Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: What We Know About the Bears After 4 Games

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola (312 Sports)

Episode Overview

Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola deliver a candid, passionate, and analytical breakdown of where the Chicago Bears stand after the first four games of the 2025 NFL season. The hosts assess what has become "true" about this team—its strengths, persistent flaws, personnel concerns, and developmental priorities—while pulling no punches about what it means for the Bears' playoff hopes. This episode offers diehard fans and casual listeners alike a comprehensive, unvarnished snapshot of the Bears’ present identity and the path ahead.

1. Setting the Stage: A Crucial Proving Ground

• Bye week reflections: Both hosts agree the upcoming game after the bye is pivotal, especially against Washington, who "embarrassed" the Bears last season (00:19).
• Redemption Opportunity: The Bears now have a national audience to showcase growth, with Dan emphasizing, “Here is a chance…to show that you have advanced, that you have progressed, that you are in a position as a team to be something different and better…” (00:19).
• Historical Frustrations: Dan and Matt call out past Bears teams for post-bye letdowns—hoping new leadership finally changes that pattern.

2. Key Truths About the Bears Through Four Games

A. Defensive Struggles and Strengths

• Run Defense Woes:
  • Ranked 24th overall, but a league-worst 6.2 yards per carry—an “outlier last” with over a half-yard gap to the next-worst team (05:43–06:36).
  • “Not only are the Bears last...they are an outlier last.” —Dan (05:49)
• Passing Defense Brilliance:
  • 4th in passing yards allowed, particularly strong on third downs (06:56–07:34).
  • “They are a top five team in passing yards allowed.” —Matt (06:56)
• Turnover Generation:
  • Seven interceptions, possibly leading the league in interception rate, especially impressive given their lack of pass rush and blitzing (12:22–12:58).

B. Offensive Stagnation and Bright Spots

• Running Game Disappointment:
  • Ranked 30th in rushing offense despite significant offseason investment in the O-line. “A massive disappointment considering the upgrades..." —Dan (06:51)
• Passing Struggles:
  • 27th in passing offense; however, early-season improvement is apparent from Caleb Williams, who is spreading the ball better and taking fewer sacks (10:57–11:49).
  • "Caleb Williams is better than he was last year...the ball is out faster..." —Dan (10:57)
• Red Zone and Explosives:
  • The Bears can move the ball on “blob” teams but lack explosive plays and consistent drives.

C. Coaching and Play-Calling Issues

• Sideline Communication:
  • Persistent trouble getting play calls to the huddle, with head coach Ben Johnson admitting fault multiple times post-loss (08:54–09:51).
  • "For whatever reason, [the coach] is having a hard time getting calls in to the huddle." —Matt (08:52)
• Accountability:
  • Hosts question if Johnson is covering for systemic issues and stress that fans will continue to hold him accountable as long as he continues to accept blame (09:01–09:40).

3. Personnel Assessment & Roster Evaluation

Top Cap Hits: Who’s Earning Their Money?

(18:39–20:21)

Matt rattles off the Bears' top-10 salary cap hits; Dan assesses each player's value:

• Montez Sweat ($26M): Not earning it (18:39).
• DJ Moore: Not earning it (18:39).
• Tremaine Edmonds: Injured; one spectacular game but underperformed (18:46).
• Jonah Jackson ($14.75M): Underwhelming thus far, flagged several times (19:07).
• Drew Dalman: Not playing to potential, issues possibly schematic (19:35).
• Cole Kmet: Bad year (19:59).
• Deandre Swift: Not good enough (20:00).
• Caleb Williams (rookie deal): Yes, earning it (20:08).
• Kevin Byard: Having a good year (20:16).
• Joe Tooney: Terrific performance (20:20).

"You have one good, one terrific. That’s eight, nine, and ten on your cap hits. So, one through seven...underperforming." —Matt (20:21)

Developmental Imperative

• Player Development Focus:
  • The Bears must balance trying to win games with prioritizing the development of young talent and evaluating future starters such as Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, Shamar Turner, and Ozzy Trappilo (21:22–26:18).
  • “You cannot get to the end of this year...and still have question marks...you have to know that at bare minimum.” —Dan (21:48)
  • Both hosts emphasize the importance of using meaningful snaps to get more data on potential contributors.

