Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – "Where Does the Bears Offense Go from Here?"

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein, with Matt Abbatacola
Episode: Where Does the Bears Offense Go from Here?
Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and longtime producer Matt Abbatacola dive into the Chicago Bears’ latest victory and what it truly means for the team’s offensive identity under new head coach Ben Johnson. The conversation moves beyond the scoreboard, focusing instead on the sustainability of the Bears' success, the evolving roles of key players, and the psychological dynamics at play inside the locker room. As always, no Chicago sports stone is left unturned, with smart debate, unfiltered honesty, and the signature wit the pair is known for.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Questioning the Bears’ Win: Fool’s Gold or Foundation?

• Time: [03:18]
• Dan shares his post-game skepticism, worrying the Bears’ recent win might be “fool’s gold,” given the Cowboys’ lackluster performance rather than a true Bears breakthrough.
  • Quote: “I’m a little worried that the fool’s gold quotient of that victory is higher than I first thought. Does that make sense?” (Dan, [03:53])
• Matt agrees, running through specific game moments where the Bears benefited from opponent mistakes—a cornerback slipping, a broken flea flicker, and a critical defensive play.

2. Locker Room Culture: Navigating Victories & Criticism

• Time: [11:31]
• Both discuss Ben Johnson’s challenge now: should a coach be tougher after a win to refocus his team, or let players enjoy hard-won success? Dan leans toward the latter, emphasizing the confidence boost for a young team.
  • Quote: “After a win is the best time to clobber your team. I don’t think this is one of those. I think… they needed this little dose of confidence, even if it’s short-lived.” (Dan, [11:36])

3. Offensive Reality Check & Raiders Preview

• Time: [12:38]
• The duo analyzes the Bears’ offensive tools—trick plays like the flea flicker are already “on tape,” and Chicago won’t be able to count on unsustainable moments (like a defensive back interception) each week.
• The matchup against the Raiders is described as a legitimate opportunity; the Bears’ defense can be aggressive due to the Raiders’ poor blocking.

4. Receiver Dynamics & DJ Moore’s Attitude

• Time: [18:15]
• The hosts dig deep on the emerging pecking order in the WR corps. Rome Odunze is developing into the go-to "X receiver," while DJ Moore’s moodiness and role adaptation are scrutinized.
  • Quote: “Just keep an eye on it. I’m just wondering how happy he’s going to be getting touches more as a running back than a wide receiver.” (Dan, [19:38])
• Is Moore a team player, or could his attitude become a distraction? Matt: “When you walk off the field in the middle of a play, when you get called out as a veteran by your head coach for your bad body language… that, to me, doesn’t equal a guy that wants to help others get better around him.” ([21:57])

5. Tight End Hierarchy & Coaching Philosophy

• Time: [22:20]
• Cole Kmet, despite his contract status, has seen diminished involvement; the discussion turns to Ben Johnson’s tight end preferences, possibly favoring rookie Colston Loveland over the established veteran.
• Dan outlines different NFL philosophies on tight ends, from pure blockers to oversized receivers, using Patriots and Martz-era Rams as contrasting examples.

6. Reflecting on the Win: Quality or Context?

• Time: [26:44]
• Both hosts experience waning postgame excitement, concluding the Bears’ win was more about capitalizing on a bad Cowboys team than displaying a signature Johnson offense.
  • Quote: “That wasn’t a Ben Johnson offense that you watched on Sunday. That was mistakes by the Cowboys… They executed at a very high level at some portions of that game… But this wasn’t a Ben Johnson offense.” (Matt, [27:12] and [29:02])

7. Running Back Depth & Offensive Sustainability

• Time: [28:18]
• Dan reiterates his lack of faith in the Bears’ running backs and emphasizes the team's critical need to run effectively, especially with rookie QB Caleb Williams at the helm.

Memorable Quotes

• “Great win. So now what? What is the message?” (Dan, [11:35])
• “The flea flicker is not going to work this weekend. That’s out there now… You’re going to have to go out and produce yards and make plays.” (Matt, [12:38])
• “Targets matter. And the quarterback’s eyes matter. Game plans matter. I think of Dunes A as this typical X receiver.” (Dan, [18:16])
• “He just doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy that’s going to go out to help the younger guys get better or achieve more success.” (Matt, about D.J. Moore, [21:53])

Segment Highlights with Timestamps

• Bears’ Victory Skepticism: [03:18]–[05:00]
• Coach Ben Johnson’s Task: [11:31]–[14:25]
• Raiders Matchup Preview: [12:38]–[14:25]
• Rome Odunze’s Emergence & WR Power Structure: [15:15]–[21:59]
• Cole Kmet & Tight End Usage: [22:20]–[24:53]
• Post-win Reflection—How Good is the Team, Really?: [26:44]–[29:56]
• Running Back Room Concerns: [28:18]–[28:55]

Other Notable Moments

• Running inside jokes: Extended riff about real estate on the “Lake of Fire” introduces the show with classic Dan & Matt banter.
• Jimmy Kimmel Boycott and Late Night TV Digression: [04:35] A segment where they discuss public outrage, paralleling sports criticism and TV fandoms, featuring sharp commentary on modern outrage culture.
• Sponsorships & Food Tangents: [29:56], [31:50] Brief sidetracks into reviews of Protein Bar & Kitchen and Omaha Steaks, blending Chicago lifestyle with sports talk.
• Quick MLB Playoff Race Recap: [33:44]–[36:33] A fast rundown of the Cubs’ wild card positioning, the White Sox’s misfortunes, and the pain of seeing former White Sox pitchers thrive elsewhere.
• Injury Obsessions: [37:28] An extended reflection on Kyle Tucker’s calf injury, player contract implications, and how MLB teams deliberate on spending big for injury-prone stars.
• Heisman Voter Status: [47:20] Dan triumphantly announces he still retains a Heisman vote despite being fired, sharing commentary on the Oklahoma quarterback landscape.

Tone & Style Notes

• Authentic & Sarcastic: The hosts’ chemistry is built on caustic wit, local references, and dark humor about sports suffering.
• No Holds Barred: Dan isn’t afraid to voice skepticism about the Bears’ future or to call out players’ attitudes—“unfiltered” honesty is the brand.
• Deep Dives: Even as they riff and wander, the duo always circles back to detailed, nuanced discussions of Bears offensive structure, team culture, and big-picture implications.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• This episode is less a Bears lovefest and more a critical “reality check.” Dan and Matt break down why the latest Bears win might not be what it seems, focusing on process over results.
• Through film-study insights, player psychology, and coaching tendencies, seasoned fans and newcomers alike will get a sharp look at where the Bears stand—and what must change for real progress under Ben Johnson.
• As is signature for Bernstein, the conversation is unafraid to challenge rose-tinted fandom, insisting that evidence—not hope—drives smart football talk in Chicago.

Further details, including expanded digressions on Chicago baseball, sponsorship plugs, or humorous stories, are skipped here. For Bears fans seeking clear-eyed, honest appraisal of the team’s real prospects—this installment delivers.