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- [00:01]
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- [00:42]
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- [01:18]
Dan Bernstein
Forward progress a Chicago Bears Podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola on 312 sports.
- [01:27]
Matt Abaticola
We give you forward progress here on 312 sports. It is a Chicago Bears podcast brought to you by Beer Church Brewing, New Buffaloes Brewery Pizzeria and a historic Church Wood fired Neapolitan Pizza Small batch craft beer brunch every day. Visit beerchurchbrewing.com I'm Dan Bernstein. That is Matt Abaticola and the Bears are single six and three. They rack up another win over an opponent over whom they were favored. And they do so in what has become their typical fashion of spending too much time playing bad football until it matters and they play good football and then everybody finishes up. Happy, happy, happy.
- [02:14]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I didn't realize that Jackson Jackson dart had his this was his fourth concussion protocol in this season. I didn't realize it was, it was that many. He's, he's a, he's a better prospect in the NFL than than I thought he was going into this game. I was rather impressed with his ability to make some throws and then, you know, I'm not so sure about all the specific run calls for him and how that will have an impact with a guy who's already concussed for four different times under protocol. Not sure. I think those, those run calls for the quarterback should continue playing on not so sure that he should continue playing on in this particular season, to be honest with you, in one that the Giants are not going to go anywhere at 2 and 8. I'm not even sure if their, their coach will remain the coach much beyond this, this season.
- [03:06]
Matt Abaticola
Well, you can't play the other guy if your choice is that or Russell Wilson. I want to know what plan C is.
- [03:13]
Dan Bernstein
Well, isn't plan C Jameis Winston fine, or is he not on. I thought he's on the Giants. Yeah, I certainly wouldn't play Russell Wilson, but I'm just not sure that you want Jackson Dart going out there with his fourth concussion protocol for this waste of a season. He certainly is the guy moving forward, but that's not why he called. The Bears do get the win, 24 to 20 over the Giants in a game that, you know, at times the defense looked questionable on certain areas. They got some big plays when they, when they needed it. One thing I wanted to look at was the run game because these are two of the worst run defenses in the league by yards per carry going into this game. Statistically speaking, the Bears have looked better the last couple of weeks. But in this game, the Bears running backs averaged 5.4 yards per carry. That's Bears running backs only on 108 yards, 20 carries. On the other side, the Giants running backs averaged 4.1 yards per carry, 91 yards on 22 carries. So we're taking out what Jackson Dart did, what Russell Wilson did or didn't do, and the running backs finished at 4.1 yards per carry down from the Bears average of I think 5.4 or 5.1 on the season going into this game. So much, much better. Look for the Bears run defense against the Giants running backs. Now, of course, Jackson Dart had some big plays that impacted the game until he was out, but I specifically wanted to look at what the Bears did against the Giants running backs.
- [04:35]
Matt Abaticola
Well, especially on first down, you know, they were getting in all kinds of advantageous situations. And it was part of the reason why I was bothered by what they were allowing Jackson Dart to, because that's how you draw it up. I mean, they were, it was second and nine, second and 10, second and 11 for, for the, every time. Thurman. I have to look at my, my, my notes to determine exactly where, but that's certainly how it seemed. And they still couldn't get themselves off the field because of everything that was going on in, in those ensuing downs until later in the game. And obviously when Dart left the game and they were able to Blitz more. I was, it was very, very pleased that Dennis Allen understood the assignment late in the game and that the Bears were all on the same page with that because defense is not great right now. I'm, I'm, I'm very concerned going into this part of their schedule how it's going to hold up against much, much, much better personnel.
- [05:31]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. And I think the addition of CJ Gardner Johnson has been a really welcome addition these last two weeks. He's played rather well. Three sacks, a forced fumble. He's made some timely plays. He's been good in coverage. Like, what would, what would it look like without him these last couple weeks where he's had a significant impact on these games, Particularly in yesterday's game with Edwards being out and with most of your secondary being injured and out as well. It's. I understand what Dennis Allen is trying to do and why they're having some difficulty, but yeah, this is not going to look good against a team that can actually move the ball and have an efficient offense, which the Giants certainly do not with those injuries and what they faced against the Bears yesterday.
- [06:14]
Matt Abaticola
Now some good news though is the improving play of Montez Sweat, who now is I believe the third Bear in their history to put together four consecutive games with a sack, joining Richard Dent and Khalil Mack, who I believe did it multiple times. But that's one list as we know, a Bears all time list that isn't completely embarrassing when you start talking about walking in those footsteps. Khalil Mack, by the way, still getting it done. You know, watching him last night and seeing some of the stuff that he was doing and watching their plan, I know this is that I'm digressing here and we'll. But before I forget, I thought that what the Chargers did to Aaron Rodgers last night was fascinating. And I do believe the Bears should be taking very close notes for the Steelers game they have upcoming. And that is a secondary disengagement pass rush that prevents Aaron Rodgers from climbing the pocket. There was an initial outside wave. Whether or not you're at an eight technique, a nine, a seven, coming in from the outside, then if blocked, then making sure that Rogers could not do what he does and climb, climb, climb and step past that they were pushing off of the block and then chasing him down before he could set his feet. And it's clear that that was coached, that it was, it was just not happening to happen that There, there. The book is out on this iteration of Aaron Rodgers and I loved that move. I loved that that film Work of realizing he's going to, to. He wants to wash you by the play and not have you come at him once. He finds that little slack water in the front of the pocket and they said double back and chase him down. And I'll be damned. They were very successful doing it.
