Bears - Steelers / First Place Showdown on Sunday

Summary

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

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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.

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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]

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

Forward progress a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 sports we give.

[Matt Abeticola]

You forward progress on 312 sports. We talk Chicago Bears and NFL. Right here. That would be your first place Chicago Bears. With a record of seven and three, they are climbing all of their phony baloney power rankings. I would say that if you are someone who likes to look at these wild and highly variable power rankings that are just people with thoughts on things. Don't look at the most of the ones at the bottom because those are most of the teams the Bears have beaten.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wait, which one did you see that you were looking at? I heard you comment out loud. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know. There's one that had the Bears 10th overall, the 10th best team in the NFL, ahead of the Chiefs, ahead of the Ravens. And I don't know, maybe it's true, maybe it's not, but if you, if you just go near the bottom, it's like, oh, the Bears beat them. The Bears beat them. The Bears beat them.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, don't do that. Right now looking at Espen's power rankings, they have them 12th. Okay, now they're still ahead of the Chiefs and the Ravens, Chargers and Steelers, but they are behind the Bucks at 10 and the packers at 11.

[Matt Abeticola]

I might, I might debate the Packers. I think they're probably behind the Bucks. It just depends on do the Bucks have their guys? Because they're a different team, but they got their guys. We're brought to you by 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 Are you popping your jersey?

[Dan Bernstein]

I was. I was popping my jersey like the kids do now.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's the hoodie, though. That's not the fishing shirt.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, this is the hoodie, not the fishing shirt. They didn't have my size. You need that.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know. I need whatever fishing shirts they have. I need to make fishing shirts a bigger part of my wardrobe, like you did, because they're perfect.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's all I have.

[Matt Abeticola]

They're perfect, but I can't wear. They won't let me wear my actual fishing shirt out of the house if I'm not fishing. They won't let me.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're a man, Damn it.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm a man. Yeah, but they're right.

[Dan Bernstein]

You father children. You have one in the way.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know.

[Dan Bernstein]

You should be able to wear whatever you want.

[Matt Abeticola]

I told you, they call it my maga shirt because it's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you wear it when you go on ice raids?

[Matt Abeticola]

With my mask. With the sock over my face when I go on ice raids.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it's not over your face, but it's.

[Matt Abeticola]

Seriously, my fishing shirt is. It's a little ridiculous.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's huge, legit, like, I'm a real fisherman shirt.

[Matt Abeticola]

It says discount tackle on the back. It's got a Z Man lures logo here. Discount tackle on the front. You know, it looks like. Like I would be fishing in, like, satellite level bass tours, but no, mine's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Mine are fishing shirts from Amazon. I just. They're very comfortable.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I know.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm.

[Matt Abeticola]

I'm gonna get. Have you seen the ones that actually make you look like a fish?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Okay. I haven't got there yet.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just pick out your favorite species and I will get you.

[Dan Bernstein]

I had the one that was. It's orange, yellow, and white. Looks like a sunset. And that's the one where the commenter said I looked like I was on a parole hearing. Like a. Like a video parole hearing. Especially when I had my White Sox hat on. Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

If you're like, behind the glass, like. Like Chris Cooper in the town.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. That was one of the. One of the best comments we've had. Asked if Maddie was going to his parole. His parole hearing on video this morning. Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

His white on white, white socks, hat.

[Dan Bernstein]

As soon as the show was over. I had to go right to the.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, back to the. Back to solitary. Back to the can. Trading. Trading smokes for pruno.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Oh, man, those are the good old days.

[Matt Abeticola]

Ben Johnson had stuff to say and I think his messaging to the team is really important right now. We always go through what he says publicly and I think you listen to what is said by his players to get a sense of what is being said to the team because that's critical right now. How do you sell. Hey, we're a first place team. It's working. Listening to me is working with. We're not good yet. And you got to do a better job doing the things I want you to do. All you jam Oaks. How do you do both things at the same time? That's the coach's job.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it is. And I think the players are smart enough and are veteran enough to realize that they know who they are. I think they're enjoying the fact that they're 7 and 3. They're in first place in the NFC north right now, but they also realize how they've gotten there and that they can play much better. They all know that. They're all saying that. And I think how Ben Johnson handles it is the right way. He talks about one game at a time. It's this week. We need to get to one. And oh, and then big picture, they evaluate the quarters. He was asked about it. He was asked about talking in the playoffs.

