Forward Progress: "The Bears are back to work as MNF, and the Commanders are up next."
Hosted by Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: October 8, 2025
Podcast: Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast (312 Sports)
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the Chicago Bears’ post-bye week status, using Head Coach Ben Johnson’s latest press conference as a springboard for in-depth discussion. Dan and Matt break down the state of the offense, penalties, running game struggles, Caleb Williams’ development, and the emotional journey of Tyrique Stevenson after last season’s infamous Hail Mary. The show balances technical analysis, candid fan emotion, and thoughtful reflections on coaching, accountability, and growth—essential listening for any Bears devotee hungry for insight and not afraid of raw honesty.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Post-Bye Status & Ben Johnson’s Press Conference
[01:27 – 04:30]
- The Bears are back at work following their bye, with mandatory self-scouting and a critical re-evaluation of the first four weeks.
- Coach Ben Johnson acknowledges the team as "a work in progress,” pointedly highlighting offensive inconsistency and a top-five ranking in penalties.
- Ben Johnson [03:03]: "We're still a work in progress. Some things we're doing well, some things we're not. I think the inconsistent nature with which we're playing, we're shooting ourselves in the foot quite a bit... we've got to get the pre snap penalties under control..."
- Discussion focuses on how coaching staff can address penalties—moving beyond platitudes to meaningful accountability.
2. Penalties & Player Accountability
[04:32 – 08:01]
- Dan expresses skepticism on how coaches enforce consequences at the NFL level, questioning whether benching is realistic for well-paid starters.
- Dan Bernstein [05:23]: "How? What's the consequence of not getting better at this?... At some point there has to be a consequence..."
- Parallels are drawn to other high-usage NFL players who get penalized due to sheer playing time, underscoring the complexity of crackdowns.
3. Run Game Struggles & Backfield Evaluation
[08:01 – 14:42]
- Johnson admits offensive line combinations and running back execution are not yet clicking.
- Discussion on whether the Bears need a running back upgrade or if issues are team-wide.
- Ben Johnson [12:02]: "It's not always the runners. It's everybody and this quarterback carrying out his fake... I think there's a lot of times on that tape we're not giving our runners a chance."
- Matt pushes back, emphasizing that great running backs don’t require excuses; the main job is to "hit the hole" quickly and decisively.
4. Caleb Williams’ Growth as a Play-Caller
[09:29 – 10:55]
- Johnson sees Caleb growing more comfortable, but hints responsibility for delayed play calls is shifting from coach to quarterback.
- Ben Johnson [09:39]: "Caleb has grown each and every week. He's getting more comfortable calling the plays in the offense..."
- Matt reads between the lines: "I think that little insight there is really what's happening with the play calling, that Caleb is getting better." [10:33]
5. Roma Odunze & Passing Game Upside
[14:42 – 17:20]
- Odunze’s stellar start highlights what is working in the passing game, even as the run game lags.
- Ben Johnson [14:42]: "He's a pro... and I see him as a leader here on this team."
- Dan notes a more dangerous passing attack can emerge as the play-action game improves with a more credible rushing threat.
6. The Emotional Fallout from “The Hail Mary” – Tyrique Stevenson’s Story
[21:24 – 34:14]
- Dan revisits last year’s infamous game-losing Hail Mary, digging into the personal toll on corner Tyrique Stevenson.
- Quotes from Stevenson’s mentor hit hard:
- Rudy Trevino (via Dan) [24:09]: "You let down 52 other guys, you let down 20 some coaches. You let down one of the most passionate football fan bases in the world. That's heavy shit."
- Quotes from Stevenson’s mentor hit hard:
- Dan shares his own struggles with vulnerability and empathy, now identifying more with Stevenson’s pain and growth journey.
- Dan Bernstein [26:20]: "You learn who your friends are and who they aren't."
- Ben Johnson’s comments reinforce Stevenson’s progress and growing mental toughness:
- Ben Johnson [33:01]: "Tyrique's gotten better each game... I think he's doing a good job of just compartmentalizing everything and hitting the reset button."
7. Coaching, Short Memory, and Learning from Mistakes
[34:15 – 38:56]
- Thoughtful back-and-forth on the “short memory” trope in sports. Dan argues true development means selective recall—flush it in the moment, confront and learn from it later.
- Dan Bernstein [34:15]: "The trope of short memory... in the moment of action is different than how you use the memory of that to perhaps change your approach or realize why."
- Matt describes teaching his youth team to "3, 2, 1, flush it" but always circle back in practice to analyze good and bad plays.
8. Tackle Competition & Roster Management
[39:35 – 43:01]
- The hosts speculate on the Bears’ plan at tackle, reading between Ben Johnson’s cagey press remarks.
- Laughter as they poke fun at the idea of “winning” the backup job:
- Matt Abbatacola [40:59]: "So maybe that's how they announce it. Instead of announcing who the starter is, they announce who won the backup job."
- Praising GM Ryan Poles’s roster vision, even if the depth is more aspiration than reality.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On the run game and accountability:
- Dan: "At some point there has to be a consequence... I'll bench your dumb ass..." [04:32]
- On running back play:
- Matt: "With a running back that's not doing his main basic job of hitting the exact hole... then you can talk about the offensive line and the tight end and the quarterback all you want. You're not doing the main principle of your job." [12:48]
- On empathy for Tyrique Stevenson:
- Dan: "I feel differently about where Tyreek Stevenson was and where he is now and the support he's gotten." [27:25]
- On learning from mistakes:
- Dan: "Have agency over how you remember... what action do you take because of that memory? Of course you wanna remember. It becomes part of you. It happened. It happened. And turn into it. Steer into the skid." [34:15]
- On tackle competition:
- Matt: "You don't really win a backup job... Hey, congratulations. You won the backup job." [40:47]
Important Timestamps
- 01:27 – Ben Johnson’s press conference sets the agenda
- 03:03 – Ben Johnson candidly assesses the offense
- 04:32 – 06:47 – Discussion on penalties and accountability
- 09:39 – Insight into Caleb Williams’ development
- 12:02 – Ben Johnson addresses running back room
- 14:42 – Roma Odunze’s leadership and production
- 21:24 – Dan & Matt recount the Hail Mary/Stevenson saga
- 26:20 – Dan relates personally to Stevenson’s vulnerability
- 33:01 – Ben Johnson on Stevenson’s bounce-back
- 34:15 – Discussion: "short memory" in sports
- 39:35 – 43:01 – Tackle competition; “winning” the backup job
Tone, Style, and Final Thoughts
Dan and Matt deliver classic Chicago sports radio: analytical, passionate, occasionally wry and self-deprecating, but always deeply knowledgeable. They never shy away from tough questions—whether it’s benching a star for penalties, questioning coaching narratives, or scrutinizing a player’s emotional wounds from a season-defining mistake. Their critical eye is balanced by empathy and genuine fan devotion. Throughout, both hosts punctuate heavy discussion with humor, keeping the Bears' saga accessible and real.
Listen If You Want
- Smart, unfiltered takes on Bears and NFL storylines
- To understand not just the “what” but the “why” behind Chicago’s on-field struggles
- Candid reflections on the emotional side of sport—both for players and for fans