- [08:14]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I didn't see a whole lot of Aaron Rodgers last year in his second season with the jets, but I've seen a couple Steelers games so far this season and he, he just, he looks, he looks old. He looks old and, and slow and he just, he looks like what he is. A really good quarterback with a 20 year career that is just at the tail end of it. Even sitting on the bench, he just, he looks like he's kind of not much longer for this type of play.
- [08:38]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah, well, Joe Flacco looked like that too. And he cut the Bears to ribbons. And I am concerned. I know we've got a couple of weeks here to, to worry about it, but I, I'm not counting out Aaron Rodgers against the Bears. I've got too much muscle memory. I've got.
- [08:50]
Dan Bernstein
Well, yeah, I mean, he owns the Bears, right?
- [08:52]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah. There's just too much scar tissue and it's like the Terminator. Until they melt him down or put him in the drill press or whatever they have to do. I, I'm. I'm always going to think that he's got something waiting for him. So I'm, I'm. You're not gonna, I'm not gonna follow you in. Into any Aaron Rodgers narratives until the Bears are done with him.
- [09:13]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, no, I get it. I'm just saying last night what I saw was a guy in the bench, old and, and tired. So. And then with, with Odang, with Odengbo out, want to just highlight a couple other guys on the defensive line. Austin Booker and then the new Bear. Joe, try and show Yinka. I, I thought they played well. I know there was one particular play where Booker made a fake outside move and then on the tight end and then stuffed the run. I thought that was a really, really good read. A good use of his body on that play to make the stop on the run. And then I thought showing it was going to get a sack on his first. On his first. On his first play as well too, as a Chicago Bear. He was chasing from behind. But he's got all the things that we heard from Carmen Vitale about.
- [09:57]
Vrbo Advertiser
He.
- [09:57]
Dan Bernstein
He matched those things. He has the body and he has that high motor that doesn't stop. There were several plays where the Play got downfield and he was one of the later guys coming in back in into the view of play to make an attempt on the ball. So I like that his motor kept going. You know, for a first showing, I thought he had a pretty good outing in some limited snaps. But Austin Booker, I thought played it, played a decent game. One thing I want to say about Montez Sweat too. And again, four sacks, four games and we've been on him from the start. Is there something breaking or is there something significant? Yeah, yeah.
- [10:32]
Matt Abaticola
The Giants have just fired Brian Dable.
- [10:35]
Dan Bernstein
What I tell you just said it. So this is yesterday after the game and. Yeah, just now.
- [10:42]
Matt Abaticola
This is breaking news that the, the Bears can take some credit for this. Or maybe, maybe it speaks ill of the Bears. If they say my goodness you to the Bears like that, you're fired. Wow. Brian D. Is out. According to multiple sources right now, according to both Diana Rossini of The Athletic and ESPN, that day Ball Coach of the Year in 2022, he finishes up with a record of 20, 40 and 1. Brian Dable is out and I have absolutely no question whatsoever that he will find a comfortable and deserved job somewhere as an offensive coordinator.
- [11:26]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. And so coach of the year in 2022 and then 23, 24 and now 25. He starts the season two and seven all three of those years, now two and eight. With the loss of the Bears yesterday and that play at the goal line when they get the penalty and they could move a half yard closer and decides to kick the field goal that I'm telling you, that we talked about in the post game show yesterday, that that's the kind of thing that gets you fired after a third consecutive two and seven start and then losing that game yesterday and now losing 11 in a row on the road. I'm not, not surprised at all. So you know, and I know Zach Taylor you mentioned is on the coaching hot seat as well. I mean the Bears are turning into coach killers.
- [12:06]
Matt Abaticola
And again, you, you, you hope it's a good thing. You hope it's not like when Northwestern Bears. It's like when Northwestern beat Penn State and say, well that's a bridge too far. That can't happen. So the part of the Bears sort of syndrome here is feeling that insecurity of oh boy, I guess it's people, you lost to the Bears, you're out of here, we can't keep you around. But that's breaking news during a podcast is always a fun thing because we get your, our initial reaction. I'm not surprised yeah, not surprised at all. I don't think one can be.
- [12:47]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. I said it in our post game yesterday that that's the kind of game that gets you fired. That decision at the goal line as well doesn't help anything for his cause, but. Brian Dable, fired from multiple sources as the head coach of the New York giants after a 24 to 20 loss at Soldier Field, their 11th straight road loss. They haven't won a game since October of last season. On the road now, Montez Sweat, four games, four sacks. So that's great. I love it. I love his production. I was on the guy from the start of the season, you know, follow the money. Where's the money at? DJ Moore, Montez Sweat and their production levels so good. He's producing, he's playing better. I just, I. And I know he is who he is as a player. I just. He really like even that. That sack of. Of.
