Bears - Commanders MNF Preview

Summary

Forward Progress: Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Bears – Commanders MNF Preview

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Release Date: October 13, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of Forward Progress sets the stage for the pivotal Monday Night Football showdown between the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders. Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola deliver their trademark blend of deep analytical breakdown and real-time fan emotion, focusing on the Bears' opportunities to assert themselves in a wide-open NFC and outlining the key storylines, matchups, and trends to watch. The conversation is rich with tactical insight, player evaluations, and wider NFL context—essential listening for any Bears fan ready to see how their team emerges from the bye week.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The NFC Landscape: Opportunity Amidst the "NFL Blob"

• Status Quo in the NFC: The division is far more open than once thought, with no dominant teams running away and the "blob" of mediocre or vulnerable contenders getting bigger ([00:17]).
  • Dan: “No one is running away with anything pretty much anywhere, let alone in this wide open NFC… a victory certainly flips the script on where we thought this was headed after those first two.”
• Bears’ Potential to Make a Statement: The Lions’ and Chiefs’ recent losses make this an especially important week; a win could shift the Bears’ narrative from middling to emergent contender ([01:42]).
• NFL Parity: Matt and Dan emphasize how most teams—including traditional powerhouses—are currently flawed or inconsistent, opening the door for a Bears surge.

2. Storylines for Bears vs. Commanders

Tank Stevenson’s Redemption Arc ([03:42])

• Stevenson is praised for the maturity and accountability he’s shown since last year’s defensive breakdown—tonight he'll be tested with Commanders’ receiving corps depleted.
• Dan: “He’s owned it, he’s put himself in position—tonight, I imagine, matched up for most of the night with Noah Brown out, with Terry McLaurin out.”

QB Duel: Caleb Williams vs. Jaden Daniels ([04:18])

• Both top draft picks, meeting again after last year’s duel.
• Dan: “Williams is coming off a game in which he led a game-winning [drive]… To win a road game in the way that they did should be something off of which the Bears can build.”

Post-Bye Week Dynamics ([05:03])

• Bears historically struggle after byes; now under a new regime, there’s cautious optimism for improvement.
  • “Previously, more practice has meant bad. Maybe under a new coach, it means good.” – Dan ([05:03])

Montez Sweat and the Pass Rush Problem ([05:17])

• Sweat’s lack of impact is a growing concern—opponents are no longer scheming to double-team him.
  • Matt: “He's not a guy right now you have to game plan for. The Commanders are not sitting in a room going, ‘What do we do to stop Montez Sweat?’” ([05:49])
  • Dan: “He's not Max Crosby; he's not Micah Parsons; he's not a Bosa… A defensive coordinator is not losing sleep over Montez Sweat.” ([05:56])
• Dan suggests creative deployment, including moving Sweat inside or using him more situationally ([07:11]).

3. Bears Defensive Approach vs. Commanders’ Run Game

• Commanders’ Ground Game: Rookie Jakori Crosky-Merritt has emerged as an unexpectedly potent runner, particularly dangerous with Chicago’s defensive injuries ([08:45]).
• Big-Nickel vs. True Linebackers: Dan proposes playing three linebackers (including Noah Sewell and the now-healthy T.J. Edwards) to stymie a run-heavy attack instead of the usual nickel defense.
  • “Why not get Noah Sewell and the now recovered T.J. Edwards on the field, play a 4-3, use a linebacker, go big, clog up the box…” – Dan ([09:48])
• Kyler Gordon’s Versatility: His ability to blitz and potentially move outside from the nickel spot could be vital.

4. Bears Offense: Fixing the Run Game & Offensive Identity

• Running Game Issues: The Bears’ inability to execute the run game has persisted. Both hosts agree that excuses about lack of familiarity are wearing thin ([22:42]).
  • Dan: “We can no longer, after five games, six games, say, ‘We’re still getting to know each other.’ No, then you’re just not good enough.” ([23:50])
• DeAndre Swift’s Fit: Dan pushes for more outside zone runs, leveraging Swift’s skill set to “stretch it out and hit the cutback,” while Matt questions if that’s possible with Swift’s vision limitations ([17:56–19:40]).
  • Dan: “Let Swift find that lane… because the stuff that moves immediately forward, the gap scheme stuff, he's waiting too long.” ([17:56])
• O-Line Execution: Both hosts stress the need for linemen to dominate not just at the line but at the second level, per Ben Johnson’s run scheme.
  • Matt: “If they’re just not able to execute those deuce reads… then it comes down to who’s playing, their ability…” ([21:36])

5. Reducing Self-Inflicted Mistakes

• Penalties and negative plays have plagued the Bears, derailing winnable drives ([26:50]).
  • Dan: “Stop the stupid penalties.”
  • Matt: "I just don’t want to see the Bears do it to themselves. I want to see a clean game.” ([27:54])

6. Around the NFL: Division Races and Notable Teams

• AFC/NFC Overview: The guys run through standings, noting surprise teams, point differentials, and coaching concerns (including suggestions to fire Mike McDaniel in Miami after a failed players-only meeting—[30:45]).
  • Memorable moment: Dan jokes, “I think you’ve got to fire Mike McDaniel,” with Matt agreeing ([30:43]).
• Net Points as a Telltale Stat: Both hosts highlight strange cases where division leaders like the Eagles (NFC East, -1 point differential) and 49ers (-3) have negative stats ([33:03], [35:24]).

