcohol and Anecdotes (56:30–65:31)

• Air Travel & Drunkenness:
  • Discussion of study showing alcohol is the number one factor in air passenger misconduct. U.S. and U.K. airlines/airports struggle with policies and responsibility.
    • Dan:

      "The overwhelming thing reported in all these narratives was alcohol." (56:55)

    • Matt:

      "You know the worst person to have on a plane drunk? The pilot." (60:27)

• Personal Travel Stories:
  • Dan and Matt share stories of their wildest in-flight drinking episodes with colleagues, providing comic relief amidst heavier topics.
    • Matt:

      "By the end of the flight...the flight attendant told me and Terry and Yurko to go in the galley and just help ourselves because she was tired of serving us." (64:44)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Time | Quote | Speaker | |--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | 05:33 | "What Vick wants to do is give you a pre-snap look...by the time your eyes return to the field, you had the wrong mike." | Dan Bernstein | | 10:22 | "This is the cat and mouse game...the advantage goes to Vic Fangio…playing his game with little moving pieces like it's electric football." | Dan Bernstein | | 16:54 | "Vic Fangio's defenses give more post-snap movement than any other defense that Caleb will see this season." | Matt Abbatacola | | 17:54 | "For the first time...he had more drop back opportunities under center than in the shotgun...That was deliberate getting into this game..." | Matt Abbatacola | | 23:17 | "That's why the conversation about Caleb's accuracy has been so prominent...you can't miss those. And that's why...everyone's talking about it."| Matt Abbatacola | | 32:10 | "It has become in large part a quarterback’s award...more valuable position, which generally means that...best player...come[s] from that position." | Dan Bernstein | | 35:13 | "I'm going to presume that every billionaire sucks until proven otherwise." | Dan Bernstein | | 44:51 | "I hope Art Briles’ Thanksgiving culminates with him getting lost in the New Mexico desert and being chased by coyotes until he's eaten as slowly as possible." | Dan Bernstein | | 45:21 | "You are wearing a badge to celebrate that guy. Brutal. For every one of Jerry Sandusky's victims and there were a lot..." | Dan Bernstein | | 51:54 | "Football wins are more important than what you went through. Football wins are more important than what he ignored and covered up and hid..." | Matt Abbatacola | | 56:55 | "The overwhelming thing reported in all these narratives was alcohol." | Dan Bernstein | | 60:27 | "You know the worst person to have on a plane drunk? The pilot." | Matt Abbatacola | | 64:44 | "…the flight attendant told me and Terry and Yurko to go in the galley and just help ourselves because she was tired of serving us." | Matt Abbatacola |

Memorable Moments

• Garlic Shopping Wisdom & Gravy Stories (01:48–03:36): Sets a homey, authentic Chicago tone before diving into football analysis.
• Vic vs Ben “Glass Case of Emotion” (10:14): Dan's depiction of Fangio's calm, chess-like coaching style.
• “I'm going to presume that every billionaire sucks until proven otherwise.” (35:13): Dan’s blanket indictment of sports-obsessed billionaires, a running thematic thread.
• Righteous Rant on College Football’s Dark Side (39:54–52:21): Unfiltered, passionate calls for accountability, zeroing in on Briles and Penn State, with explicit, soul-baring emotion.
• Wildest Flight Story (64:44): "The flight attendant told me and Terry and Yurko to go in the galley and just help ourselves because she was tired of serving us."
• Thanksgiving Wishes & Safety Advice (67:41–68:34): Final segment with safety reminders before the holiday.

Structure & Flow

• Opening: Warm, relatable holiday banter quickly transitions into substantive Bears-Eagles preview.
• Football Deep Dive: Xs-and-Os talk is detailed yet accessible; perfect for fans wanting tactical insight.
• Playoff & Heisman Talk: Offers perspective on the stakes both for the Bears and bigger college football narratives.
• Calls to Accountability: The show’s tone pivots to righteously angry at the dark underbelly of college sports.
• Travel Humor: Finishes with personal and cautionary tales—the perfect digestif for a heavy, sports-laden meal.

Takeaways for Listeners

• For Bears Fans:
  • Watch for post-snap coverage shifts from Fangio's defense and how Caleb Williams adjusts—the first two series will be particularly telling.
• For Sports Lovers:
  • Tactical chess matches between brilliant coordinators and young QBs are where NFL games are often won and lost.
• For All:
  • Expect righteous anger and genuine moral clarity about sports leaders’ accountability, especially in collegiate athletics.

Final Note

This episode is a masterclass for football fans craving inside-the-helmet insight into Sunday’s biggest matchup and a bracing, unapologetic critique of sports culture’s failings. The conversation balances intellect, humor, and outrage—with plenty of classic Chicago edge.