- [13:31]
Matt Abaticola
Of dart.
- [13:32]
Dan Bernstein
Russell Wilson, of Wilson. When Wilson's trying to get back to the line as close as he can, he just. He looks like such an old head running the backfield, man. It's just like I'm used to seeing these young, like, even like a guy like Austin Booker and the way he moves and I know that they're different bodies and they're going to move differently. He just, he just runs like such an old head. It makes me laugh. But I'm glad he's getting production and we're going to give him credit when it's out there. For him to get the credit was hard on the guy to start the season and he's getting to the quarterback and makes him. He's denting the pocket, making disruption during. During plays and that's all you can ask the guy to do.
- [14:05]
Matt Abaticola
He got that sack and then he split a sack in the first quarter on Dart on a fourth and two. It was Sewell and Sweat who combined the credit for that. That was the first of many turnovers on downs, the most I've read that I remember seeing in an NFL game. It was.
- [14:22]
Dan Bernstein
Well, they said, yeah, it was the.
- [14:23]
Matt Abaticola
Most this season, which will be broken because of the number of times the teams go for it. Now it's a matter of time and obviously conditions and matchups.
- [14:32]
Dan Bernstein
But.
- [14:33]
Matt Abaticola
But that won't stand for long, perhaps not even this year.
- [14:36]
Dan Bernstein
So can I go through and take a look at these throws? Because I went back and watched the game again this morning just to look at. I wanted to count drops and I wanted to see where the plays that Caleb Williams was off a Bit. So I wanted to go back and see how many drops there actually were.
- [14:56]
Matt Abaticola
All right. How many? See, I had seven. One official count had six. How many did you have total?
- [15:02]
Dan Bernstein
I had as total number of drops. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I have six as drops. Okay, six is drops.
- [15:11]
Vrbo Advertiser
Okay.
- [15:12]
Dan Bernstein
There were. Now there was one play I wanted to. Well, let me just. I'll just go through this here real quick. Drops. So you have manangai Zacchaeus Swift. More Zacchaeus again. Odunese Zacchaeus again and more. Now that more one. Now you're calling the more in the end zone. I'm not that. That's a really. Again great throw by Caleb. That's a really hard catch to make where he was at. I know. I get it. I paid to make it. An elite level wide receiver makes that catch. DJ Moore is not that guy.
- [15:59]
Matt Abaticola
Well, that, that's sort of begging the question though, because he's paid as that guy.
- [16:06]
Dan Bernstein
That's whether you think, okay, that's not his fault. It's not. I mean, if, if, if we want to pay a guy at a level that we believe he is when he's not that, that's not on that guy. And I'll never begrudge a guy for getting paid more than he deserves. The same thing with Montez Sweat. Montez Sweat got a lot of money based on what we. And what we hoped he was going to turn into. And I don't think he's that guy.
- [16:31]
Matt Abaticola
Were there any large conclusions based on your film study of these plays?
- [16:36]
Dan Bernstein
No, because there was not really. It was what I saw initially. I mean, there were still some plays that Caleb was off. There was some plays that he didn't make. He cost himself a touchdown. That overthrow to roam in the end zone was a. An opportunity to score seven that they put six in the board that he didn't do that was on him. There was the Zacchaeus drop in the end zone which is completely on him. What? One thing that I will make a conclusion is that any snaps that Oz is out there should now belong to Luther Burden.
- [17:04]
Matt Abaticola
I was just going to say my conclusion is more Luther Burden however you want to do it and if it comes in the return game, I'm fine with that too.
- [17:13]
Dan Bernstein
There was one, one thing that. There was one play that I think we would have called a drop by Oz. Watching the game initially, watching it again today, and this was in the second quarter. The throw was off the mark. He was completely covered. And it was, it did go off his hands, but it Would have been a tough play. So I'm not going to call that a drop there. That's just a combination of a tough play. There was an Adonis Dunes a corner route that I thought was really bad. Remember it was right, right at the end zone and he gets stopped at the goal line and it's just a bad throw. Two consecutive plays where there were high snaps by Dalman that Greg Olson did call out though and he had to catch with one hand. That was one of those plays. So that threw off the timing of that play as well. The Colson Loveland catch for first down was a terrible throw that he makes an unbelievable catch.
- [18:01]
Matt Abaticola
Oh that fingertip gets an extra one.