7. Key Players to Watch and Gameplan Adjustments

• Zach Ertz and Luther Burden: Dan shares his player prop picks, citing Ertz as a likely pressure-release option, and argues that Burden should be more involved, regardless of whom it annoys.
  • Dan: “An objective viewer of that tape is going to say, ‘That guy’s got to play more!’ He’s just fast.” ([37:27])
• DJ Moore’s Usage: Intrigue over whether he might get carries to spark the run game ([39:27]).
• Tyrique Stevenson’s Redemption: Both eager to see how the much-scrutinized cornerback rebounds in primetime ([39:55]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Wide-Open NFC:
  • Dan: “No one is running away with anything pretty much anywhere… the blob has gotten bigger. I think the Bears can make a statement tonight in that blob.” ([01:42])
• On Montez Sweat’s Role:
  • Matt: “He’s not a guy right now you have to game plan for… Sweat plays like just a guy.” ([05:49])
  • Dan: “He’s not Max Crosby… not a Bosa. No defensive coordinator is losing sleep over Montez Sweat.” ([05:56])
• On Adjusting Bears’ Defensive Personnel:
  • Dan: “Why not have your best players on the field? In this case, you don’t have to play Gordon as a nickel. Gordon can blitz.” ([09:57])
• On Self-Editing and Offensive Identity:
  • Dan: “When you get rid of the stuff you think sucks, then you can start really finding your own voice. An offense is the same way.” ([25:11])
• On ‘Familiarity’ as an Excuse:
  • Dan: “Familiarity is not a scouting point… Good players get familiar better and faster.” ([23:16])
• On the Perennial Wait for the O-Line to Click:
  • Matt: “We can no longer, after five games, say the guys need time together. No. Then you’re just not good enough at a certain point.” ([22:42])
• Comedic Moment:
  • Dan: On Cam Scatterboo: “Scatterboo just looks for things to run into. I imagine him just walking down the street, just turns and slams into a building.” ([34:23])
• Player Prop Picks:
  • Dan: “My DBU pick… was Zach Ertz over 27 and a half yards receiving,” and “Eighteen and a half receiving yards is the over under [for Burden]. That’s one catch. I’d have a hard time keeping him off the field.” ([37:13–39:15])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:17 – Current NFC landscape and importance of tonight’s game
• 03:42 – Tank Stevenson’s redemption storyline
• 04:18 – Caleb Williams vs. Jaden Daniels, post-bye week optimism
• 05:17–07:11 – Montez Sweat’s lack of impact and how to scheme around him
• 08:45–10:17 – Defensive strategy: countering the Commanders run game, possible 4-3 looks
• 17:56–20:00 – Bears’ run game woes, DeAndre Swift’s fit, need for outside zone
• 22:42–23:50 – Offensive line, identity issues, excusing poor run game execution
• 25:11–26:28 – Importance of self-editing the playbook and narrowing the offense
• 26:50–27:54 – Need to eliminate self-inflicted mistakes and penalties
• 30:22–35:32 – Division breakdowns around NFL, key storylines, oddities
• 37:13–39:16 – Prop picks, importance of getting Luther Burden more involved
• 39:55–40:03 – Hopes for a Tyrique Stevenson redemption play (Hail Mary INT)

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Final Thoughts

The hosts close with energy and anticipation, encouraging listeners to join their live, postgame reaction stream and floating the idea of more live episodes—underscoring the community vibe of Forward Progress.

Dan: “If the Bears are three and two, we're gonna, we're gonna be able to kind of enjoy dreaming of better things.” ([40:24])

Whether you missed the episode or just want the essential takeaways, this preview encapsulates everything Bears fans need to watch with a critical eye—and a little hope—as Chicago takes the MNF spotlight.

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

Ted 219219.

[Matt Abaticola]

Forward progress a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is a Bears game day Monday Night Football tonight and forward progress is here to get you ready for it. We should also mention, as always, we will be there after it's decided to talk about whatever that it actually was. The Bears are in a fascinating position right now at 2 and 2 with every game, with every week that goes by in the NFL, everything seems to be softening a little bit around them. No one is running away with anything pretty much anywhere, let alone in this wide open nfc. In a division that at the outset looked insurmountable, that is certainly less insurmountable. I'm not saying the Bears are necessarily getting better, but a victory certainly flips the script on where we thought this was headed after those first two.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, the Lions take a loss last night at Kansas City. Again, very difficult place to play. The Chiefs now 3 and 3. The Lions at 4 and 2 in second place in the division right now with the packers on top at 31 and 1. They get a win at home yesterday against the Bengals, a more competitive game than I think a lot of us thought it was going to be. My guy, Joe Flacco is there throwing a couple touchdowns, not looking as old and as terrible. So what I laughed at when the Bengals made that move to get Joe Flacco again, they still lost.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're better with him, but they're, they're.

