Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: "Ben Johnson is coaching for more than just the 2 seed in the NFC in week 18"

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the crucial final week of the NFL regular season, examining the Chicago Bears and their approach under head coach Ben Johnson. The discussion focuses on strategic decisions for Week 18, the value of playoff seeding, Ben Johnson’s transparency with the media, player development—especially at quarterback—and the impact of injuries on the roster. Throughout, Dan and Matt balance sharp football analysis with signature humor and candid fan-driven reactions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Stakes in Week 18 and Playoff Seeding

• The Bears are “playing to win” in Week 18, with the potential reward of the #2 seed in the NFC and accompanying home-field advantage until the NFC Championship—something both hosts agree is far more valuable than dropping to #3.
  • “But two seed is a lot more valuable than the three seed.” – Matt (01:48)
• Scenarios around other NFC games (Eagles, Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers) are debated, but both hosts largely dismiss the relevance to the Bears’ goals.

2. Ben Johnson’s Approach and Relationship with the Media

• Ben Johnson’s candor stands out. When asked about a late-game play, he admits, “Shoot, I. Yeah, you got me stumped on that one.” (05:52)
• Matt appreciates Johnson’s honesty, suggesting it’s refreshing compared to typical coach-speak.
  • “It's great to hear. Instead of a guy being offended… he was like, yeah, you're spot on, man.” – Matt (09:56)
• Dan posits that Johnson’s transparency is good, but wonders how long such openness can last in the NFL pressure cooker.

3. Offensive Growth, “Training Wheels Off,” and Trust in the Roster

• The show features excerpts from Ben Johnson’s press conferences, highlighting how the Bears’ playbook and offensive precision have advanced:
  • “I would agree… We've taken the training wheels off. These guys are doing a phenomenal job... It’s just every week you just see them go about their business.” – Ben Johnson (13:22)
• Johnson’s trust in his offensive players is explicit, leading to more creative and complex play-calling, such as a recent hook-and-ladder.

4. Play Design/Execution: Case Studies & Strategic Nuances

• The hosts dissect several real in-game moments:
  • Caleb Williams to Colson Loveland (Touchdown on a free play):
    • “There are certain, like, coverage-hunting… Here they deliberately practice a play with a hard count, knowing that [defenders] may have a tendency to jump...” – Matt (21:13)
    • Johnson: “We walked through… with a hard cadence… if they jumped, then we wanted to take a shot.” (19:59)
  • Hook and Ladder Play:
    • Johnson acknowledges the execution, yet remains critical: “The precision on a play like that is really the starting point… would have loved to scored a touchdown, would have loved to got it, get it out of bounds.” (14:30)
  • The importance of practicing “off-menu” plays; Ben Johnson’s philosophy centers on only calling plays that are “executed at the highest level.”

5. Caleb Williams’ Growth and Performance Metrics

• Matt studies the effect of even marginal accuracy improvements on Williams’ end-of-year numbers, showing the real impact of a few additional completions per game.
  • “If you [add] one completion per game… that would put him at 61%... not last among starting quarterbacks.” (45:48)
  • “Three more [completions per game]... 67%... puts him in the top five.” (46:50)
• Both agree that incremental improvements would elevate Williams into the league’s MVP conversation next season (50:06).

6. Injury Management & Its Effect on the Lineup

• In-depth analysis of injuries to key Bears: Rome Odunze, Grady Jarrett, Kyler Gordon, Jalen Johnson.
  • Specifically, for Odunze: “His catching percentage in those five games, sorry. Was 32% ... The previous seven games... 52%. So I'm wondering when did this, like, I have to go back and look when he came up on the injury report, when this injury occurred, how long he tried to play on it for, and why wasn’t anything done sooner?” – Matt (36:42)
• Dan offers medical context, explaining the gray areas and complexity in diagnosing and managing soft-tissue injuries (41:25).
• They stress the challenge between pushing through injury as a leader and risking long-term health.

7. Bears Wide Receiver Usage & Historical Comparison

• Matt and Dan discuss the Bears’ unusual equal distribution amongst their receivers, comparing it to teams like the 2013 Broncos for context (57:31).
• They playfully debate whether the Bears have a true number one receiver, with Dan loving the balanced approach.

8. Memorable, Light-hearted Banter

• The duo famously detour into Olive Garden jokes, RuPaul Drag Race touchdown celebrations (Luther Burden’s “head pop”), and culinary tangents, adding comic relief (10:33–12:25, 43:20).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Shoot, you got me stumped on that one.”
— Ben Johnson (05:52)

“We've taken the training wheels off. These guys are doing a phenomenal job…”
— Ben Johnson (13:22)

“If we go down, we're going to go down swinging like that.”
— Ben Johnson (14:42)

“Three more [completions per game]... 67%... puts him in the top five of those 13 quarterbacks…”
— Matt (46:50)

“His catching percentage in those five games... Was 32%. The previous seven games... 52%. So I'm wondering when did this, like, I have to go back and look when he came up on the injury report, when this injury occurred, how long he tried to play on it for and why wasn't anything done sooner?”
— Matt (36:42)

“It's just, it's football. That's the answer. Every week's a car accident, multiple car accidents for sure. And then you pick up the pieces and you see who could walk.”
— Dan (40:58)

“I must not have installed that play very well then if you felt that way. He was certainly part of the read... yet Caleb felt like he could see. It was more of a layered concept there... Outstanding throw. Outstanding catch.”
— Ben Johnson (31:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Playoff Seeding Scenarios & Week 18 Importance – 00:51–04:03
• Ben Johnson's Press Conference Honesty – 05:52–07:13, 09:24–10:07
• Offensive Growth: “Training Wheels Off” – 13:15–14:42
• Hook and Ladder Play Execution – 13:15–16:22
• Caleb Williams’ Growth & Advanced Stats Deep Dive – 44:04–50:16
• Injury Management & Roster Impact – 35:02–43:11
• Receivers Usage & Historical Parallels – 56:25–58:23
• Comic Relief: Olive Garden & RuPaul – 10:33–12:25, 43:20

Summary Takeaways

• Bears’ Philosophy: Aggressive, with an emphasis on the importance of playoff seeding.
• Coaching Transparency: Ben Johnson’s style is refreshingly candid—admitting faults, celebrating progress, and building trust within the organization.
• Quarterback Progress: Even small improvements in Williams’ accuracy would put him among the league’s best, shifting the Bears’ offense to potentially elite status.
• Injury Uncertainty: Like most NFL teams, injury management remains both a science and an art, with no easy answers.
• Receiver Usage: The Bears lack a clear top receiver, which the hosts view as a strategic asset.
• Entertainment: The podcast balances in-depth football talk with humor and relatable fan perspective, making it engaging for both hard-core and casual listeners.

For Bears fans eager for Week 18 and the playoffs, Bernstein and Abbatacola deliver a nuanced, passionate, and highly entertaining breakdown—reminding listeners that under Ben Johnson, Chicago has not only “forward progress,” but also a clear identity and future to believe in.