- [18:03]
Dan Bernstein
There, extra one there that he wouldn't have normally. But yeah, overall I'd say six drops. I think there were some opportunities that Caleb would like to take back. I think overall he played, he played pretty well. There are a couple that I have question marks on that ended up getting pressure where he getting. He got pressured in the, in the pocket and I need to see it from a different angle. Need to see it with an all 22 because there were times that that Caleb had to peel out under pressure. That the Giants secondary and their linebackers did a really nice job in pass coverage. Really, really, really good job. I was really surprised at how well they covered some pass opportunities. So there are two that I have question marks on. I need to see from a different view to see if it was just Caleb not pulling the trigger or if they really were covered and he had to had to peel out and split split out. But again overall I thought Caleb played a really nice game. I thought there's some opportunities that he missed. He left the touchdown on the, on the field as well with an overthrow of a dunes A. But he felt the pressure well moved when he needed to and would maybe like to see him take off a split sooner and a couple opportunities instead of trying to make those throws downfield too.
- [19:11]
Matt Abaticola
A couple things I wanted to revisit. Also you made the point during post game regarding the the now famous Darnell Wright block of Brian Burns who got caught in a spin move exactly where you don't want to get caught and that is without quite enough contact with the ground to to keep your balance. And the fact that Darnell Wright shoved him down with one hand if and when he makes the Pro bowl or an all pro team, that's going to be shown as a highlight and will certainly be when all is said and done. One of Darnell Wright's career highlights he had a similar play against a safety where he used one hand to just kind of kick him out to the side as well, just to knock him away like, like Hulk in one of the CGI scenes in a Marvel movie. And it was pointed out by a. An emailer to us who said that don't forget Darnell Wright was a state champion for shot put in West Virginia.
- [20:13]
Dan Bernstein
Oh, I didn't know that.
- [20:14]
Matt Abaticola
So when you talk about heavy hands is usually the scouting term when they will react to. To the way an offensive lineman can throw that punch. Those are heavy hands. And the ability over a short travel to get that kind of impact that he's got in there is pretty special. And maybe that does come from. From some shot put. That's because that. That really is. Is quite a thing. Now what I'm reminded of is, and this is a. It's a cross sport comparison, but you know the hockey move that is known as the spinorama that Dennis Savard made famous, you know, Patrick Kane would use it every so often with the puck. When you go into a defenseman and do the full spin, what you are taught to do is simply knock the guy over. That it is. It's perfectly legal to. To deliver a check that it is a. And how was explained to me by a hockey coach is you're never going to be in a weaker position on the puck than when you're in the middle of that spin. And that is the perfect time to. For a defenseman just to put that guy on his ass. And that was exactly what happened right there. And obviously there's a difference in. In. In size and strength and weight and balance and all that. But that is if somebody's going to try that spin move on you and you can time it up right, that is. That is exactly what to do. Just knock him down.
- [21:44]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, no, it was. It was awesome. And the, the. And don't forget the somersault too. So he's. He's pulling out to his right, trips over somebody's ankle and then goes face first and turns it into a somersault and pops up like it was part of the play. Really, really good. Oh, there was one other, one other catch I wanted to point out from the pasta Oz. Sorry to go back to this. I think it's important to point out he. We initially would have called that a drop pass, but it actually didn't hurt the Bears because that was the play where there was a penalty called and ended up getting into a first down anyway.
- [22:15]
Matt Abaticola
There was a legal contact.
- [22:17]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. The illegal contact, a penalty on. I want to say Rome gets the, the penalty and then the drop pass ends up not impacting the Bears because they still get the. The first down on it. Anyway, I'm just trying to find my notes where it was at, but it would have been, I think a, A tougher. It was a tougher catch but ended up not mattering anyway. Oh, yeah. No, no, no, no. It was definitely a drop on. On target in time. On target, drop ball, penalty erased. It doesn't matter. So.
- [22:45]
Matt Abaticola
Okay.
- [22:46]
Dan Bernstein
First out anyway.
- [22:46]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah, maybe that's where I got the seven.
- [22:48]
Dan Bernstein
Seven. Yes.
- [22:49]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah, that's probably where I ended.
- [22:52]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I think you're right.
- [22:53]
Matt Abaticola
Happened, but didn't happen as far as the official scoring goes.
- [22:57]
Dan Bernstein
Correct.
- [22:57]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah. Another thing that, that I hope you revisited was the non penalty call on the knee to the head of Caleb Williams.
- [23:08]
Dan Bernstein
I did. And it really, really made me even more angry today rewatching it because hearing Greg Olson go on and on and on about the Noah Sewell penalty where he's being hit by three, three different Bears and kind of spins into Sewell while Sewell's already in his motion and he hits. No, he hits him in the head. Not trying to say he didn't. And I know that's the letter of the law. You hit the quarterback's head, it's a penalty. And Greg Olson was like, bears fans, you can't be upset about it. That's the. That's the law. That's the rule. That's how it goes. It's. It's on. It's on your onus. It's the onus of the defensive player.
- [23:42]
Matt Abaticola
Not on my onus.
- [23:43]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, on your atis either. It's the onus of the other defensive player.
- [23:47]
Matt Abaticola
My onus.
- [23:48]
Dan Bernstein
Well, hang on a second here. What is. What is that noise? Hang on. Sorry.
- [23:56]
Matt Abaticola
You're right.
