Forward Progress: Chicago Bears at Ravens Preview – Caleb Williams, Kyle Monangai, and the Evolving Bears (October 22, 2025)
Main Theme & Purpose
In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola break down the Chicago Bears’ preparation for their matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, focusing on key injuries, the development of rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and the evolving Bears run game led by Kyle Monangai. They offer unfiltered reactions to the team's growth, analyze how position battles and injuries affect strategy, and explore broader NFL topics, including franchise dysfunction and league drama.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bears Injury Updates & Depth Chart Impacts [00:17–03:26]
- Tyreek Stevenson (shoulder) and Cole Kmet (back) remain day-to-day/week-to-week, with possible absence affecting lineup shuffling.
- DJ Moore’s mysterious “groin/hip thing” remains a concern after his brief hospitalization. The hosts scrutinize his current play intensity and whether injuries are influencing his effectiveness, especially in blocking assignments.
“Just keep an eye on how hard DJ Moore is working on every play, or lack thereof. And consider that he might still be hurt and it may necessitate somebody else getting some of those reps.”
— Dan [03:00]
2. The Bears’ Run Game Combo: Monangai & Swift [03:26–08:27]
- The duo examine media interest around the Bears trying to replicate the Lions’ “thunder and lightning” backfield. They advise not to force player roles but to maximize each back’s strengths.
- Lions’ own overemphasis on dual-back systems is critiqued—“Jameer Gibbs is way better than David Montgomery.” [04:13]
- Audio from Kyle Monangai details his partnership with DeAndre Swift, learning from a “big play at any moment type of guy,” and celebrating their complementary run styles [05:55–06:50].
“You get the ball in his hands… he has that ability to make those big plays happen out of anything. We complement each other well with the way we run—different running styles, of course.”
— Kyle Monangai [06:32]
- Monangai emphasizes how minor details—footwork, timing, and blocking—create the difference between short gains and explosive plays. Dan likens the ideal O-line play to “choreography,” where it “looks beautiful when it’s done correctly.” [08:27]
3. Caleb Williams: Rookie Year Remodeled [09:32–19:11]
- Conversation shifts to rookie QB Caleb Williams’ development under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
- Matt notes that Williams is rebuilding his approach: “He’s being asked to learn a very complicated offense… change several aspects of his mechanics… and have a really solid understanding of NFL defense.” [12:42]
- Dan emphasizes the importance of pre-snap rhythm and “cadence” in Johnson’s offense: “That’s where the growth has got to occur. That is where he has the most ground to make up.” [11:11]
- The hosts recognize that quarterback development is non-linear—a “Ben Johnson funhouse,” with “stairs that go up, then the stairs go down, then there’s a trap door…” [15:45]
- Despite this, Williams’ situational performance and late-game poise are improving: “Caleb Williams is better now than he’s been. The numbers show it… the fourth quarter numbers, what he’s doing on drives when they matter, he’s better.” [15:38]
“If that light ever goes on, look out. But it’s not on yet… Caleb Williams is playing well enough despite the fact that light isn’t on yet.”
— Dan [18:59]
4. NFL Drama: Jets, Fields, and Dysfunctional Franchises [19:11–29:13]
- Discussion moves to NFL headlines, focusing on Jets’ owner Woody Johnson’s public criticisms after a poor performance from former Bear Justin Fields.
- Woody Johnson's blunt assessment that the Jets “got to complete some passes” and his lukewarm defense of Aaron Glenn is dissected. Dan and Matt see Johnson’s comments as an omen that Fields’ time with the Jets may be nearing an end:
“It sounds like he’s done with Fields. That’s the owner.”
— Dan [23:28]
- Owners' public meddling is criticized for undermining coaches’ authority and destabilizing teams.
- After a rundown on Johnson’s controversial past, Dan concludes: “That’s why we love a guy like Woody Johnson—because he’s not our owner.” [24:38]
5. NFL Beef & Miscellany [25:55–29:13]
- The hosts revel in new NFL “beefs,” notably Russell Wilson calling Sean Payton “classless” (via Twitter/X) after Payton’s not-so-subtle postgame shots.
- This back-and-forth is relished for its entertainment value, especially since neither personality is tied to the Bears: “Again, because it’s not my team… I like this from the outside.” [28:08]
6. National Exposure and Bears-Ravens Broadcast Notes [29:13–30:41]
- The Bears’ matchup at Baltimore is the national CBS game. Matt and Dan joke about the alternative of watching Jets-Bengals as “bad football,” emphasizing the rare prominence of the Bears’ game: “The rest of the country is getting Chicago, Baltimore.” [30:07]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “You don’t have to give it a name and make something out of it… Just get the guys in the best position to be successful.”
— Dan [04:13] - “It’s choreography… when it’s done properly, it’s not individual people, it’s an entity.”
— Dan [08:27] - “His physical ability is shown on tape rather easily… What Ben Johnson didn’t know in the remodel is when the walls came down and the foundation came up—oh no, we got mold.”
— Dan [14:14] - [On Caleb Williams’ development] “Like a Ben Johnson funhouse where it’s like there’s stairs that go up, then the stairs go down, then there’s a trap door and there’s a slide…”
— Matt [15:45] - [On Woody Johnson] “That’s why we love a guy like Woody Johnson—because he’s not our owner. He can be an owner far away. Just not my team.”
— Dan [24:38] - [On developments in the run game] “The difference between that loss in the backfield or a 2-yard gain or that 15-yard gain… is just one little thing, one little small element of a guy with the wrong footwork.”
— Matt [08:01] - “If you were better in Denver, maybe these lingering thoughts and feelings wouldn’t be there. That was just an adversarial relationship from the get-go.”
— Matt [28:22]
Timestamps of Key Segments
- Bears injury updates & DJ Moore situation: [00:17–03:26]
- Bears’ run game combo and Kyle Monangai audio/interview: [03:26–08:27]
- Offensive line play as choreography: [08:27–09:32]
- Caleb Williams’ technical/mental development progression: [09:32–19:11]
- Woody Johnson torches Justin Fields and coach Aaron Glenn: [19:11–24:38]
- Sean Payton vs. Russell Wilson beef: [25:55–29:13]
- National broadcast and Bears-Ravens TV coverage: [29:13–30:41]
Tone, Flow, and Energy
Blending analytical sharpness with classic Chicago sports radio humor and candor, Dan and Matt address Bears developments without sugarcoating. Technical breakdowns are mixed with playful asides (compare Ben Johnson to Kristen Bell [16:36]), listener interactions, and inside jokes. The podcast remains accessible, lively, and steeped in both expertise and fan passion.
Upcoming Episodes [33:14–34:28]
- Thursday: Lou Canellis (Fox Chicago) joins to talk Bears.
- Friday: Brian Wacker (Baltimore Sun) on the Ravens perspective.
- Feedback Friday: Listener emails, including the “favorite email” so far.
- DBU Special: Top 10 Ravens of all time countdown.
This episode captures the excitement of a pivotal Bears season, the challenges of rookie quarterback development, and the chaos that makes the NFL endlessly entertaining. Whether you’re here for inside football, drama, or a laugh at dysfunctional franchises, Forward Progress delivers.