[Matt Abaticola]

Absolutely better, better with him, that's for sure. So the packers on top of the division at 3:1 and 1. It was a really enlightening day yesterday. Checking the scores, watching games all day from the early game in London all the way through the night game. The Lions and Chiefs 2 Monday Night Football game tonight. The blob has gotten bigger. I think the Bears can make a statement tonight in that blob. So there's a big blob and I think you can kind of bring the Lions back down to earth.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're not in full orbit. They're in a closer orbit than they were before.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. And now they're in that closer orbit to the blob with the Chiefs are there, the Bills, we'll see what they do tonight against Atlanta, which could be a competitive game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. It's their interest.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But I didn't think the Bills were interested when I last saw.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Even though I do think that the.

[Matt Abaticola]

That was the Patriots loss. Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Patriots are better than I thought and Drake May is Starting to grow into himself a little bit. Look out for that because he's, he's starting to feel it a little bit.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, he is. And if they get their third win yesterday, 25:19 over the Saints. But the Saints are the Saints. I mean, that's, that's one of the teams that's in that bottom portion.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

Of that blob along with the Titans. The Cardinals aren't that good.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Nobody's the good. It's getting more difficult to figure out what's painful and what's not. So what you have to do is just win, win these games and you can help define your own quality rather than using the quality of other teams to have this opportunity right in front of them right now with a lot of storylines that we're going to get into because this is meaningful because of how it resonates with last year and how it's sort of with last year. This show forward brought to you by our dear friends at Beer Church Brewing, New Buffaloes Brewery pizzeria in a historic church wood fired Neapolitan pizza small batch craft beer brunch every day. Visit beerchurchbrewing.com we will talk more about them in a little bit. So on my list of overall storylines, we have been very specific about Tank Stevenson and what he's done and how he has handled his situation. He remains a bear after last year's debacle of his and we've complimented him for how he's owned it, how he has put himself in a position to have game tonight, I imagine matched up for most of the night with Noah Brown out, with Terry McLaurin out.

[Matt Abaticola]

Less than 100% healthy. Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Big advantages for the Bears. The second storyline is Caleb Williams, James and the number two picks in the same draft who faced each other last year and one was better than the other. Williams is coming off a game in which he led a game winning happened at the end of that game. To win a road game in the way that they did should be something off of which the Bears can build the Josh Blackwell blocked field goal attempt, giving them into their weeks of practice. Here we could practice and understanding that they've got this chance coming out of the bye to do something a lot of Bears teams don't do is win out of the buy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Previously, more practice has meant bad. Maybe under a new coach, a new regime, it means good. The other storyline is Montez Sweatt. What's happened or what's not happened to somebody who is that important to the Bears is now playing like Just a guy and he can't that and if in fact a team's like you know, maybe we're not going to start out double teaming him. Maybe he's going to have to earn those double teams again. Maybe it's not necessarily we default to double is he proved worthy of double.

[Matt Abaticola]

Teams this year and if I'm the Bears opponent I don't start with a double team.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's not a guy right now. You have to game plan for the commanders are not sitting in a room. We do to stop Montez sweat.

[Dan Bernstein]

Don't. Don't let him wreck what and we have he's not Max Crosby, right. He's not Micah Parsons. He's not Trey Hendrickson. He's not a Bosa. He's he. He isn't they now there are some guys on the other side in the middle of that line and on the off but you're right, he is in no way is a defensive coordinator losing sleep over what Montez sweat is.

[Matt Abaticola]

Now he can change that but I don't, I don't think they start with a team on him. They let him kind of read how the game and what they're going to do with him and make adjustments as necessary. But what he's shown and I left.

[Dan Bernstein]

Aiden Hutchinson out of that. Sorry he was.

[Matt Abaticola]

He's a yeah for sure. And what he's shown the first. The first four games of the Bear season is you don't need to double team. And remember if we talked, you know, weeks ago we talked to Courtney Cronin she and that he'd only been double teamed I think like a handful of times that teams weren't really going out of their way to double team him and they were allowing the tackles to one on one and to see how they could handle just if needed and so far they haven't had to. So if I'm the commanders I'm not making special plans to double team or chip or use a tight end or a running back to get on Montez sweat until he shows that I need to do something to make do to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Help him maybe is give him some other ways to be disruptive and if that means in a third down package if you want to bring Austin Booker in, line him up wide and let him try to speed rush maybe let's see Montez sweat play a little three technique maybe move him inside, think about where he is a little bit. I don't think always in twists and games but I like to think that there's an opportunity defensive Game planning wise for Dennis Allen and the Bears tonight. And let me explain Kyler Gordon's Kyler Gordon is their starting nickel corner which also means essentially weak side linebacker. As much as we talk about general terms of defense between 3, 4 and 4 3, the truth is there's way less 4, 3 being played in the NFL as much as 4, 2, 5 more teams who are supposedly a 40 front is the better description for what most teams do. We used to call them four, three teams. It's a 40, it's a four man front as opposed to a three man front. The strong side linebacker has been going away for a while because teams play 11 personnel with three wides and you need that extra corner on the field. For most teams the nickel corner is a starter. And yet I'm looking at this tonight and I'm looking at a team in the Commanders that pound away running the ball. They have an unlikely rushing leader in their rookie Jakori Crosky. Merritt, seventh round pick, sort of like Kyle Menungai except effective. And he's been pretty instinctive I think Was he averaging 6.6 yards of carry? That leads everybody. Jakore, Crosby, Merritt is their primary runner. They like to pound away at you and they're down two important wide receivers. So just tell me Matty coach, what you think of this. Why not get Noah Sewell and The now recovered T.J. edwards on the field, play a 4, 3, use a linebacker, go big, clog up the box a little bit, just get a little more stout and then instead of having to force Nishan Wright on the field, play Gordon at the boundary. You want to blitz him off there, blitz him off there.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right?