4. Scheme, Execution, and Problem Areas

• Ineffective Run Game:
  • The marriage of zone scheme and DeAndre Swift’s hesitation is highlighted as a major issue. Dan wishes the team would “just commit to a steady diet of zone and hit it and build off of that.” (14:50–16:00)
  • “Sometimes you can be wrong, but be wrong fast.” —Dan (15:59)
• Need for Offensive Identity:
  • The team must “find something in the running game you can hang your hat on,” practically begging for run-game simplicity and discipline.

5. Leadership and Organizational Dynamics

• Coach & GM Relationship:

  • Intrigue about whether Ben Johnson and GM Ryan Poles have an open, honest, and synergistic relationship (27:05–28:25).
  • “What is the collaboration like after the season? Do they sit down and have it out? Is he totally hands off? How honest are you? How open are you?” —Dan (27:56–28:17)

• Player-Coach Accountability:

  • Dan delivers a classic coaching aphorism:

    “If you're a Bears player and you feel the coaches are up your ass, that's a good sign. They care about you. The time to worry is when they don’t.” (24:02)

6. The Bright Spot: Rome Odunze

Rookie Wide Receiver Impact

(31:13–36:12)

• Early Returns:
  • Rookies like Rome Odunze have delivered exactly what Bears fans hoped for:
    • 5 TDs (already tied for 2nd in NFL)
    • On pace for 85 receptions and 1,258 yards
  • “He’s doing exactly what we talked about before the season started...to show that you can be [a number one receiver].” —Dan (31:27)
• Contextualizing Greatness:
  • Only six players (ever) have topped 100 catches in team history; Rome is on track for 85 (36:06).
• Passing Game Evolution:
  • Both hosts hope the continued emergence of targets like Burden and Loveland can complement Odunze (37:08).

7. Looking Forward

• What Must Change:
  • Tighten up penalties and communication, clarify running identity, accelerate player development.
• Benchmarks for Improvement:
  • “I want more Luther Burden...at whose expense? I don’t care. You need guys who can create explosive plays.” (22:05)
• Next Steps:
  • Anticipation for updates after bye week practices and Monday’s Washington game; fans can join for live postgame reactions (37:48).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You have a chance here to redeem that from just week one… that we are not going to collapse again two years in a row to Washington.” —Matt (01:31)
• “These are concrete truths...the Bears are currently 24th in run defense...they can't stop the run.” —Matt (05:24)
• “I want more Luther Burden, and if you’re going to ask me at whose expense, I don’t care.” —Dan (22:05)
• “If you’re a Bears player and you feel the coaches are up your ass, that's a good sign...you really got to worry if they’re ignoring you.” —Dan (24:02)
• “He’s doing exactly what we talked about before the season started...and he has answered those questions early.” —Dan on Rome Odunze (31:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:19 | Importance of Post-Bye Game, Setting Expectations | | 05:24–08:54| Defining Truths: Defense, Offense, and Play-Calling Issues | | 10:57–12:58| Caleb Williams’ Progress; Passing Game vs. Run Game Issues | | 14:50–17:08| Run Game Scheme Problems, Personnel Fit | | 18:39–21:02| Salary Cap Review: Earning vs. Underperforming | | 21:18–26:18| Player Development Priorities & Roster Evaluation | | 27:05–28:25| Coach-GM Dynamic & Organizational Transparency | | 31:13–36:12| Rome Odunze’s Early Season, Bears WR History |

Conclusion

This episode lays bare the Bears’ identity crisis: an improved pass defense but porous run defense, a sputtering running game, flashes of brilliance from a rookie receiver, and a roster that isn’t close to playoff-caliber—yet. The hosts challenge leadership to be bold, commit to a developmental backchannel, and not flinch from hard decisions as the team tries to build a new foundation on—and off—the field. For Bears fans, it’s a real talk episode with just enough hope, plenty of skepticism, and clear-eyed urgency about what must change next.