[Matt Abeticola]

When you say the players know, they also know the percentage of their playoffs possibilities and they know the other games on the schedule. You can't ask professional players to put blinders on like you want them to have.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, you can't. But you can. You can help with your messaging by, by not doing that yourself, which he doesn't do. He doesn't talk about the playoffs. He doesn't. He doesn't even look at it. He said he would consider or that he would start looking at it in the fourth quarter, depending on how the third quarter ends up for him. He's. He's right in the heart of the third quarter and all he cares about is the Steelers and going one and oh, this week.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I kind of used to make fun of Levy Smith and the whole quarters thing, but now it's just. Every coach does it. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, that's how you have to do it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Every coach does it. Look, it happens. Businesses look at fiscal quarters, right? Yeah, we're. We're in Q1, we're in Q2, we're in Q3. Let's not worry about Q4 right now. We got to make our budget, make our quarterly budget. Let's be concerned with that. Obviously you want stuff on the books if you can get it, but this is what we're concentrating on right now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I mean, because you could have a great first quarter and then you could have a shitty third, second and third quarter and then your fourth quarter is very different. You could have a bad first quarter pick up in the second and third and then your fourth is like, all right, here's where we're at. Let's evaluate it. That's what he does. That's where he's at. I think that's the right way to approach it. But you're right. The players know what their chances are. The players know what their schedule is. They know how they're playing and how they're winning games and that maybe they have some wins that are because they've played some bad teams. But that that's okay. And they shouldn't apologize for it.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, that is their identity.

[Dan Bernstein]

W. Yeah. And that's they're winning football games. Ugly.

[Matt Abeticola]

No apologies. This is the no apologies tour is what it should be like. That is their. That's their identity is they'll find a way to win. They don't care who they're playing. They don't care what you say about who they're playing. And that's fun. That's cool. Enjoy it.

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[Dan Bernstein]

So here's some questions for Ben Johnson. Some audio cuts from Ben yesterday meeting the media virtually like he does on. On Mondays to review the game. Today's Tuesday, right? It is Tuesday. Today's Tuesday was Monday, correct?

[Matt Abeticola]

All day, Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, so this first one, we got a couple questions here from, from Pat Finley. This isn't my official question, but have you ever been blitzed on two thirds of your passes before?

[Ben Johnson]

That's a good question. And I, I don't know. I don't know that, you know, that was, that was. The interesting thing was not just the, the percentage because it was completely different than week one, you know, kind of like we alluded about, but also the, the type of pressures that he was bringing was a lot of. Of corner cat, which he hadn't shown a ton of. So, you know, I thought, I thought we recognized it fairly early and, and we did the best we could as a staff and as players to make our adjustments to it.

[Dan Bernstein]

He didn't turn the ball over. He was only sacked twice. But would you like to see Caleb kind of burn them once or twice in catching them in that blitz? And what did he do yesterday that kind of can apply when you're playing a team that's not going to blitz you two thirds?

[Ben Johnson]

Well, the, the best thing he did, like, like you just said, Pat, was he kept, he kept the ball out of harm's way. He did a great job protecting that football. I can't say enough good things about their defense in terms of how they create turnovers. I mean, they, they all these forced fumbles, it's by design. You know, it's very deliberate by them. I thought our whole crew did a great job taking care of that football. And then Caleb in particular did a good job throwing the ball away when things weren't. Weren't present. And so that was good to see. I would agree with you. You know, we sat and we watched the tape and we had a couple opportunities there to really get some big plays potentially down the field. And we didn't capitalize on those. Those are a couple that he'd like to add back. But I thought, all in all, I thought he played a pretty solid football game.

[Matt Abeticola]

I know which plays he's talking about. Obviously the third and nine overthrow to Roma Dunes A in the first quarter and the overthrow of DJ Moore, the whole shot, I believe it was in also in quarter. Just get it there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

At least give your guy a chance to make a play.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, that's correct. Those were exactly the two plays he was talking about with Caleb and went over the Rome one. He, he kind of, he kind of pulled back a little bit on it. It's the, it's the DJ Moore one that I think he was really disappointed in and that really stressed and probably watched it over and over and over and looked at Caleb and evaluated his footwork and how he missed the throw and that that's the one that could have hit big. And if you hit that on your second drive, that, that's a significant change. Different game in that game for sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

And maybe they rethink the amount of blitzing that he was asked about.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it was about 70% of the snaps they blitzed which was very different from the, from the first game they played. So you know, I said yesterday I was really curious to hear how he would evaluate Caleb's game. And that's kind of. There was another cut that we'll play where he talks about Caleb's game. He wasn't really asked about it yesterday that. Hey coach, now you've had a chance to review the film. What did you think of Caleb's game? So in hearing him at the end there, he says he played a pretty solid game. Now statistically he didn't play a very good game. There was a couple misses that were pretty big. But overall, given the context of that game, he thought he played rather well. And throwing those balls away. It was what was called for. And escaping the sacks, only getting sacked twice. He again did. I think one play got folded in half, came out of the pocket. I don't know how he managed that one.

