Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Chicago Bears Start the Toughest Stretch of Season Beginning in Philadelphia

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: November 25, 2025
Podcast Network: 312 Sports

Episode Overview

In this episode of Forward Progress, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola break down the critical stretch ahead for the Chicago Bears, who travel to face the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The hosts blend deep football analysis with authentic fan emotion, examining expectations for franchise quarterback Caleb Williams, dissecting offensive and defensive adjustments, and challenging listeners to raise their own standards for the team. The conversation also includes rich insight into Bears culture, player development, and the razor-thin margins defining playoff football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bears Enter Their Toughest Test Yet

• [03:50] Both hosts agree: “This is the most important game of their season” (Matt). The 8-3 Bears face the 9-2 Eagles—the reigning Super Bowl champions and current NFC #2 seed.
• Dan reflects on the national response if the Bears pull off a win:
  “National Bears-gasm… If they're not on board yet, everybody's gonna rush to, to fluff them, to glaze them if they win on Friday.” [03:08]
• Matt downplays the hype but emphasizes expectations:
  “I don’t care what the national media says… Now is the only season that matters. This one right here. Go to Philadelphia. Kick their ass. Go to 9 and 3. Jump up in the playoff picture for the NFC.” [06:38]

2. Evaluating Caleb Williams: Talent, Criticism, and Growth

• [07:52] Matt stresses that “doing enough, making enough plays to win games is not enough… for Caleb Williams.”
  He expects Williams to be the best QB in Bears history—low bar, but still a serious demand.
• Caleb’s own drive is clear:
  “Caleb Williams, to me, is the most talented and has the potential to be… the best quarterback to ever wear a Bears uniform, which is not hard.” – Matt [08:56]
• Discussion of postgame locker room interaction with Williams and Ben Johnson:
  Williams initiates, “We gotta get better,” after a strong statistical outing (three TDs, no INTs).
  “So I hear that… and I know, I think that Caleb knows what’s coming from his coach. He did it in the press conference… about missing routes… He already knows this.” – Matt [11:43]

3. Playoff Realism and the Cost of Margin-Based Wins

• The Bears’ 6-1 record in one-score games raises alarms.
• “You’re not going to margin your way to winning a Super Bowl.” – Dan [17:36]
• The Chiefs’ regression is cited as caution: 11-0 in one-score games last year, but now 1-5 and out of the playoff picture [14:12].

The Emotional Pain of Playoff Losses

• Both hosts stress the unpredictability and heartbreak of football playoff exits, compared to gradual endings in baseball/basketball: “There’s not the pain of being unceremoniously kicked out of the playoffs and feel like you never belonged there.” – Dan [17:40]

4. Setting a Higher Standard for the Bears

• Matt insists:
  “Don’t be satisfied with surpassing expectations. Win the damn Super Bowl. Have that mindset as a Bears fan.” [21:07]
• The conversation turns to Bears history, the fleeting nature of team windows, and how quickly fortunes can change (e.g., Aaron Rodgers’ Jets injury).

5. Ben Johnson’s Offensive Philosophy & Player Development

• Coach Ben Johnson audio and analysis:
  • Praises CB Nishan Wright for both run support and impact plays [23:47].
    “He’s really playing sound football—run game and pass game included.” – Ben Johnson
  • On Ozzy Tripillo’s development at left tackle and O-line resilience:
    “If you’re not a starter, you really need versatility… all over the place.” – Ben Johnson [25:11]
  • Pass pro and run game insights:
    “Pass protection was awesome… our run game wasn’t quite as efficient as we’d like it to be. And yet our pass game, we were able to find enough plays there to somehow score 30 points.” – Ben Johnson [26:56]
• Discussion of how play action and middle-of-field throws set up explosive gains—a key in Johnson’s system [28:22].
• Matt: “We talked about this now for 11 games about Caleb's ability to pass in that middle and then deep middle…”
  • Both see improvements, but want even more consistency—especially with high-leverage throws.

