Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Bears – an evolving defense
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: September 24, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola analyze the Chicago Bears’ defensive evolution following their recent win and set the stage for their matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. The hosts break down game plans, discuss the significance of Caleb Williams’ NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor, dissect the Bears’ use of defensive shells amid injuries, and question the sustainability of the Bears’ current strategies. The conversation integrates detailed stats, context from around the NFL, team psychology, and a dose of Chicago sports storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caleb Williams Named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

• [00:49] Dan announces, "Little bit of breaking news here in NFL circles as Caleb Williams has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week."
  • Williams’ stats: 19/28, 298 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 142.6 rating.
  • First Bears QB to win since Justin Fields (Week 9, 2022).
  • Trivia tangent on USC QBs who’ve won the award.

Memorable Exchange

• [01:38]
  Matt: "Tyson Bagen."
  Dan: "Williams is the eighth former USC quarterback to [win] Offensive Player of the Week."
  (Light-hearted tallying of candidates.)

2. Weird Bears-Related Awards Streak

• [02:48] Matt notes an oddity:
  “First week it was a Minnesota Viking who played the Chicago Bears. The second week was a Detroit Lion who played the Chicago Bears. Week three is a Chicago Bear..."
  • All NFC Offensive Player of the Week awards tied to Bears games first three weeks.
  • [03:33] Dan: “People want to forget them because they're generally awful and they don't look like other Bears games.”

3. Defensive Scheming & Impact of Injuries

• The absence of Jalen Johnson and Kyler Gordon has forced scheme adjustments.
• [04:39]
  Dan: “What percentage of defensive snaps saw the Bears in a two deep safety shell...?"
  • Tribune reported it was 69% last game.
  • [05:23] “And it worked."

Why Jake Ferguson Broke Out

• [05:31] Matt: “Is that why then Jake Ferguson had the game of his life?”
• [05:38] Dan: “Because he was the only guy open. Because that’s the guy they wanted to be open... calculation that he's not really going to hurt them.”
  • Bears opted to let short passing happen, limit big plays, and rely on red-zone stops.
  • Classic “bend but don’t break."

4. Looking Ahead: Raiders Matchup & Risks

• Focus shifts to whether the Bears can use a similar shell defense against the Raiders.
• [07:29] Dan: “Their biggest weapon is Brock Bowers.”
• Brock Bowers is a far greater threat after the catch than Ferguson.
  • [08:36] Matt: “Bowers is going to break tackles...14 or 15 targets... that’s going to create a lot more yards after catch and possible touchdowns too.”

5. Defensive Line, Pressure, and Blitz Philosophy

• The Bears’ pass rush will determine the shell defense’s viability.
• [09:34] Dan: “If Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo can simply do their jobs, this same defense should be okay.”
• Bears have blitzed only 4% of snaps—the lowest in the league.
• [10:47] Matt: “He's not going to blitz. You’ve got to count on these guys to do their jobs.”
• [11:19] Breakdown: Jake Ferguson got 13 receptions, but only 45 YAC.
  • “Brock Bowers is not going to do that. If you allow him to get double digit receptions...” [11:24]
• The edges must win matchups for the Bears’ style to succeed.

6. Statistical Context, Play Calling & Game Outlook

• The Vegas line: O/U at 47.5, Bears slight favorites.
• [13:48] Dan: “You can't do the nobody believes in us bit now, right?”
• Motivational tactics have been spent early.

7. Running Back Debate & Roster Moves

• Fans calling for a trade (e.g., Breece Hall) to boost the run game.
• [14:40] Dan: “The last thing I want to do right now for the Bears is give up more draft capital for a running back.”
• Youth & depth at RB discussed—Swift and rookie Kyle Manungai.
• [15:38] Britain Brown mentioned as a preseason standout alternative.

8. Improved Balance & Sustainability of the Run Game

• [20:50] Dan: “The commitment to the run last week should have some carryover effect in the success of play action.”
• True balance is less important than doing what it takes to score.

9. Motivation Tactics – Are They Spent?

• Both coach and player leaders hit the group with major motivational triggers after two games:
  • Coach publicly calls out practice habits.
  • Grady Jarrett gives impassioned pregame speech to defense.
• [22:53] Dan: “You slap that [practice] card down, that’s a big one.”
• [23:07] Matt: “Players only, players only.”
• Discussed whether those moves were too early and not repeatable.

10. Tyrique Stevenson: Redemption Arc

• [28:19] Dan: “If he has a really good game, he can say, look how far he’s come..decided that he's going to redefine himself as a Chicago Bear.”
  • Stevenson’s big play last week seen as a turning point or “redemption arc”.

11. Chicago Sports Stories

• [30:28] Matt shares a story about reading a Richard Sherman legal saga on the train, leading to a lively tangent about public behavior and life on public transit.

  • [34:43] Matt: “...drove his SUV into a closed construction site, fled the scene, and then attempted to break down the front door of his in-laws home. Boy, that escalated quickly.”
  • Dan: “That tells me that he was trying to get away from something else…” [35:10]

• Followed by anecdotes about Chicago sports media, detective listeners, and classic remote appearance pranks.

12. Chicago Bears O-Lineman: Stories & Drinking Kegs

• Humorous stories about run-ins with former Bears O-linemen, especially Olin Kreutz and post-career weight loss.

  • [41:44] Matt: “He wouldn’t shake my hand…and then I was like, dude, why…why won’t you shake my hand?...Why are you mad?...To which I said, why are you being an asshole?…luckily, he didn’t kill me."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:29] Dan: “When does a Dennis Allen defense become more like a typical Matt Eberflus defense? And the answer is... you don’t want that.”
• [05:38] Dan: “That’s the guy they wanted to be open. Because they made the calculation that he’s not really going to hurt them.”
• [13:48] Dan: “Oh, so wait, what is this going to do for the possibility of...you can't do the nobody believes in us bit now, right?"
• [14:40] Dan: “No, no, no, no, no. I know the running game sucks but the last thing I want to do right now for the Bears is give up more draft capital for a running back."
• [22:53] Dan: “You slap that [practice] card down, that’s a big one.”
• [28:19] Dan: “He has a good game now—it’s a redemption arc.”
• [34:43] Matt: “Drove his SUV into a closed construction site, fled the scene, and then attempted to break down the front door of his in-laws home. Boy, that escalated quickly.”
• [41:44] Matt: “He wouldn't shake my hand...I said, why are you being an asshole? To Olin Kreutz? Which, you know, not a smart thing. And luckily, he didn't kill me."

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:49] – Caleb Williams named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
• [02:48] – Odd stat: All Player of the Week awards linked to Bears’ games
• [04:39] – Two-deep shell usage explained
• [07:29] – Brock Bowers/Raiders preview
• [09:34] – Pass rush key to defensive viability
• [14:40] – On why the Bears shouldn’t trade for a running back
• [22:53] – On the doubling-up of motivational tactics (coach and player)
• [28:19] – Tyrique Stevenson’s redemption opportunity
• [30:28] – Richard Sherman legal story & Chicago transit culture
• [41:44] – Olin Kreutz handshake story

Final Thoughts

Bernstein and Abbatacola deliver their trademark blend of X’s and O’s, wry Chicago wit, and deeply felt fan experience. They spotlight the Bears’ defensive adjustments, highlight both risk and upside for the upcoming Raiders game, and ground everything in greater trends around leadership, player development, and, of course, the city’s colorful sports culture. Listeners come away informed on team dynamics, NFL context, and the lighter side of Bears fandom.

Next episode preview:
Look out for a post-game live YouTube special, and a guest appearance from Mark Potash for further Bears-Raiders breakdown.