[Dan Bernstein]

You can do that because he's terrific at blitzing. But why not have your best players on the field and in this case you don't have to play Gordon as a nickel. He's. And I think Allen knows that. I wouldn't mind if you actually have three linebackers out there tonight.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, that's. I think given the injuries and the way it sets up for the Bears defense, I think it's a smart, it's a smart approach to take. We'll see if Dennis Allen has the same thoughts, same perspective on helps your cornerbacks with those injuries. Remember we talked with Herb Howard last week, talked about the matchup difficulty for tyreek Stevenson on McLaren but with him out it allows you to do some different things that being an option right there. And plus I love the idea of having having more opportunities for Sewell to make plays because he's Been making plays for the first four games. He's been showing up, making opportunities, taking opportunities that are given to him to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Make plays, especially because Deebo Samuel is going to play.

[Matt Abaticola]

But we don't know, not 100% with.

[Dan Bernstein]

The heel injury, where he's going to be. I don't know if that's something you can stick a needle into and make it okay for the game or whether it does inhibit his.

[Matt Abaticola]

I just don't know how you can, though, with a. With a foot. A foot thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know. I don't know. They got all kinds of medicinal.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I know they do. But like, that just seems like something, man, that you, you want, like, full feeling on the ability to cut and make plays. I don't know. I don't know. I mean, we'll see. And maybe, maybe it's nothing and he plays through it and there isn't a concern. And he's. His foot is completely, you know, free of pain, whatever they choose to do with it. But yeah, I like that approach, you know, and take advantage of it. And we know that he's going to give opportunities to Gordon to make plays as well, too. And having him on the bound, you can, you can. I mean, you can still blitz him. There's a lot of things that you can do with him. And that's part of the reason why Dennis Allen was excited being here is having a guy like, like Gordon.

[Dan Bernstein]

He mentioned it. So don't necessarily force Nishan Wright onto the field if you don't. Nick McLeod, you don't need those guys out there if you don't have to.

[Matt Abaticola]

But again, but then going back to what they've done, they've been one of the better past defensive teams in the league so far with a number of interceptions. What, six or seven hasn't thrown one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jaden Daniels, he has not. So maybe that incident. I was laughing because I was listening to the Illinois Ohio State game and they were talking about Altman. He has not thrown an interception all year. He's not throwing an interception. The very next play, it's the Ohio State broadcast. I was listening to some giant big voice they've got on that broadcast, but he was picked off. And then very next play, they were talking about it. So perhaps they can speak it into existence for Jaden Daniels.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, Washington leads the league right now in yards per game. As far as the rushing game is concerned. Buffalo right behind them. Carolina is third and then Falcons are four. So just another thing to keep in mind, looking at Monday Night Football, that Bill's Falcons game. Two teams that just run run the ball a lot. Who knows what the score is going to be. And if you're looking to make some kind of plan, my bookie, then maybe take a look at the under there on those two teams playing the other Monday Night Football game tonight.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Matt Abaticola]

And the Commanders are actually down towards the the bottom third in rush defense yards per game. They're at what, 117. So they give up some rushing yards. But you counter that with looking at the Bears, who are right now 31st in yards per game, rushing yards allowed. They've only played four games and below them is just Miami, who's played six games. So the Bears, if there's any kind of rush game for the Commanders tonight, which we know there will be, and then how does that play into play action or getting Jaden Daniels to move out of the pocket and make throws. If they build off that run game, it could be a long night for the Bears defense with the ability for the Commanders to rush the ball. The Bears and their inability to stop the rush. But they can. They can run the ball. So that that's what I'm most excited to see is what have they developed and learned and changed in preparation for this week. Coming off the bye week, we know all the work that's been in that's been put into the run game. Ben Johnson talks about he invests more time in the run game than he does the past game. He knows that everything in his offense starts with a solid run game. And they haven't run the ball particularly well in their first four games. And there's been a lot of reasons why the guys haven't had enough time together. Running backs not. Not hitting the hole. Sometimes it's on the quarterback and making the right calls. Now's your chance to see what you've done and developed over this bye week to get an effective run game at least started to see what they can do.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I've been clear about it. I want to see more of a commitment to outside zone. I want to see them stretch it out and hit the cutback. Let, let Swift, find that lane. If you're disappointed in some of his off script reads, decisions, lack of vision, maybe it make things easier to give him a little more time and a little more, more holes to look at. Because the stuff that moves immediately forward, the gap scheme stuff, he's waiting too long. Yeah, but it's taking him too long to move forward. Maybe acquiesce to what he would prefer to do.

