Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Host: 312 Sports (Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola)
Episode: Bears - Steelers / First Place Showdown on Sunday
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Forward Progress dives deep into the Chicago Bears' surprising rise to first place in the NFC North with a 7-3 record, previewing their pivotal matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola deliver their signature mix of football analysis, honest fan passion, and humor as they dissect the Bears’ recent game, discuss head coach Ben Johnson’s philosophy, evaluate player performances, and address the external noise around the Steelers’ quarterback injury. Expect unfiltered takes, insider perspective, and plenty of “real Bears fan” moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chicago Bears: The New NFC North Leaders

• Surging Record:

  • Bears are 7-3 and sitting atop the NFC North.
  • Climbing up various power rankings, but the hosts remain skeptical of their validity due to the weakness of many Bears’ recent opponents.
  • Quote (Matt): “If you just go near the bottom, it’s like, oh, the Bears beat them. The Bears beat them. The Bears beat them.” [02:07]

• National Perception:

  • ESPN places them 12th, ahead of teams like the Chiefs and Ravens, but Dan and Matt are cautious about reading too much into it.
  • Quote (Dan): “Don’t do that. Just enjoy where you are.” [02:21]

2. Locker Room Mentality & Ben Johnson’s Messaging

• Balancing Confidence and Humility:

  • Ben Johnson’s approach: Focus on one game at a time, avoid playoff talk, and break the season into “quarters” as all modern NFL coaches do.
  • Players are aware of playoff odds and upcoming schedule, but coaching keeps them grounded.
  • Quote (Matt): “That’s the coach’s job. How do you sell: ‘Hey, we’re a first place team. It’s working... but we’re not good yet’?” [05:00]
  • Quote (Dan): “They’re enjoying the fact that they’re 7 and 3... but they also realize how they've gotten there and that they can play much better.” [05:40]

• Identity of the Team:

  • “No apologies tour”—embracing ugly, gritty wins.
  • Quote (Matt): "No apologies. This is the no apologies tour." [07:50]

3. Bears’ Last Game: Blitzerama and Caleb Williams’ Performance

• Facing Heavy Pressure:

  • Bears faced a 70% blitz rate—extremely rare.
  • Ben Johnson and coaches prepared the offense to react, especially protecting rookie QB Caleb Williams.
  • Quote (Ben Johnson): “The best thing [Caleb] did... was keep the ball out of harm’s way... did a great job protecting that football.” [10:30]

• Missed Opportunities:

  • Two key overthrows by Williams: third-and-nine to Rome Odunze and the deep sideline shot to DJ Moore.
  • Quote (Dan): "It’s the DJ Moore one that I think he was really disappointed in... that's the one that could've hit big." [11:36]

• Overall Grade:

  • Despite mediocre stats, Williams earns high marks for game management and avoiding mistakes.
  • Drops and pressure exacerbated the issues but no turnovers—a crucial improvement.
  • Quote (Dan): “He didn’t hurt the team in a two-point game.” [13:06]

4. Game Plan Insights & Offensive Identity

• Completion-Driven Philosophy:
  • Ben Johnson’s “completion driven” plan—quick throws, especially to TE Cole Kmet, attacking the flats, responding to blitz-heavy defense.
  • Quote (Ben Johnson): “We came into this game wanting to be very completion driven… when you look at the stat sheet, we weren’t as high [in] completion percentage as we’d like to be...” [14:32]
  • Hosts discuss the changing nature of third and fourth down decisions in the NFL—more willingness to go for it on fourth-and-short.