[Matt Abeticola]

And bedeviled by drops. Still.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, still. So overall he calls it a solid game. I would say it's. It was a, it was a decent game that he didn't, he didn't hurt the team in a two point game.

[Matt Abeticola]

Did he evaluate Tyson Bagen in his two plays as a wide receiver?

[Dan Bernstein]

He did not. At least he wasn't asked by.

[Matt Abeticola]

Some of this stuff matters though, when you look at any contract incentives guys have in games played.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like sometimes if you do have and depending on the deal you've made with an agent and I don't know that it's in the contract or depends on the relationship you may have. But if a guy does have a. I don't know, half a million or maybe less. Maybe more. Yeah, that those things matter.

[Dan Bernstein]

It makes a difference.

[Matt Abeticola]

I remember there was an end of a. I think it was Steve Walsh that had something like that where he was one game short of a major games played escalator and they used him as either he was a holder or something like that where they definitely got him to take care of him in that regard. And that's just a cool thing that teams know and sometimes that you make a reputation as an organization for being aware of that instead of suppressing it, trying to optimize it and trying to give guys those chances to do that. So I wonder if Bajan has something in his deal for games played in a given season.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. Ben was asked about Cole Comet and then he goes into and talks more about Caleb Williams and his game as well.

[Ben Johnson]

We came into this game wanting to be very completion driven and yet when you look at the stat sheet, we weren't as high completion percentages as we would like to be or as efficient. And I think there's a number of reasons for that. But I do think that was him getting quickly to Cole was. Was what we wanted to see this game that was by design. I thought he had one early on where you know, we got some play actions going on down the field type throws and it's not there. And he's quick to throw him a good runner's ball on the sideline. It happened to be on the Viking sideline that he caught it and he turned into a 6, 7 yard gain. But Ball location is paramount when he does that. A couple of those hurry up plays, same thing. They're bringing the corner pressures and so they're leaving the flats unattended to and he's recognizing that quickly and getting the ball out and allowing Cole to run with it. And I thought Cole. Cole played one of his best games he has so far this year. And I get he caught a couple more balls, but I'm not even talking about that. He's great in the running game and then pass pro. We put him in some tough matchups there on some of their defensive end or outside linebacker types. And I thought he did an outstanding job throughout that. And then when he was a ball carrier, you. 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.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good stuff.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. What was the first position I singled out in the post game?

[Dan Bernstein]

It was tight end. Yeah, both guys. And if you remember there early in that cut, he talks about Caleb Williams and he says the completion percentage wasn't what we wanted and the efficiency wasn't there either. Then you go back to what he said, that he had a solid game, played a solid game, but the completion percentage wasn't there. The efficiency wasn't there either. So to me, I read that as in what the game dictated. You look at the overall game, start to finish, how Caleb played. This was an opportunity for a younger quarterback to make mistakes, to hurt your game and to hurt your team. By avoiding that and not hurting the team, keeping control of the ball, not having any turnovers, luckily Rome was able to cover up that one fumble. He played a good game in the coach's eyes, that he didn't hurt the team, given what Brian Flores did on defense. I mean, 70% of the snaps you have, you have blitzes coming and there was no turnovers, no interceptions. Yet the completions percentage wasn't there like we want it to be, nor was the efficiency, but still played a solid game.

[Matt Abeticola]

Let me ask you this. When he gave us the insight in that answer before he talked about the completion percentage, he said the plan in this game was to be completion driven. He said, and I wrote it down, the game plan was completion driven. What do you hear? What does that mean to you? Does that mean we know they're blitzing, we want to get it out and get it in someone else's hands quickly, or does it have to do with, with pacing? Does it have to do with tempo? I'm just curious. Why? What is it about the game plan? Did you think that maybe quicker, a sequence of quicker completions would change the, the, the blitz posture of the opponent?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I think it was for this game. He was talking about getting the ball out of your hands quickly and utilizing the green grass and the flats. And I think that's when they did. And I remember I mentioned it yesterday a lot of times they were bringing up a defensive back on the weak side to interrupt and dent the pocket. That's what, that was their plan. So I don't know if they recognized that prior to the game or realized it as the game was happening. And what they wanted to do was get Cole out in the flat more, get the ball, get the ball out quick. I think it was just for this specific game, they wanted to be completion driven, get the ball out of your hands, get it in the flats, and go against what the defense was trying to do.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I just found it interesting that, and even though he wanted it completion driven, it didn't stop them from taking riskier shots early.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Yeah. And it was. It was interesting because I questioned it both times on the third and eight and the third and nine when they went deep. I'm like, let's. Let's get some yards. Let's get some yards. Let's get more manageable instead of throwing those deep balls now. They were there.