[Matt Abaticola]

But here's what. That doesn't make sense in my brain. If, if the opportunity is there and you know, go forward, get the ball, go forward, hit, hit this hole here. If he doesn't have the ability to hit the hole consistently, that's needed. How do you. Do you trust him to have those cutbacks, to find an open lane, an.

[Dan Bernstein]

Open hole on his own? It's a different skill. It's a different skill when you know that he has that opportunity to belly it out and to delay, delay, delay. Not yet, not yet. And cut back and go. Rather than him changing his mind and seeing something that isn't there or not seeing something that is there. The whole concept of outside zone is to say no, no, no, yes or no, no, not yet, not yet, not yet. Now that one's open. There's no great answer. I understand the question you're asking is you're asking for more vision from a guy with bad vision. My point is a stretch play can make things easier for him to see.

[Matt Abaticola]

It's a process. Yeah, no, I get it. Because if, if there's no room to process and he's just not of a mindset to get the ball and go because we've seen that delay carry out of the backfield. But maybe his, his brain process is better by me, by being able to stretch it and see and I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Matt Abaticola]

It just, it just, it doesn't make sense to me logically.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't want to be programming around what my running back can't do.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like that's, that's not how you should be play calling.

[Matt Abaticola]

You're right.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's more about the center too. It's more about the. Dolman is really good at that.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

And quick something to watch too. And this is when you saw the Lions doing this last night, when the Ben Johnson running game is where he wants it. The Bears offensive lineman, this is everybody across the board. And even though he says about his left tackles, just protect the passer, just, you know, block that guy in passing, he doesn't really mean that because he wants a second Level, block everything. When it's going right, isn't just the guy in front of you.

[Matt Abaticola]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

The guy in front of you should be the very first thing you do. That's not the end of your responsibility. When this is humming, when Ben Johnson has the running game going the way he wants it, whoever that running back is, is through the line with another decision to make, with another opportunity to read off a block. Because the big guys are on the. The big guys are through their blocks. They're not stonewalled at the line of scrimmage. They're not either stalemating or losing. There's a difference in winning at the line. Some, some places you're just kind of stalemating in. In certain systems. Not this one. Not this one. He wants. He wants victory. Get. Get that guy blocked and find the next guy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, because he talked about that last week when he talked about their inability to block on the, on those deuce reads where you have a guard tackle combo on a guy, the guard releases and gets the second level to get that backside linebacker, while the original, like if you're going left, left tackle, that way the right guard pulls, hits the outside man. That left guard then is supposed to engage, release and hit that backside linebacker, which clears up that, that, that secondary lane for a guy like Swift to get through. And they're just not doing that that well. And so I don't know if it's the inability to execute, if they're just. If they're. If they don't have the ability to actually do it. That's what he's. That's what he's got to figure out. And now you have Theo Benedict on the, on the left end making a start at left tackle. That brings a whole new wrinkle to things. Making a first start at that side. It's going to be interesting to see what, what they've been able to put together for this, this whole bye week and then preparation week for the commanders. I'm excited to see what Ben Johnson has in place because we're getting to a point, Dan, where we can no longer say, all right, the guys need time together. We're getting to that point. That whole point.

[Dan Bernstein]

We've been there for a little bit.

[Matt Abaticola]

Well, I agree. I think you're there from game one. But even professional athletes, former guys that played the game, say, you really don't know who you are in your identity for four or five, six weeks into the season, you still don't really know. Fine. I never played. I'm going to stop that criticism, get it? You guys have that. Fine. But we're getting to that point now. Like we can no longer after, after five games, six games, say we're still getting to know each other. No. Then you're just not good enough at a point. At a certain point, either you're making the wrong calls or the team's just not good enough to execute what you want. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Familiarity is not a scouting point generally. I mean you don't read scouting reports on college offensive linemen and say needs to be familiar with the man next to him. No, you know, that's. It is generally a crutch. It does matter. It is important. But good players get familiar better and faster.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Because they go on to execute and do their jobs.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. So eventually that that excuse is going to. I mean we're getting down towards the end of that. That excuse that the guys need time together. It's either you got it or you don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I can't wait to see what they've paired away because I think sometimes the best coaching and the best self scouting, if you can carve away what you don't like, you end up with something you do.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's funny, it's very similar to when I'm asked and honored always to give advice to young people who want to be writers, podcasters, broadcasters, whatever. And I always say go by one of my favorite lines is Ernest Hemingway that a great writer?

[Matt Abaticola]

I'll have another.

[Dan Bernstein]

Has a built in shock proof shit detector famous. And this was said to me by a professor and I've always remembered that. And I do think that when it comes to self editing anything, it applies. I mean for Hemingway it applied in multiple ways because it was knowing bullshit. Knowing when something's wrong or someone's lying to you. But more importantly it's knowing that something's bad, whether it's your own writing, your own work. And you can be a ruthless, ruthless self critic and you should always pare away when you are watching, when you're listening, when you're reading your own work, always pare away what you know sucks because if you saw it in somebody else, you would hate it. So when you see it in yourself, get rid of it.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I would say eventually when you get rid of the stuff you think sucks, then you can start really finding your own voice. Finding your own identity and an offense is the same way Play calling that play card. That's what Matt Nege never figured out, ever. He never self edited until they had to pull it away from it. And Pull the card out of his hand. And that is such a problem with you always want to be a bit arrogant. You want that ego. But it's also knowing your team in the moment and saying we can't block this or this guy's not good at it. In the bye week you can say we're not going to run that anymore and that's okay. It's all right. And I know that play callers feel more secure with more options, but it can also screw you up, can also paralyze you. I'm not saying you dumb it down. I just think really understand what you're Would they want to run what when that huddle breaks? What can they walk up to that line confident in executing and you can be confident in calling it because they're confident in executing it. That's what we're going to see post by.