- [23:57]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. No. Oh, it's my. My ghost phone. My phone, it just starts playing things randomly on its own. I think there's a ghost that controls my phone.
- [24:05]
Matt Abaticola
Sorry about that. Let me just turn that bad boy off. Are you sure it's not the person trying to loan me $63,000? It's not.
- [24:13]
Dan Bernstein
It's a ghost who operates my phone when I'm not.
- [24:15]
Matt Abaticola
Okay. They keep leaving me these AI voicemails saying my loan has been approved.
- [24:20]
Dan Bernstein
Telling you you should just take it. So Greg Olson is saying that it's responsibility of the defensive player to, you know, avoid the quarterback's head, blah, blah, blah. He's going on and on and on.
- [24:31]
Matt Abaticola
And he's right.
- [24:32]
Dan Bernstein
He is right. He's 100. Right. But then for him to totally just wash over the fact that Caleb Williams gets kneed in the back of the head. Here's what he says now, Bears fans. He gets mad at the Bears fans for. For overreacting to the video replay. And he even said, that's not a penalty. He's just jumping over him.
- [24:55]
Matt Abaticola
He's jumping over him and kneeing him in the head.
- [24:57]
Dan Bernstein
He makes a target. He makes a joke about it and calls it and refers to it. Now, come on, that's not. That's knee targeting. He, like, he tried to laugh it off and make a joke out of it. He hit the quarterback in the head. Where literally three minutes earlier you were saying, it doesn't matter. You just. You can't hit the quarterback in the head. And if you do, it's a penalty. That's just. That's just the rule of the law. That's how it goes.
- [25:17]
Matt Abaticola
It's a miss. Yeah.
- [25:17]
Dan Bernstein
Can't argue with it.
- [25:18]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah, he messed that up.
- [25:19]
Dan Bernstein
Not only to miss, but to double down and make a joke out of it, though, I thought was really surprising. That should have been a penalty. Doesn't matter if he's just jumping over his head. He need him the back of the head. The quarterback sacrificed himself, gave it up. You can't touch the quarterback. There's nothing you can do there. And for him to just glass over it and say, oh, you know, it's just. He's just jumping over him. It's not a big deal. It's a penalty. He hit him in the head, period.
- [25:44]
Matt Abaticola
I thought for the most part, Greg Olson had his typical great game, but that was undoubtedly a miss on his part. We're so used to that here, too. It began with the litany of calls that Justin Fields should have gotten and never could buy one. And the same thing seems to be happening with the ever elusive Caleb Williams is it was the end of the slide, too, that I think that there can be some leeway given when somebody is completely in the air and making a reasonable effort to try to fire the retro rockets or change your flaps or whatever you have to do once you've launched yourself. I think it's fair and it's hard in real time to do that, but to say, look, did this guy realize what was he slid into? What they say is, it doesn't matter.
- [26:33]
Dan Bernstein
Doesn't matter. Right. That's how it should be. It doesn't matter if you hit the quarterback's head. It's a penalty. One other thing that was kind of irritated, the Nishan Wright interception, which gets knocked out of his hands, which is a great play. Great play by the receiver. The very next play, Tyreek Stevenson is held in the end zone on a play that he would have had an opportunity to make a play on the ball and he's held. And Jaquan Brisker even runs over to the official and you could see him motioning with the holding call. Like, how could you not see that call that. But Greg Olson is so busy praising the wide receiver for the peanut punch, he totally just again glosses right over another play where there was an opportunity in the end zone. So you have the interception that's knocked away, you have a holding penalty that would have made a field goal more difficult by adding yards to it and totally missed because he's just so busy talking about how great the peanut punch was on the part of the receiver, which it was. But yet, man, like I get being determined to get out what you want to get out. There's still a game going on. There's still a game happening. And that was part of the issue with the Caleb Williams slide as well. He's so busy talking about the play in the end zone and wants to show the replay and show what happened there and talk about it and share some things and teach you some things that he's like immediately glasses over what happened to Caleb Williams. So two opportunities there that I thought he really missed, which is unusual for.
- [27:58]
Matt Abaticola
Greg Olson Forward Progress is brought to you as always by Beer Church Brewing, New Buffalo's Brewery Pizzeria in a historic church Wood fired Neapolitan Pizza Small batch craft beer Brunch Every day visit Beer Church Brewing. I know in a little bit you're gonna talk again in this space about the experience that you had there over the weekend. I wanted to point this out too. And every week, every Monday, there are a couple of columns that I think are important. I always like to read in the Tribune what Brad Biggs writes in his 10 thoughts. And Mike Sando of the Athletic also puts together something called Pick Six where he similarly finds six things that he finds interesting. And the Athletic has what they call their playoff simulator. And it's no different than any other sort of metric numbers based playoff probability simulator. And what I find interesting is the Bears current playoff probability is 0.3%.
- [29:05]
Dan Bernstein
Which.