[Matt Abeticola]

It just.

[Dan Bernstein]

He has the accuracy issue. Going deep.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. It's so funny how I think about it differently now that I know we talk about crucial third down, every third down. Crucial when you're in between the 40s now when you're over, when you're outside your own 40.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't think of every third because I think, you know what, if you can get a fourth and manageable, it's just different. It's the culture of the league. Hell, it sure didn't bother Dan Campbell that they kept getting stopped on fourth down. They just. They go for it when they have a chance, depending on where they are. But I think of those. I don't look at all of these third downs as well. This is. They're just behind it now and, oh, my God, what's going to happen? Because if you can get it to fourth and two.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. No, it's a different game now. It really is.

[Matt Abeticola]

I just think about it differently now.

[Dan Bernstein]

That third and eight and a third nine, those plays were there to hit. He just didn't hit him. And my mindset is, yeah, let's get six or seven and let's get fourth and two, fourth and three and still go for it. But I think Ben liked it in the fact that he recognized what was there and that that's what's valuable. That's the growing step that Caleb needs to take that he recognized. Yeah, it's a third nine, and there might be some shorter routes to make a more manageable fourth down. But he saw the play open and the DJ one particular, because he made a really nice. He faked left, went right, and he was wide open. Wide open for a better throw. Gets that first down easy and then some, and you break a tackle. It's a possible take it to the house. But I think it's valuable that Caleb at least recognized it there, and we just need to complete the step with a better throw.

[Matt Abeticola]

What else do you have to say?

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. He was asked about. About the running backs. This is our guy, Herb. Coach, with your running backs, are you at a situation now where you feel like you have two guys equally capable.

[Matt Abeticola]

Of running everything in your playbook?

[Dan Bernstein]

And you and EB Are just kind.

[Ben Johnson]

Of rolling with the hot hand, or.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is there a different method to how you guys are divvying up the game reps?

[Ben Johnson]

Yeah, I think we're very comfortable with both those guys right now. I think both of them have proven that they're very capable with the ball in their hands. They're very dependable. And pass protection, you know, minus the holding call by Swift early on in that game, I thought he did a great job stepping up in the A and B gaps and trying to form that wall with the offensive line. That team that we just played, they stress you. They stress the interior protection with all the A and B gap run throughs that they try to create. And both of our backs did a nice job stepping up to the plate and trying to shut that down. So, yeah, to your point, Herb, I got a lot of confidence in those guys, and it might be series by series. It might be hot hand. You know, we kind of. We kind of go based on what we see in practice a lot of the time, too. But I feel really good about both those guys.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you asked about that yesterday. Like, how is he dictating who gets the ball, when they get the ball? Get a little answer there for you. So if it's series by series, if it's the guy with the hot hand, if it's the practice, which, you know, I like more evaluation on game day to see who's being more effective at that moment than, you know, what was taking place in practice.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, there's no question Swift is faster.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, 100%. And he's running a lot harder these last few games than he certainly did the first few games. And I know that goes into part with the offensive line as well, too.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, it's not only that. Like, I especially am thinking about that fourth down run of the Giants game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, that was beauty.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that. That's something that you drop two guys and your teammates see it do you. The sideline reaction, and everybody goes crazy. That stuff is noticeable because the offensive line didn't give me any help on that one. And you're running through contact already in your own backfield to pick up a critical first down like that gets noticed, and I certainly did. But Swift is more explosive. Swift is more of a dangerous runner. But it's nice to know that at least you can trust Manungai, that even though he's had a couple of negative plays, but it's pretty hard to bring him down on first contact. I usually trust that he's going to move the ball forward.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, last question for Ben Johnson was about evaluating himself as a head coach and how he's grown throughout this year.

[Ben Johnson]

I'd like to think that I'm constantly getting better. You know, I have a better feel for our guys, their personalities. I'd like to think we're growing closer as a team, not just amongst the players, but with the coaching staff as well. I think the coaching staff certainly understands what I'm expecting more as we continue to go on through this season. And so I really think we're getting better. It's more efficient. We're able to get the players out of the building a little bit earlier in the day because we're getting the work done in a better fashion. And so, yeah, I don't know, really self reflect at this point. Maybe that's something I can do when the season's over, but yeah, it's just trying to provide what our team needs to win the next ballgame.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I think that's the approach he takes in his messaging to the team.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I don't think he spends too much time self evaluating. He's too busy.