5. Player Spotlights: Cole Kmet and the Running Backs

• Cole Kmet:

  • Praised for both receiving and blocking. Considered one of his best games.
  • Quote (Ben Johnson): “You felt his presence out there—you know, he was lowering his shoulder, he was stiff-arming. He brought our sideline to life a couple of times.” [15:50]

• Backfield Rotation:

  • RBs Swift and Manungai splitting touches based on hot-hand and practice performance.
  • Swift’s improved explosiveness and yardage after contact highlighted.
  • Quote (Ben Johnson): “It might be series by series, it might be hot hand… I feel really good about both those guys.” [20:50]

6. Coach Ben Johnson: Growth and Accountability

• Acknowledges learning and adapting as a head coach, adjusting staff and team operations for efficiency.
• Admits when play calls misfire, uses missed end zone throw to Colston Loveland as a self-critique.
• Quote (Ben Johnson): “I’d like to think that I’m constantly getting better... it’s just trying to provide what our team needs to win the next ballgame.” [23:06]
• Quote (Dan, on coaching candor): "It’s nice to hear because again, he’s seeing the same things that we’re seeing." [25:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fans and Power Rankings:
  • Matt (joking): “We’re brought to you by beer, church brewing...” [02:35]
  • *Dan & Matt riffing on fishing shirts and wardrobe freedom as metaphors for fan culture and personality. [03:01-04:34]
• On Coaching Maturity:
  • Matt: “You don’t want him in his own head right now, too much.” [24:06]
• On Defensive Takeaways vs. Discipline:
  • Matt: “I want to make sure that a team like the Bears can be proud of what they've achieved and not try too hard to get turnovers... the reason we get it is because we're all doing our jobs and playing really hard.” [38:35-39:38]
  • Dan: "A defensive coordinator... isn't going to give a ball back when a guy breaks discipline… but you better believe that'll be talked about, coached about." [39:38-40:05]

Special Segment: Steelers Quarterback Drama

Rodgers’ Status (Aaron, Not Jordan Love)

• Uncertainty Over Rodgers’ Injury:

  • Pittsburgh is being coy about Aaron Rodgers’ status, dealing with a broken left wrist.
  • Devices being tested for wrist functionality; could be a smokescreen to disrupt Bears’ prep.
  • Quote (Matt, on gadgetry): “While this may look like an ordinary pen, what it is is a specialized laser beam…” (James Bond riff) [27:27]
  • Past memories of Packers QB injury games and last-minute "miraculous" appearances.

• Matchup Hype:

  • The wish is for Rodgers to play, for the Bears to finally “close the book” on him at Soldier Field.
  • Quote (Dan): “We want Aaron Rodgers. We want Ben Johnson, Dennis Allen to close the books if we're going to have Aaron Rodgers at Soldier Field.” [32:44]

Other NFL News & League Notes

• Jamar Chase Suspended:
  • One game for spitting on Jalen Ramsey—a “not good” look.
  • Hosts mock the pervasiveness of spitting and punching among players. [34:23-35:26]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bears in the Power Rankings / Team Identity: 01:30–08:05
• Ben Johnson’s Messaging & Locker Room Mentality: 05:00–07:46
• Caleb Williams and Offensive Analysis: 09:21–23:00
  • Coach’s breakdown of blitz adaptation and key missed throws: 09:46–13:13
  • Completion-driven philosophy and game-planning: 14:32–18:29
• Running Back Usage: 20:31–22:15
• Coach Ben Johnson on Growth and Self-Eval: 23:06–25:05
• Steelers’ QB Injury Drama: 25:42–34:23
• Defensive Takeaways & Philosophy: 38:35–43:25

Tonal Highlights

• Candid, sardonic, and relatable—a mix of knowledgeable football analysis with plenty of irreverent, Chicago-style humor.
• Frequent callbacks to “real Bears fan” anxiety and history.
• Willingness to critique both team and coach, praise improvement, and poke fun at NFL tropes.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of Forward Progress paints a vivid, inside-out picture of the 2025 Bears: a flawed but fiercely competitive team, still underdogs in national perception, but growing in confidence thanks to Coach Johnson’s steady messaging and the maturation of players like Caleb Williams. The hosts keep it honest—enjoying the wild ride, celebrating incremental progress, and never shying from sharp humor or sharp insights. The Steelers matchup looms as a litmus test; will the “no apologies tour” keep rolling? The Forward Progress crew will be there, and so will Chicago.