- [29:05]
Matt Abaticola
Is significantly lower than their preseason number before the season started. By this metric, the bears had a 2.1% chance of making the playoffs and now it's down to a mere 0.3. The Rams have gone up from 9.6 to a conference leading 29.2, a change of nearly 20%. And then in order it's the Eagles at 19.5, the Seahawks now at 17.9 who also made a major jump. Then the Lions, the Packers, the Buccaneers, the Niners and then the Bears. Behind the Bears are Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, commanders.
- [29:49]
Dan Bernstein
What's the Lions and Packers numbers?
- [29:51]
Matt Abaticola
The Lions were a preseason 13.1 and are currently at 14.7. The packers were a preseason 13.9 and are currently at 10.5. So my guess is that strength of schedule of the teams the Bears have played and the teams the Bears will play is the overriding factor. The quality of opponent is the overriding factor in these numbers.
- [30:21]
Dan Bernstein
All right, hang on a second now though.
- [30:23]
Matt Abaticola
Let's see here.
- [30:27]
Dan Bernstein
So it's the Vikings. The Vikings coming up this weekend. Yep. Then they are at this. They host the Steelers Eagles. Okay. Packers currently a first place team. Browns, packers, 49ers and lions. Okay.
- [30:46]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah. So my guess is that this reflects the pessimism in the algorithm due to quality of opponent. Otherwise I don't really get it.
- [31:03]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. The collapse of the Vikings you get, you get beaten badly by the Lions beat the Cowboys which are nothing to.
- [31:11]
Matt Abaticola
Right. It might also be the, the performance itself against the Lions is also what's weighing in.
- [31:16]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Raiders game, the Commanders which was an exciting one point victory. Saints which are not good. They lose to the Ravens and a backup quarterback. Yeah, I guess. Yeah. I don't like it, but I can kind of understand it if there's a, a process to it.
- [31:34]
Matt Abaticola
But yeah, I'm not mad at anybody. No, no, it's not a person deciding this.
- [31:38]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Like on a like logic and reason you look at it and go well that doesn't make any sense sense. But, but I get it. I get it.
- [31:44]
Matt Abaticola
Does it kind of. It kind of is a distillation of everything that we're kind of thinking while we are those of us who are enjoying the Bears at 6 and 3. Make no mistake, don't get angry. It's okay to be realistic. It is okay to hold the Bears at a high, a high bar and a high level of expectation because their coach, Ben Johnson says they'll be playing their best football in December. And if we hold him to that, they've got a long way to go and they're going to have to prove that against much better teams. And I love the fact that he's saying it. I love the fact that he's aware of it. So I think it's possible to be really excited about a 6 and 3 start and also know that they have to play better if, if they're going to make the playoffs this year.
- [32:36]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, that's December. Games are Packers, Browns, Packers, 49ers. So that second game with the Lions at Soldier Field is in January. Will they be playing their like even better than best football in January or.
- [32:49]
Matt Abaticola
Well, if it's good. Better, best. What, what's after best?
- [32:57]
Dan Bernstein
I don't know. I just don't want to relive that 52 to whatever it was game.
- [33:00]
Matt Abaticola
No, no, I'm, I'm confident. I'm confident that the outcome will be a more positive one than that. I am very confident in that.
- [33:11]
Dan Bernstein
You know, and with that, that late touchdown too, yesterday, the, the Bears added another game of scoring at least 21 points in a game. It's only happened one time where they haven't so far.
- [33:22]
Matt Abaticola
Only one time that they haven't scored 21. It's pretty amazing and it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be incredible. It shouldn't be amazing. This shouldn't be record setting for the Bears, but it is because of their ignominious offensive history, to say the least. I mentioned that Beer Church is a friend of this Program and of 312Sports Beer Church brewing in New Buffalo. Just a quick trip from Chicagoland in Northwest Indiana. Make a reservation right now to have a party at their pizza school because they're open year round, they've got the heated patio with televisions everywhere and it's just a different thing to do. It could be a small group of people, it could be a large group of people. But go to beerchurchbrewing.com and say, hey, we're going to bring people out and we're going to do the pizza making party there. You can just Google Beer Church, Pizza School and book that private class. You'll learn everything about making real Napolitan pizza because they know how to do it right. They know how to do it for real. Real. I've been. You've been now. But you can get your hands on everything you learn about exactly how to stretch the dough, why you're stretching the dough, how to get the ratios of the ingredients just right. And the best thing is you don't have to to finish it and then wait a half an hour. It's two, it's maybe two to three minutes tops to get one of these pizzas out and you're eating and you're Eating constantly. Or you could just have them keep bringing you pizza. The ones you make. The ones they make. You can enjoy their small batch brews. I'm sorry if my mouth is watering as I'm talking right now. I'm not kidding. Craft beer wine cocktail packages. Go to beerchurchbrewing.com enjoy everything on their menu. Enjoy the atmosphere, the company. It's just a great place. Great people who really take the taste and quality of their food really seriously, but they don't take themselves seriously. They lean into the whole bit about being in a civil war era church. And as far as their communion bread and all the names of everything in the menu that they call a hymnal. Go and see the light and enjoy. At beer church.