[Dan Bernstein]

Seems that way.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I think there's a time and a place for it, but I don't want him in his own head right now too much.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he certainly has gotten better as a head coach as the season has gone on. You know, as far as running a show on Sunday, he certainly has gotten better. One, one highlight I wanted to bring up too, when Caleb or when Ben was asked about the end zone pass to Colston Loveland that was kind of thrown four or five yards out of bounds, really didn't have a play. He took the blame for that and said it was a bad play call and Caleb needed to bail out of that bad play call sooner, which he didn't. He still ran the call. So again, that just goes to Caleb learning to read the defense and read what's available. And this play is not going to work. I need to get out of that play and change it to be a little more efficient in the red zone, which is really hard to do for any quarterback and certainly harder to do for a younger quarterback like Caleb.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. But also admitting that and also saying, look, I'm not going to be perfect either.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

And there's going to be times where you're the guy on the field and you're going to see things I don't see or you're going to recognize bad fit.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's not. It's nice to Hear that, though, from the head coach, because we would have heard in the last couple years, it was like, no, that's the right call and I definitely would have done it again.

[Matt Abeticola]

Don't, like, really just don't compare him to that guy.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. And it's just. But it's good to hear because you know what? It's not even just. It's not even just Eber flutes. You know, there's a lot of ego in coaching, and I get it. But to have a guy say, yeah, I made a bad call or I need. I would do it differently. That's good to hear. It's nice to hear because again, he's seeing the same things that we're seeing.

[Matt Abeticola]

I want to talk about the latest that we're hearing about Sunday and what we're hearing about the possible participation of Aaron Rodgers, who does have a broken left wrist, and what they're trying to do and what the possibilities for which they're allowing. And I don't want to go through what we went through with Lamar Jackson where it ends up being like, they know that he's not playing and it's all just a smokescreen to take up the Bears preparation time. And that's possible. Keep in mind, everything that we're hearing from Pittsburgh could be just that. They could know that he's out for three weeks. They might have been told that, like, don't play them. And so I'm not sure what to believe and what not to. All I'm gonna give you is exactly what is being said. And this is Brooke Pryor, who is one of the Pittsburgh reporters who says. Mike Tomlin says he hasn't had conversation with doctors to officially clear Aaron Rodgers to play. He says the doctors are looking at devices for his wrist, reiterates it's about functionality, among other factors. Rogers will have something to say in determining his own availability. They are looking at devices for his wrist.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And people that cover the Steelers are saying that Aaron Rodgers says he wants to play, he wants to give it a go. There's. Even if you read between the lines, it's the excitement of playing the Bears at Soldier Field is what's motivating him to want to be out there. Great. Okay, let's do it. Now they're going to have to learn and see if he can get under center and secure the snap. I mean, it is his non throwing hand, but that's your base hand in taking the snap under center. And if you can't have a good grip there with some strength and some Control. That's not going to work.

[Matt Abeticola]

The reason why I'm smiling is when they're saying they're looking at devices for his wrist. I'm picturing the perfunctory scene in every James Bond movie where it's basically, there should be a flashing sign foreshadowing, foreshadowing, foreshadowing. Chekhov's rule, where Q, who was played famously by Desmond Llewellyn. I know he's been played by others since, but the agent Q, which stood for Quartermaster, they'd be at the headquarters. And James, while this may look like an ordinary pen, what it is is a specialized laser beam. Or he'd say, like, this looks like a cigarette holder, but instead it is a camera and a breathing apparatus. And it's like, gee, what are the chances this is somehow used before the end of the movie?

[Dan Bernstein]

Right?

[Matt Abeticola]

And you see that scene, and then all you do is you have this mental checklist of use the pen, use the cigarette case to do your breathing thing, because they're just telling you what's coming. So, Aaron, these are the devices that we have. This one will produce an oil slick that keeps Montez sweat from finding purchase with his feet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Sitting on top of your head.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right. It's sitting on your head and banging it up and down in the table.

[Dan Bernstein]

Which would be fine with that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, that would be awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

So, yeah, all the reports are that he wants to play, and they need to figure out if he can play. So again, he has not officially been cleared by doctors to play, so we'll see what happens. But no surgery needed. Clearly the guy can take enough pain meds to play through it. I saw it firsthand in. In Lambeau. Khalil Max. First game as a Chicago Bear, when he left the game and came out at halftime and his eyes were glassed over, he was so doped up. But then threw two or three touchdowns in the second half to beat the Bears.