[Matt Abaticola]

I hope, I hope so too because he's had enough time to evaluate the first four games and use this, the bye week as an opportunity to self scout and then figure out what they can do. Well, because what I don't want to see anymore is I don't want to see where they stack mistakes on top of each other and they take a 1st and 10 wherever it might be on the field and turn that into a second and long and then turn that into a third and longer.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, that was my next note and that is stop the stupid penalties.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, it's got to. It's got to. And I think but it also goes not only just the pre snap penalties but also goes to what they're calling that that they can run effectively and there might be a play where the defense makes a better play than you do and that happens. And that's fine. And the play like you execute your job well, you're not the reason why the job, the play failed but they just, they out executed you as far as the defense is concerned and that's fine. That happens.

[Dan Bernstein]

I saw that multiple times with the Lions and the Chiefs last night. I thought George Carloft is by the way, he's tremendous. And I saw the number of times they didn't fall for the eye candy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

The number of times that Steve Spagnola's defense was disciplined enough to not not buy a lot of the silly things or just the little stuff that they do because golf's a magician with some of the sleight of hand and I thought they were. That's a good example of a defense being prepared enough to be in position to beat the guy in front of Him.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. And that, that really is coaching and preparation and game film and knowing your opponent's tendencies. So sometimes the defense will execute and just stop your play and that's fine. But I just don't want to see the Bears do it to themselves. Like, I want to see a clean game for the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you are looking for a party that everyone will actually remember, head to Beer Church Brewing in New Buffalo. It's just a quick trip from Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana. I actually had somebody reach out to me on Instagram and say, hey, I'm going to Beer church. Should I mention your name? I said, no. I said, if John is there, just go say hi. Just say you were listening to Forward progress and just go try stuff. Because Beer Church is awesome. And when you do a party there at the Pizza Making school, it's unlike anything you're ever going to do with. Whether it's a large group or a small group that can handle up to 300, or maybe it's just your fantasy football guys or your poker buddies or your fishing buddies. Do you want to do something different? Maybe it is something for a work group. Say, hey, let's go do this. Let's go celebrate something with some of these craft beers that they make at Beer Church and some awesome Neapolitan pizza. Some of the best I have ever had. And I made it there. I learned, I went to the Pizza School. I learned everything about how it works and what the history is and exactly how to stretch the dough just right. So skip the same old night out. You can book now. Beerchurchbrewing.com in beautiful New Buffalo, Michigan. I have right here their hymnal, what they call their menu.

[Matt Abaticola]

That's awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

Drink, eat, repent, repeat. And this is actually, it's beautiful to look at and it's hilarious with some of the way they really lean into the church stuff. They've got a beer called a 7.3 ABV peach. Be with you. Pontius Pilate is 7.2 ABV. Crooked Cross Cream, Alex. And the food is just beyond belief. So go watch some games there if you want. It's year round. They've got a heated outdoor patio deck. There's something for everybody. Wonderfully kid friendly too. So my experience there is great. It has been great. Yours will be too. So check it out for yourself. Beer Church Brewery in Beautiful New Buffalo, [e-mail] that is Beerchurch Church Brewing dot com.

[Matt Abaticola]

All right, so we're coming to the the close of week six here with these two Monday football games. And again, talked about being able to evaluate a team and understand a team's identity. Just taking a look at these divisions. Dan of the NFL Blob, AFC East, Bills and Patriots. That's a, that's a two team race. Dolphins and jets are done. I mean, they're, they're out of it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think you got to fire Mike McDaniel.

[Matt Abaticola]

I agree.

[Dan Bernstein]

I love the guy. I think he's, he's a cool dude. I'd love to hang out with him and watch games with him. But did you hear that they called a player only meeting and people missed it? I've never heard of that before. No, not here. Not for a player only, apparently. TUA or. And they said, well, we've got a leadership problem here. We called a players only meeting and people were late and some people didn't show up. That. And you can't fire the players. As he said. I think he's done.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, I mean he. I think we talked about this a couple of weeks into the season. So at one in five now, the jets at 06. So that, that's a two team race there. Bills and Patriots, Steelers, that's. That's their division to have. I mean, if you look at the Bengals, the Ravens, the Browns, they're all done.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Steelers could run away with that despite. They're going very Good. No.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, 100% they're going to because the Bengals, the Ravens and Browns right now, if you look at their net points from points allowed and points for. They're all negative. They're all negative right now except. Except for the Steelers and they're barely in the positive at plus 12. So they're not a very good team. But they're going to win that division pretty easy. In the AFC south, the Colts and Jaguars and Texans are all three really good defenses and with the ability to put points on the, on the board as well, too. So that, that should be a fun, competitive division. Titans are done. And then in the AFC west, you just don't know. Chargers, Broncos, Chiefs, and those are three.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think you still got to like the Chiefs.