- [35:31]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, they have the two pizza ovens, which I didn't know they had two. So there's the one in the outdoor eating area and then there's one indoor which I sat right by and I got to watch the pizziola.
- [35:39]
Matt Abaticola
I sat at the outdoor one.
- [35:41]
Dan Bernstein
Okay. Yeah, I was indoors and I was watching. We were watching the games. TV's right there. The service is unbelievable. The people are all friendly, very friendly. Our server, her name was Jackie, she was fantastic. Took great care of us and was just very friendly and loved the beer, church food itself and all the brews that we had. We actually had. I had a non alcoholic beer that was great. So there's those options there for you as well. But I'll tell you this. And now, Dan, I've worked in restaurants, front of house, back of house for 20 years. And I've been to a lot of breweries that have food menus. Okay? Now it's, it's a casual dining menu. Okay. This isn't like a fine dining menu. But, but John, what he does with the ingredients is, is not just, it's not like, like brewery type ingredients. Like, oh, you know, we're gonna have some food to go with the beer.
- [36:37]
Matt Abaticola
It's not bar food.
- [36:39]
Dan Bernstein
It's not bar food at all.
- [36:40]
Matt Abaticola
It's not bar food because the, the.
- [36:41]
Dan Bernstein
Ingredients don't allow that. With the quality of what, of what he uses, it's just, it's, it, it's not wrong.
- [36:48]
Matt Abaticola
It ain't right.
- [36:49]
Dan Bernstein
It ain't right. I mean, because the ingredients are not, it's not for bar food and it's not for a brewery. It's. It's different. And getting to know his background a little bit, like what he did before he was doing this, it all, it all makes sense. I'm like, all right, Okay, I get it now. He understands the finer things in restaurants and hospitality, and it shows in the quality of the ingredients that he uses for all of his products. So I'm telling you, you're gonna go. We also. I didn't tell you what I. What else I had on brunch day. I had that margarita, and I had the Caesar. But I also.
- [37:21]
Matt Abaticola
Just so people know, when he says margarita, he's not talking about the drink. He's talking about margherita with a GH pizza. Margherita, which is fresh mozzarella, just the San Marzano tomatoes and fresh basil.
- [37:32]
Dan Bernstein
That's it. That's a margherita pizza.
- [37:34]
Matt Abaticola
That's all. And maybe a drizzle of olive oil at the end.
- [37:36]
Dan Bernstein
But I also ordered the Reuben sandwich. You did the Reuben son of Jacob sandwich? Yes, because I had to try it.
- [37:44]
Matt Abaticola
Love the Old Testament reference. Yep.
- [37:45]
Dan Bernstein
And I ate. I ate half of it, along with my. My pizza and my salad. And then the other half, it was. I couldn't do it more anymore, so I just ate all the. The meat out. And, dude, it was fantastic. It was so good.
- [37:57]
Matt Abaticola
Reuben, son of Jacob.
- [37:59]
Dan Bernstein
Reuben, son of Jacob. Yeah. And, you know, they. They do it in the. The homemade bread, and then it's right there in the pizza oven. Natalie did one of their four egg scrambles with prosciutto. Dude, it was. It looked awesome. I didn't have any. She loved the eggs, though. She would eat eggs for every meal and said they were.
- [38:16]
Matt Abaticola
They were fantastic.
- [38:17]
Dan Bernstein
But it was huge. Like, who doesn't. Four egg scramble.
- [38:20]
Matt Abaticola
I do sometimes at home. I don't know that I've had. Had one at a restaurant, but.
- [38:24]
Dan Bernstein
Yes, but I'm telling you, though, and I'm not. I'm not just saying it. I mean, the ingredients he uses are. It's more than just bar food. It's more like. It's. It's higher level than you expect from a brewery. It's. It's all fantastic. But knowing John now, I get it all makes sense.
- [38:38]
Matt Abaticola
Usually I have to mention that, hey, if you want to go for brunch, go on the weekends. No, brunch every day. There's always. It's. It's. It's always brunch time when you go there any day of the week. It's not a special Sunday brunch, not a Saturday brunch. If you like this stuff that any day of the week, you got brunch. So good. Have to go. Yeah, I know. I'm hungry. This. This show Makes me hungry. All of our shows make me hungry.
- [39:02]
Dan Bernstein
I think we talk food a lot.
- [39:04]
Matt Abaticola
I know we always end up doing look around the league real quick at what we learned in sort of a topsy turvy league. Jonathan Taylor's game for the Colts. Wow. Wow. He's. He is putting on a. An all timer of a show. It's pretty special stuff with his. The contact balance and the speed. That 83 yard run was the longest of his career, I believe and just doesn't, doesn't stop his feet for. And how old is he now? Is he 20? Is he 28?
- [39:40]
Dan Bernstein
You know you started that old.
- [39:42]
Matt Abaticola
He might be. He's. He's been out there a while but Colts are real impressive.
- [39:47]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. For is he's 26 years old.
- [39:49]
Matt Abaticola
Oh, is he? Okay.