[Matt Abeticola]

I was there at Lambeau when they said that Brett Favre is not playing. He's not playing. His sprained ankle. It's. He's not playing.

[Dan Bernstein]

And then walked out pants with orange cross.

[Matt Abeticola]

Essentially, right before the game, there he was, and he came running out. God. Who was the name of the guy they were going to start? Craig Nall or one of the. One of the. They had a bunch of losers and ne' er do Wells behind him. Yeah, but.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

And he came running away. Wow. Favre looks like a new man.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Yep.

[Matt Abeticola]

He kind of was. And got looking at the Bear sideline.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're all just like, yeah, in the reports we're reading too, they said pain tolerance not an issue. Of course it's not. It's not going to be an issue. It's just if he can control the ball, take the ball from under center, he can throw fun.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's not really pain tolerance. It's. It's taking away the pain.

[Dan Bernstein]

The pain maintenance, sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But I'm sure there's some discomfort still that goes with it. Playing a football game, even with all the meds in the world, it's still not going to feel great. So we'll see what he can do.

[Matt Abeticola]

God, I'm trying to remember. T.J. rubely. That's who the backup was. It wasn't Craig Null at that point. Do you remember that name? It was. They were going.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm glad I don't.

[Matt Abeticola]

They were going to face Theron Joseph Rubley. On that day. He was on the packers in 95. It was his only year on the Packers. He'd been with the Rams, the Packers, Broncos.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was a Canadian football guy.

[Matt Abeticola]

Eagles, Broncos. Ryan, Fire. Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Hamilton. Tiger.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, yes. He was at the University of Tully. They were going to start TJ Rubely, but Favre ran out there. At least their backup now is a career. Backup guy like Mason Rudolph would be perfect in that commercial for progressive backup. Something.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah, that's the one that Mitch does the drive through ordering.

[Matt Abeticola]

Who did they have just come in and give the backup sex talk?

[Dan Bernstein]

Wasn't it Tyler Huntley?

[Matt Abeticola]

It was Tyler Huntley.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes, it was. Because Jacoby Brissette was the tax attorney or like accountant. Yeah, yeah, I like those, but they're good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Tyler Huntley comes in to have a sex talk with the middle school aged kid.

[Matt Abeticola]

See, but there's so many ways that could end. Like, way funnier.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Where the kids just like shell shocked. It's like, I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because he really gets into it. Right, right.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's like, now, now you really want to win a title. Here's what you do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I like though, that it's a kid. Like, hey, we have this commercial. There's a kid's having a sex talk with his dad. All right, who should we pick for that? We got Mitch Trubisky. No, no, no, no, not Mitch. Mitch can do the ordering. The food one. He can order the burgers.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. But if you look through Mitch's Twitter, he had. He's got some suggestions.

[Dan Bernstein]

Does he?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Don't you remember his. I don't his youthful Twitter that everybody was mining right after he was drafted.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Before his.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. Y. I mean, and he's not wrong. He's definitely not wrong. I mean, kids got to know that, too. That's funny. But, yeah, there's some ways that that could be parodied that could be really, really awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

So just to put a bow on it, too. We. I'll just say it on Ford Progress. We want Aaron Rodgers. Yeah. We want Ben Johnson, Dennis Allen to close the books if we're going to have Aaron Rodgers at Soldier Field.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. And have him just lying there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then carried off like. Like, if he. What was his maximus at the end of Gladiator?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, at the very end of Gladiator. No. Or I wanted to walk off the.

[Matt Abeticola]

Field carried off like comedists instead of.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maximus all the chance. From the. From the Chicago Bears fans. We own you.

[Matt Abeticola]

We own you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Can you close the book on it? Turn the page and move forward?

[Matt Abeticola]

I actually want him.

[Dan Bernstein]

If he is carried off forward progress on Aaron Rodgers.

[Matt Abeticola]

If he is carried off, not stretchered off, he has to be like, he's been picked up by cannibals and they have him on a. Like, on a wooden branch, like a fire pit.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, he's gonna be turned on the spit, like, with his wrists are bound and his ankles are bound and he's hanging on the spit as if he's to be placed over the fire.

[Dan Bernstein]

I would like a guy on a horse to ride into the field and just drape him over the back of the horse and just ride off with him.