[Matt Abaticola]

I think so. Just based on coaching and Pat Mahomes, they've.

[Dan Bernstein]

Patrick Mahomes.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. You kind of have to. Because I'm still not sold yet on Daniel Jones. I'm just not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nor should you be. But more importantly, let's look at the.

[Matt Abaticola]

NFC and then how about. Oh, God. Richardson with an orbital fracture in pregame because a band. Yeah, a band snapped.

[Dan Bernstein]

How heavy a band?

[Matt Abaticola]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

To break.

[Matt Abaticola]

Crazy though.

[Dan Bernstein]

To break your eye bone.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, eye injuries are no joke. I've had. I've had scraped cornea.

[Matt Abaticola]

Like, eye injuries can cause problems seeing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Believe it or not. Yes, you're absolutely right, doctor. But for a band to snap back in your eye and break your orbital. Yeah, Yikes, man.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah. Then take a look at the nfc, NFC East. This is interesting right now. The Commanders play tonight, obviously, but the Eagles on top at 4 and 2.

[Dan Bernstein]

Look at their point differential.

[Matt Abaticola]

Negative 1.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Don't look now, but look at that point differential. Actually look now.

[Matt Abaticola]

You should look, unless you have an orbital injury.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abaticola]

The Cowboys at negative six. The Giants at negative 23. So the Commanders at a plus 33. I mean, they're. They're the top team in that, you know, they get a win tonight, get on top of that division. That's really interesting to be on top at a negative one. Now then you look at the packers, the Lions, the Vikings, all three are, you know, are top defenses in the league.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, let me just say something, too, while we're around the NFC East. Yeah, I know the. I mean, the Cowboys defense is horrendous. Have you seen the memes about Cam Scatterboo?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, a lot. There's a lot out there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you send me the one with the baby?

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I didn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. There's two babies in high chairs, and one of the babies has the head shape helmet on.

[Matt Abaticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I don't know if they photoshopped it navy blue, but he's just slamming his head. Both kids are screaming. And the other kid is just slamming his helmeted head into the back of the seat of the high chair. And it was captioned Jackson Dart and Cam Scatterboo. Because Scatterboo just looks for things to run into. Yeah. Like, I imagine him just walking down the street, just turns and slams into a building.

[Matt Abaticola]

He had three touchdowns the other night. Yeah, Thursday night. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

98 yards rushing.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's fun to have the new blood. And the Giants get a win. But. But that dude is something. Yeah. Packers three one and one. The Lions look vincible, perhaps said four and two. Vikings are three and two. And the Bears can stick their nose right in it with a win.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, they certainly can. And then your Buccaneers at the top of the nfc.

[Dan Bernstein]

They are mine. They are mine.

[Matt Abaticola]

That was a great pick.

[Dan Bernstein]

33 to 1, good pick.

[Matt Abaticola]

And they're net points at plus 14. The Panthers, the Falcons with both with strong running games. And then the Saints are done. They're out of it. And you know, it's funny, you point out the Eagles. Look at the, the 49ers and their net points on top of that division at negative 3. Negative 3. Leading that division, which is 4 and 2. 4 and 2. 4 and 2 for the Niners, the Seahawks and the Rams. The Cardinals are just a bad team. So that's a three team race right there. We'll see what happens. But I'm just not, not totally believing in the 49ers. I just. I just. I just. I don't like Brock Purdy. I just don't. I haven't. I never have. I'm not going to change my mind on it.

[Dan Bernstein]

When do they get Kittle back? I don't even know because they're doing this without Kittle.

[Matt Abaticola]

Right. And the Cavalry is actually, I think he's averaging 120, 125 yards from scrimmage a game. So he's, he's doing his part.

[Dan Bernstein]

He doesn't look the same.

[Matt Abaticola]

He doesn't know and he never will. He's. He's never going to look like the Christian McCaffrey that he was. He just can't. That's. That's too much on. Too many injuries on the lower half. He just can't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you notice there is a McCaffrey that was.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, did you see the Fred Warner injury?

[Dan Bernstein]

I read about it. I don't want to see it. But it sucks. I mean, that's losing him.

[Matt Abaticola]

I mean, immediate air cast.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's bad. But Luke McCaffrey is a backup wide receiver on the Commanders and he's like the runt of the litter, I guess, where he's not really good, but he does all the McCaffrey things.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know, because he knows the whole playbook and he plays super hard. Is a wide receiver at Rice. 6 to 195. Not really fast, but totally McCaffrey. He got everything but the natural speed and leaping ability and all that stuff. He can't really run, but he's. He's exactly what you think he is. So I would imagine it's a name that you're going to see and hear tonight in various personnel groupings. So just While we're talking McCaffrey, just know that there's another one in a.

[Matt Abaticola]

Washington uniform and you'll see the Bears can get a win tonight, get to 3 and 2. And to keep the NFC north as the only division with teams at.500 or better. That's where they're at right now. The only, the only division in football at 500 or better.