6. Philosophical Differences: Rhythm Throws & Quarterback Preparation

• Ben Johnson’s response on “rhythm throws” for Williams:
  “For some guys I’ve been around, it’s… quick game. Get the ball out. Each guy's a little different. I don't know that's the answer for Caleb.” [33:10]
• Dan’s analysis: Johnson doesn’t want to waste possessions or cater the gameplan for ‘rhythm’—he wants explosives from the jump.

Improving Middle-of-the-Field Accuracy

• Johnson:
  “It’s an area that [Caleb] has improved dramatically… since I got here… trusting the fact that he can turn his back to the defense and yet still flip around, make a decision whether he can pull the trigger or not.” [36:33]
• Dan underscores the need for catchable balls in stride to unlock game-flipping YAC (yards after catch) plays.

7. Humor & Notable Tangents

• The ongoing joke about Caleb Williams being too hard on himself:
  “Why does Caleb not like Caleb?” – Dan [31:16]
• Locker room dynamics: Critique of Bears President Kevin Warren’s postgame presence:
  “It’s got real jock sniffer.” – Dan [10:22]
• NFL epilogue: Coverage of Monday Night Football’s “penis punch” incident—clear marker of the show’s comedic candor [40:01-44:57].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Go to Philadelphia. Kick their ass. Go to 9 and 3. Jump up in the playoff picture for the NFC.” – Matt [06:38]
• “Making enough plays to win games is not enough, in my opinion, for Caleb Williams.” – Matt [08:10]
• “You’re not going to margin your way to winning a Super Bowl.” – Dan [17:36]
• “Don’t be satisfied with surpassing expectations. Win the damn Super Bowl.” – Matt [21:07]
• “He’s really playing sound football—run game and pass game included.” – Ben Johnson on Nishan Wright [23:47]
• “I think he’s done a really good job of handling [versatility]. I think all our guys… it’s a big credit to our O-line coaches.” – Ben Johnson [25:11]
• “I don’t care what the national media says… Now is the only season that matters.” – Matt [06:38]
• “Caleb comes up, gives him like a playful shove… immediately says, ‘We gotta get better.’” [09:57]
• "If you’re not a starter, you really need versatility. These guys are all over the place—right side, left side, center—so you continue to grow.” – Ben Johnson [25:11]
• “There’s not the pain of being unceremoniously kicked out of the playoffs and feel like you never belonged there.” – Dan [17:40]
• “Win the damn Super Bowl. Have that mindset as a Bears fan. Don’t be satisfied…” – Matt [21:07]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:08 – Dan predicts national reaction to a Bears upset win
• 03:50 – Establishing the magnitude of the Eagles game
• 06:38 – Matt: “Now is the only season that matters…”
• 08:10-09:32 – Matt on expectations for Caleb Williams
• 09:43-13:45 – Locker room dynamic & “We gotta get better” story
• 14:12 – One-score games, playoff regression, Chiefs’ cautionary tale
• 17:36 – Dan: You can’t win a Super Bowl on the margins
• 21:07 – Matt: Demand more than just surpassing expectations
• 23:47-25:11 – Ben Johnson praises Nishan Wright; O-line versatility
• 26:56-28:05 – Offensive balance, chunk plays, and play action
• 33:10 – Ben Johnson on rhythm throws for QBs
• 36:33 – Johnson on Caleb’s improving middle-field accuracy
• 40:01-44:57 – Monday Night Football “penis punch” incident
• 47:14-48:45 – Holiday programming update and show plugs

Tone & Style

The show is candid, analytical, and irreverent—balancing football expertise with Bears fan insight and self-aware humor. The hosts’ chemistry is palpable, and their knowledge of both the franchise and the game shines through in a style that is accessible to both hardcore and casual listeners.

For New Listeners

Whether you’re tracking every snap or re-engaging as a fair-weather fan, this episode captures the Chicago football conversation at a crucial crossroads: Are these the “same old Bears” or is something genuinely special brewing at Halas Hall? The answer might just hinge on how they seize the moment in Philadelphia—and whether Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and the rest can learn, adapt, and elevate before margins and luck run out.

For more Bears insight and post-game reactions, subscribe to Forward Progress and DBU on 312 Sports.