- [39:50]
Dan Bernstein
He's only. Yeah. Only 26. I'm wrong. There are, there are three, three guys right now in the MVP race for me and Jonathan Taylor is one of them along with Drake May and Matthew Stafford who's having an unbelievable year and they quite possibly could be the best team in the nfc. The Rams.
- [40:09]
Matt Abaticola
Yes. I don't think that's surprising at all. Absolutely they could. And I keep seeing the Seahawks and reminding myself that I've got to get to know some of these Seahawks because Jackson, Smith and Jigba is also very, very quickly racking up some numbers that should put him in that. In the conversation that you just discussed.
- [40:32]
Dan Bernstein
And just looking around the league real quick here. The Patriots with a win yesterday, an impressive win in Tampa are 8 and 2, two games up on or a game and a half up on the the Buffalo Bills as they lose yesterday to the Dolphins in a really ugly game for Buffalo. Jets get their second win over Cleveland. The Steelers on top of that division the AFC north but they are not going to end up there. When the season's done, they will lose that division to the 4 and 5 Baltimore Ravens right now. The Ravens will pass them and take and they will win the AFC north once again.
- [41:08]
Matt Abaticola
We're getting a little bit more information by the way about the firing of Brian Dable by the Giants. Guess who is taking over as the Giants interim coach?
- [41:20]
Dan Bernstein
Matt Eberfluss.
- [41:21]
Matt Abaticola
Mike Kafka.
- [41:23]
Dan Bernstein
Oh, is he really Northwestern guy?
- [41:24]
Matt Abaticola
Mike Kafka, Northwestern and I want to say he's a St. Rita guy, which means I have to do farm old voice. Mike Kafka will be the Giants interim coach according to Adam Schefter. Kafka, we know has been a finalist for head coaching jobs, but Northwestern and St. Rita. Their assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is going to have the helm of the gents. Good luck to him.
- [41:50]
Dan Bernstein
The Colts on top of the AFC South. I think they're leading in point differential as well too at a plus 115, which is insane. The Denver Broncos at 8 and 2. The Chargers 7 and 3. The Chiefs are 5 and 4. The Chiefs are on the outside of the playoff picture right now. Looking at.
- [42:08]
Matt Abaticola
No the extent to which I believe in the Broncos either.
- [42:11]
Dan Bernstein
Really.
- [42:11]
Matt Abaticola
I.
- [42:12]
Dan Bernstein
Their defense is legit.
- [42:14]
Matt Abaticola
Yeah. But the quarterbacking's all over the place.
- [42:16]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
- [42:17]
Matt Abaticola
Just. Just when you think it looks terrific, he'll throw a scud. So I don't know.
- [42:23]
Dan Bernstein
That's. That mean. That's kind of the theme of the story this, this season for that draft class right now. Eagles at top of the NFC east at 6 and 2. They play in Green Bay tonight. Packers currently on top of the NFC North. I still think it's the Lions division to win. Buccaneers have a game and a half lead on the Panthers at 6 and 3. Panthers are 5 and 5. And then the Seahawks and the Rams are both 7 and 2 with the 49ers at 5 and 4.
- [42:56]
Matt Abaticola
We should mention, I think some good news came out from the Bears game as well. I did not see a. An injury report that looked like much. There were a couple guys that left the game and came back in. I know D.J. moore was one of those. C.J. gardner Johnson was one of those. But as I watch in the post game as CJ GJ was getting his. His game ball, it certainly didn't look like he was moving with any, any disability. We'll find out more and we'll have plenty of Bears sound for you tomorrow on this program as well. But it looks like the Bears are all right. Happy to see that. Luther Burden came back from having being out a week with a concussion and caught all three of his targets for 50 some yards. So free Luther Burden. I want, I want definitely more from him.
- [43:44]
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. The niners are actually six and four. I misspoke said five and four. They're six and four. Looking at the receptions. Yeah. Roma Dunes a 10 targets, six catches. Colson Loveland four targets on four catches for 55 yards. Luther Burden three targets, three catches, 51. DeAndre Swift had eight targets and five catches. Oz with four and one, Cole Comet two and one. DJ Moore four targets, zero catches. And Kyle had the one target that he dropped out of the backfield for no catches.
- [44:13]
Matt Abaticola
All right, so another big week for the Bears. We're going to have plenty of Bears sound for you when we reconvene forward progress tomorrow, but that's going to do it for this one. Bears are 6 and 3 and have plenty of room to grow to follow through on exactly what Ben Johnson has promised, that their best football remains ahead of him and the Bears have become coach killers.
- [44:40]
Dan Bernstein
That's what they are. As we'll we'll get into this week too. Looking forward to the Vikings. We have Tim Jenkins coming on forward progress on Thursday. We'll have a Vikings report on Friday as we get more into looking at the Bears Vikings game. The the the revenge game from the Week one loss.
- [44:59]
Matt Abaticola
All good. That's going to do it for forward progress today. Thanks to Beer Church. I'm Bernstein. That's about a cola. Back with you Tom.
- [45:21]
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