[Matt Abeticola]

Or drag him off.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, not drag him. No, we don't want to drag him. I respect him enough as a football player.

[Matt Abeticola]

How about this? We put him on the gurney and then tie him to the horse.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, they gets pulled on the gurney.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like the Sooner Schooner, you know? You know, like the Oklahoma thing that they come out there and occasionally it tips over and everybody. That was silly.

[Dan Bernstein]

We could do that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, just do that. Tight. Tie the gurney to a horse and then hit the horse in the ass and have it run away with the gurney somewhere. Wherever it ends up, it ends up.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, couple minor NFL notes. Jamar Chase has been suspended by the league for one game for spitting, spitting on a defensive Jalen Ramsey.

[Matt Abeticola]

Not good.

[Dan Bernstein]

So he'll miss. He'll miss the week 12 game against the Patriots. The Patriots currently first place in the AFC east at. I think they're nine and two. Nine and two. So it was during the fourth quarter of the Steelers game. I almost said Pirates. He spit on Jalen Ramsey. Like, why are we spitting on people? Like, Jalen Carter did it earlier in the year.

[Matt Abeticola]

Every spitting incident has to have a Jalen.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, just stop spit. There's one. Yeah. Either doing it or being spit on. Like, stop spitting on people. Stop spitting on people. And stop punching other guys in football helmets. Just stop.

[Matt Abeticola]

He's wearing a helmet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Stop punching him.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. If they were.

[Dan Bernstein]

You're going to hurt your hand.

[Matt Abeticola]

If they wore football helmets in boxing, guys wouldn't punch the other guy in the head all that often.

[Dan Bernstein]

If it was the old leather helmets where there's nothing covering their face, sure, have at it. Go punch him. But he's protected. Stop hurting your hands.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, definitely. And even if it's a guardian cap, where it wouldn't hurt your hand quite as much, but there's still a helmet underneath the guardian cap. That's a problem.

[Dan Bernstein]

See, that's Jason's. Next thing. On a Friday night at school, after some beers. Get the cheapest beers, you can put the guardian caps on and say, punch me in the face. I got a helmet on it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I was thinking this morning he was going to wake up all covered in sequins or something. Last. Because Kim Mulkey winked at him last night in the post game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, well, he's got the hair.

[Matt Abeticola]

Because apparently she was running up the score and called a play when they were up 30. And he texts me and he's like, this is bush league. Why is she doing this? I said, ask her. You have a press pass. You're going to be in the post game. Don't ask me. I'm sitting on my ass eating Domino's Pizza. Ask her. And he did. And she. She said, I'm not gonna tell you the answer. I had a reason for doing it, and I know why I did it, and I'm not gonna tell you why I did it. And then she winked at him, and it was kind of weird. So I'm thinking, you know, I was calling him this morning. Did you get Kim Mulkey out of your dorm room?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. She's. She's divorced. She's available.

[Dan Bernstein]

Road game or did she come by his place?

[Matt Abeticola]

It was a road. It was a road game for them. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But for her, though. What was it?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know. It just, you know, if she sort of. If he. Like I say, if he's covered in, like, glitter and rhinestones, you know, where were you? I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Can you imagine if Your. If your son started dating her.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, God.

[Dan Bernstein]

Huh?

[Matt Abeticola]

What is she, 63?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that'd be great, though. Money, you know, bring her home for the holidays. Well, I'm dead. This is my girlfriend, Kim.

[Matt Abeticola]

Don't talk to her. She's not very nice.

[Dan Bernstein]

She doesn't like people.

[Matt Abeticola]

Oh, boy.

[Dan Bernstein]

What are you guys talking about? We don't talk.

[Matt Abeticola]

Don't bring up anything because she's really not that nice. Yeah, well, I mean, serious. I mean, you got. You want to ask her, ask her. Perfectly. Nobody else asked her. I thought it was a great question. Why are you running up the score up 30?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it was good. And then the player that was next to her, too, smiled and laughed.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, because she was trying to make a joke. Well, she needed another shooting attempt or something like that. No, we'll get to that. On organizations win championships, talking Bulls today. And I'll make fun of him if he hasn't suffered another concussion in the meantime. Yeah, hopefully he's okay playing video games.

[Dan Bernstein]

You never know.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's bad for you.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know.