[Dan Bernstein]

I will say, let me, I'll let you in on the process here. Just so you. My DBU pick on Dan Bernstein, unfiltered was Zach Ertz over 27 and a half yards receiving. I just think he's going to end up probably being the open guy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

On more occasions. And if in fact they find him as a pressure release, that, that's a, that, that, that's a reason for my bet. But the other thing I looked at was Luther Burden. I'm. I still think that it's going to be really, really hard for an offensive minded coach who is constantly preaching explosives to not include Burden in post bi week game planning. If you're really going back and watching the film, an objective person who, and you don't know names and numbers, an objective viewer of that tape is going to say that guy's got to play more. That guy's got to be more involved. He's just fast. He's fast. He is explosive. And I wouldn't be surprised. He already had his 100 yard breakout game. There's going to be another one this year. Why wait? Why wait? And I'm not, I don't care who I piss off.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, no, I don't think Ben Johnson cares who he pisses off. But when we also a few weeks back talked about this when Ben Johnson was mentioning guys not practicing the right way or hard enough and he made it a blanketed statement for the entire team. The question, remember the question was asked about Loveland and about Luther Burden and then he took it into that direction and brought up Cole Comet as well. Is he doing enough during the week to get himself involved more in the game plan? That's what was said a few weeks ago. And I think if he like, and I agree with you, I want to see him, I want to see more opportunities. But is he doing what he needs to do to get himself in the game plan? Ben Johnson made it clear if you don't during the week, you're not going to.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. Eighteen and a half receiving yards is the over under. That's one catch.

[Matt Abaticola]

It is one catch.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's one catch.

[Matt Abaticola]

But he's got to be on the field.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know it's one catch over under 18.5 for Luther Burden. I know I would have a difficult time keeping him off the field.

[Matt Abaticola]

No, I agree. I agree. And then that, that plays into the part of what is Ben Johnson doing with DJ Moore. We saw that there might be some opportunities to run out of the backfield with the Lack of a running game at this point. So a lot to see tonight. But again the Bears can make a big statement in the NFL Blob to kind of climb to the higher parts of the Blob with a win on the road against Washington. I'm excited to see Tyreek Stevenson and to see how he plays the night, to see where his mindset is.

[Dan Bernstein]

What if there's a Hail Mary and.

[Matt Abaticola]

He picks it off this time?

[Dan Bernstein]

What if there's a Hail Mary? Everybody's going to go crazy.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, they are.

[Dan Bernstein]

That is going to do it for Forward Progress for today, but not for the actual day. That's gonna do it for this particular episode. We will be on live immediately when the Bears Commanders game is decided. Word we will be on.

[Matt Abaticola]

I was like wait, what's, what's happening?

[Dan Bernstein]

So don't, don't miss it. You're gonna want to be there because we don't have to wait for press conferences. We don't have to. We just press a button and we're going to be right there on YouTube. Follow Forward Progress. Subscribe to Forward Progress on YouTube. Make sure you set up, click the bell icon to get an alert up there on and then you're with us. We'll be featuring your comments, responding to them in real time as Maddie pops them up on the screen. I'll have my, my bizarre notes in front of me for whatever ends up on a piece of paper for this game. And if the Bears are three and two, we're gonna, we're gonna be able to kind of enjoy dreaming of better things. Hey.

[Matt Abaticola]

What? Let me throw this at you. I was thinking about this. What if we were to do tomorrow's Forward Progress episode live also? What would you think of that at one o' clock to do a live, a live show. We could do it whenever we want just to do a live show during the day. Afford progress.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm in. You want to run it by the bosses?

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, let's see what we can do. It'd be fun to get some reaction and comments from people live during a Ford Progress on a Tuesday after Monday Night Football. Got a live post.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe people don't stay up and.

[Matt Abaticola]

Yeah, you want to, you want to jump on in and you know, celebrate or as you say, commiserate on a Tuesday together.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm down.

[Matt Abaticola]

It could be fun.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, well, we'll see. No dump button.

[Matt Abaticola]

No dump button. Okay, we'll see. Okay, we'll see. What, what, what, what the night brings. Because it's funny. Somebody emailed and said we need a live DBU after game five on Saturday. And I responded to him and I was like, you know, I. I said I thought of it. I really did. And I was going to talk to Dan about it, but I just don't. I didn't know what kind of mindset I would be in. And I'm glad that we didn't talk about it or promote it because it would have been all you with me just sitting on the screen.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think so.

[Matt Abaticola]

Oh, yeah. Dude, when that, that game ended, I couldn't get the remote fast enough.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it happened pretty fast.

[Matt Abaticola]

I.

[Dan Bernstein]

Unlike these other games, this thing was like, bing, bing, bing, over. Okay, great.

[Matt Abaticola]

Anywho. All right. So some. Something to keep my butt. For sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

We'll see you tonight.

[Matt Abaticola]

Tonight after the game ends, when we decide it's over, we are going to be live. Get the alert bell icon. Join us after Monday Night Football. Hopefully celebrating a Bears victory. Forward progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola on 312 Sports.