Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic talks Chicago Bears - Philadelphia Eagles | Happy Thanksgiving
Date: November 27, 2025
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Guest: Kevin Fishbain (The Athletic)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth pre-Thanksgiving discussion centered on the Chicago Bears’ performance, outlook for the critical upcoming stretch—starting with the Eagles—and overall trajectory under Ben Johnson and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The conversation, peppered with insights from beat reporter Kevin Fishbain, balances analytical breakdowns of on-field strategies with the emotional ride of a resurgent Bears season. The episode wraps with a dash of holiday food banter that’s very much in the show’s authentic, fan-forward spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meaning of Bears-Eagles Game: Process Over Results

• Context: Assessing whether performance versus the Eagles is more important than the game’s result.
• Takeaway: The hosts and Fishbain agree it's crucial for the Bears to look like they belong against top teams during this critical stretch (Eagles, Packers x2, Browns, 49ers, Lions).
• Quote:

  "If they go out there and lose 35 to 10, you sit there being like, oh... Worst case scenario right now is... they lose to the Eagles, lose two to the Packers, beat the Browns, and then that 49ers game would be like, everything is at stake."
  — Kevin Fishbain [05:44]

2. Caleb Williams’ Accuracy Conundrum

• Stat Spotlight: When Caleb completes under 60% of his passes, the Bears are 7–0; the rest of the NFL has a .310 win rate in such situations.
• Analysis:
  • Williams protects the ball well.
  • His completions are often "explosive" or touchdowns, not dump-offs.
  • The run game and takeaways supplement low efficiency.
  • Fishbain flags sustainability concerns—underlining that this is an "anomaly."
• Quote:

  "When he does complete it, they are explosives or they are touchdowns... But it is a complete example of... a statistical anomaly that he's not hitting these accuracy thresholds."
  — Kevin Fishbain [07:47]

3. Ben Johnson's Offensive Philosophy

• Discussion: The offense is oriented around chunk plays, not short passes just for rhythm.
• Johnson’s mindset: He doesn’t “need to preheat the oven”—he wants to strike fast and deep.
• Quote:

  "He doesn't want to have to preheat the oven. He's ready to start cooking... When you've got the ball, get it down the field."
  — Dan Bernstein [09:51]

4. Leaving Points on the Field; Raising the Bar

• Reflection: The Bears now routinely score, but both coach and QB are frustrated by missed opportunities.
• Comparison: This marks a cultural shift for the Bears—focusing not just on scoring, but on maximizing scoring.
• Quote:

  "You can talk about the touchdowns they left off the board because their quarterback had accuracy issues. It’s a great shift... that they can play like that, score like that, and you can come away with, 'well, they can still do more.'"
  — Kevin Fishbain [13:26]

5. Playoff Implications & Sustainability

• Perspective: While the Bears' current formula may not be perfectly sustainable, “house money” applies—they’re ahead of expectations, and making the playoffs in any form would have exceeded preseason hopes.
• Quote:

  "If I told any Bears fan in August that they’d make the playoffs and, you know, lose a wild card road game in Philly or LA or Seattle, I think most people would take it."
  — Kevin Fishbain [17:17]

6. Growth of Ben Johnson as Head Coach

• Traits:
  • Detailed, intense, stoic—even as the season's stakes rise.
  • Committed to smash-mouth, physical football—seen in his persistence with the run game even when it’s not productive.
  • Compared more to Dan Campbell than McVay/Shanahan; believes in toughness and the elements.
• Quote:

  "This guy is a lot more Dan Campbell than he is Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan... He wants to beat you with smash-mouth football."
  — Kevin Fishbain [19:08]

7. Offensive Line Flexibility: The Ozzy Trapillo Story

• Discussion: Trapillo’s strong play at left tackle means the Bears don’t need to rush Theo Benedict’s return and can experiment with OL configurations.
• Quote:

  "I thought what Trapillo showed you is he allows you to have a little bit of flexibility... if you're worried about Benedict holding up against some of these pass rushing teams if he's not 100% healthy."
  — Kevin Fishbain [21:15]

8. Emergence of Cornerback Nishan Wright

• Story: Wright turned a one-year “prove it” deal into a breakout campaign, excelling in both pass coverage and run support.
• Locker Room: Teammates and coaches love his resilience and journey.
• Interesting scenario: With Jalen Johnson’s imminent return, Bears may consider rotation to keep their depth/flexibility.
• Quote:

  "Everybody in that locker room loves the guy. They love the story... He’s been doing this every day."
  — Kevin Fishbain [24:47]

9. Keys to a Win Over the Eagles

• Defense: Stop the run, force third and long, where Bears excel.
• Offense: Must be ready to “score at will” and handle the pressure of a legit playoff defense led by Vic Fangio.
• Psychology: Philly is talented but in post–Super Bowl malaise, while Chicago fans are riding high.
• Quote:

  "Ben Johnson vs. Vic Fangio is the best one in this game... and how Caleb Williams handles that is going to be critical."
  — Kevin Fishbain [27:29]

10. Behind the Scenes & Beat Reporting

• Fun Segment: Dan jokes about Fishbain’s past “day in the life” features with Bears coaches (like Eberflus) and the “curse” of such a spotlight.
• Fishbain's Hope: Would like to do a similar deep-dive with Ben Johnson or Caleb Williams down the line.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Kevin Fishbain on the Bears’ playoff ‘house money’:

  "If I told any Bears fan in August that they’d make the playoffs and, you know, lose a wild card road game in Philly or LA or Seattle, I think most people would take it." – [17:17]

• On Ben Johnson’s offensive philosophy:

  "He doesn’t want to have to preheat the oven. He’s ready to start cooking." – Dan Bernstein [09:51]

• On the expectations and standards for Bears fans and coaches:

  "It's okay to acknowledge the incredible progress...and they can still get better. Because they need to be better to get to the playoffs because of the teams they're facing, let alone win a Super Bowl." – Kevin Fishbain [16:08]

• On fan emotions in Chicago vs. Philadelphia:

  "Chicago is delirious... Meanwhile, in Philly, they're 8 and 3...and it is chaos there in terms of wanting people fired and in consternation about the offense and drama in the locker room." – Kevin Fishbain [28:08]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Beer Church banter, Thanksgiving travel story: [03:11]
• Beginning of on-field Bears conversation: [05:13]
• Caleb Williams completion % anomaly: [07:12]
• Discussion of Ben Johnson’s ‘explosive’ offense: [09:15]
• Analysis of TDs left on the field: [12:21]
• Bears’ mentality & playoff outlook: [13:44][14:07]
• Ben Johnson coaching style deep-dive: [17:30][19:08]
• Left tackle debate (Trapillo/Benedict): [20:56][21:15]
• Nishan Wright’s emergence: [24:28]
• Game keys vs. Eagles: [27:17][27:29]
• Kevin’s “curse of Fishbain profile” bit: [29:42]
• Holiday food banter: [32:15]

Ending & Tone

The conversation is lively and thoughtful, mixing beat-reporter detail and lifelong fandom. The episode is candid (“it’s okay to raise the bar”); filled with optimism for the unexpected rise of the Bears (8–3!); yet clear-eyed about their warts. The closing food segment, swapping Thanksgiving strategies, keeps it grounded in the authentic, passionate fan community Forward Progress serves.

For Bears Fans & Football Diehards

If you want a mix of hard analysis and relatable football talk, this episode delivers—from what makes Ben Johnson’s offense different, to how the Bears will be tested in the coming weeks, to how to optimize your Thanksgiving feast while debating the best football metaphors for progress in Chicago.