[Matt Abeticola]

Let me ask you this, too. The Bears are leading the NFL with 16 turnovers caused. You can call them takeaways if you want. They're not called takeaways in the official stats. They're called turnovers. Teams love to call them takeaways because it gives them agency. They can say, we did this. We weren't just sort of there when something happened. I want to make sure that a team like the Bears can be proud of what they've achieved and not. Not try too hard to get turnovers. If you catch my drift on this, that turnovers come out of disciplined defense. They come out of being where you're supposed to be. They come out of the reading your keys, diagnosing being smart, and being aware when a team is trying too hard to get them is when you have breakdowns and when you have missed tackles and when you have gambling on routes and helping where you shouldn't be, helping, leaving your guy when you shouldn't. And I just want to make sure that it's being reinforced that, yes, yes, we get takeaways, but the reason we get it is because we're all doing our jobs and playing really hard. It's not because we're. We're taking shortcuts or not because we're thinking about always, you know, rake the ball or jump this route. It has to be reinforced that this is because we're. As a defense, everybody is disciplined and physical and smart. And that's where the takeaways Come from.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And that's a byproduct of good coaching and good game planning and good preparation. Knowing what your opponent's going to do, that's. That's a great byproduct of that. Now, a defensive coordinator, a head coach, isn't going to give a ball back when a guy breaks discipline or isn't in his assignment. But that's, you know, you better believe that'll be talked about, coached about. Yeah, it was a successful outcome.

[Matt Abeticola]

Great, great job. Don't do.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, great job. Don't do it again.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nice catch, Hayes. Right. Don't ever fucking do it again.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right, exactly. That. That's how it. That's how it works. But, you know, there are certain things, though, that you can. You can coach up and become part of the discipline, like the tackling and the peanut punch, you know, making it that, hey, we can rap and punch at the same time, but you're the rack. Yes, you gotta rape. And that's done through coaching and repetition.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's why I brought it up that I don't doubt that the Bears are aware of that, that you can get a team that gets turnover happy and gets out of position and gets burned, because it should be, say, yes, we're causing turnovers. We are. Or getting takeaways, however you want to phrase it. But it is a. Use the term byproduct. It's a function of intelligent, disciplined, physical defense.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Because the point is, stay between the offensive player and the ball. Make sure they don't catch it or whatever the situation might be. But if it just so happens that you get the ball, like Nishan Wright's interception in the end zone, that was great coverage, and it was a fairly decent throw. A couple inches higher, it's probably a touchdown. But he made a hell of a play while staying disciplined in his assignment of covering that receiver. Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

He didn't come off somebody else and run over. It's sort of like the way you talk about defense in basketball, but jumping passing lanes and, you know, you don't necessarily come off your guy to block a shot. The best shot block is you. You've got verticality, you're staying disciplined. You went straight up, you blocked your own guy's shot and kept it in play. There are. There are ways to do all this stuff that you want to do and have the same outcomes, but you're not necessarily trying to do it. Or like in, in baseball where they. They always used to say, well, I'm not trying to hit home runs.

[Dan Bernstein]

They just.

[Matt Abeticola]

Which.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, you are, of course.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well now that's, now they admit, unless you're John Smoltz. Now they admit they're well. Right. So it's like, well, he's not trying to hit a home run here. Yes, he is. Stop saying that. Of course he's trying to hit home run. He's swinging as hard as he can. He's swinging early. He's trying to yank it over the fence because it's worth a run. Don't get me.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just don't, don't mean to send you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Back that button and I don't want to go there. But it's great that the Bears have done it. I just want it to be reinforced how and why these seasons happen this way and how you can be, you can happen to get turned overs because you're good at defense. And the problem is the Bears aren't that good at defense.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're really good in the areas that are important, which is why they're 7 and 3. But overall they're not very good on defense.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're going to need to be a lot better contrarian stats looking at this team. It's really, it's really remarkable. Which is also why their percentage for playoff hopes with seven games to go isn't as high as you think it would be being the three seed currently in the NFC because they give up a lot of yards on the run, they give up a lot of yards passing, yet they're very good on third down efficiency. They're great in the in red zone defense in giving up touchdowns. But, but those other things don't match with that. But that's why they're good right now. It's really, it's really, it's really interesting season seeing what's happening with Dennis Allen, Ben Johnson and this Chicago Bears team.

[Matt Abeticola]

And that's forward Progress today. We are brought to you by our friends at Beer Church here on three one, two sports. Make sure you subscribe, make sure that you like and rate and all the things and remember that we're always on immediately after the game as we will be after this noon started. Soldier Field weather's supposed to be gorgeous by the way, 54 degrees and no wind. So no precipitation as of right now in the forecast. So it looks like that is not going to be an issue and it's going to be Bears and Steeler first place Bears and Steelers and we'll continue to talk about it throughout the week on Forward Progress.

[Dan Bernstein]

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

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