PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: "Any Reason for Hope for the Bears?"
Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Guest: Jeff Saturday (ESPN NFL Analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the aftermath of the Chicago Bears’ staggering fourth-quarter collapse against the Minnesota Vikings, pondering whether there’s real hope for the Bears this season. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon also break down J.J. McCarthy’s impressive NFL debut for Minnesota, the Dodgers’ near no-hitters and NL West race, and, in conversation with Jeff Saturday, examine some of the week’s most intriguing NFL on-field issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bears' Collapse—Room for Hope?

[01:17—04:49]

• Wilbon shares his emotional rollercoaster:
  “In the first three to four hours. I was angry and thought they were just like headed for doom. The whole season was a waste of time. That's how I felt.” (Wilbon, 01:42)
  After calming down and listening to analysts and friends, Wilbon concludes there are bright spots: strong play for three quarters, a new coach finding his way, and a rookie QB shaking off old habits.

• Tony’s perspective as a neutral observer:
  Kornheiser recalled how Caleb Williams “looked like he was making the leap from rookie to second year quarterback” early, but regressed to “what he was doing last year” in the second half.
  He raises a critical point: “If you're telling me there's a book on Caleb Williams and last year wasn't good and he reverted to that this year, then I would think maybe you have to wonder… is he indeed the great quarterback going forward?” (Kornheiser, 03:44)

• Wilbon urges patience:
  Comparing Ben Johnson (Bears’ new coach) to legends who started slow:
  “Joseph Gibbs went 0 and 5 in his first year on the way to four Super Bowls... Bill Walsh went 0 and 7 on his way to three Super Bowls... It takes time is my point. And by the way, it's not just Caleb. The defense got shoved and hit in the mouth in the fourth quarter. They couldn't stop a nosebleed...” (Wilbon, 04:18)

2. J.J. McCarthy Outshines Caleb Williams

[04:49—08:41]

• Wilbon on McCarthy’s poise:
  J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings’ rookie QB from Chicago, overcame a rocky first half and “threw two touchdowns, ran for another, got the team, the Vikes, a win.”
  Most impressive was his calm after a pick-six: “You throw that pick six, and a lot of guys fall apart. He didn’t… There was immediate evidence as he went up and down talking to players.” (Wilbon, 07:00)

• Tony draws a parallel to winners:
  “He doesn't lose games. Now it's only one game in the NFL... but college and the NFL—his record is 28-1... That reminds me, Mike, honestly, of Jalen Hurts. Not a flashy arm... But he wins all the time.” (Kornheiser, 06:27)

• Difficulty levels matter:
  Kornheiser notes McCarthy “didn’t join a team that had just lost 12 games... joined a coach who is 27 and 9 in one score games.” He adds: “He became the first guy to, in his rookie debut at quarterback, win a game by being down 10 or more in the fourth quarter... since Steve Young in 1985. Come on, let's move.” (Kornheiser, 08:13)

3. Dodgers’ No-Hitters & NL West Race

[08:41—11:39]

• Back-to-back no-hit bids:
  Dodgers pitchers have taken a no-hitter into the ninth inning in two of their last three games; Glasnow held Colorado hitless through seven, bullpen until the ninth.

• What’s at stake?
  For Wilbon (a Cubs fan): “The second place finisher is likely to have to play three games at Wrigley in the playoffs to start... while the division winner gets a bye. I'd like to see the Padres in that three game series in Chicago. But I think the Dodgers should hold on to first.” (Wilbon, 09:12)

• Tony on Dodgers’ playoff edge:
  “Yamamoto and Glasnow gave up one hit in 15⅔ innings. Is that something I could interest you in? Because the Dodgers can hit. But what if they can pitch?... I think they repeat as World Series champions. I do.” (Kornheiser, 10:18)

• Division drama:
  Dodgers-Padres rivalry is “theater,” and Wilbon relishes that only one may advance: “I want to see one of them go out in the first round... The wild card team makes it even more fascinating to see if they will advance.” (Wilbon, 11:23)

4. Five Good Minutes with Jeff Saturday

[13:32—18:42]

-- Sewell vs. Parsons: Lions’ Offensive Line Woes

• Sewell’s struggles:
  “You don't see Sewell struggle very often... Being down significantly always makes it more difficult. But you can't get beat inside; make him run the hump... He'll rebound next time.” (Saturday, 13:50)

-- A Controversial Holding Call

• Wilbon vents: “That holding call... was a game changer... Do I have reason to be [angry]?”
• Saturday: “It was a terrible call... We all use that technique... I was disappointed in the call... The problem for me was the Bears allowed that play to snowball into Caleb making a dumb play... You can't let one bad play turn into a bunch of bad ones...” (Saturday, 14:46)

-- False Starts Plague the Bears

• Wilbon: “Why do the Bears... have so many false start penalties even now under a new coach?”
• Saturday: “I honestly have no idea... You have to find focus, listen to that snap count, and... weaponize the snap count... It's day one stuff... Very disappointing.” (Saturday, 16:12)

-- Spitting Incidents: How Common?

• Tony asks about recent ejections for spitting.
• Saturday: “No, it's disgusting and it does not go into the radar... I would never spit on somebody else... I'm all for ejections the minute you see it... I got no tolerance for it.” (Saturday, 17:37)

5. Brief Hits & Notable Moments

(Selected quotes and quick analysis on sports news)

• Caleb Williams needs “deprogramming” from prior regime – patience needed (Wilbon)

• Bears’ defense let the team down as well (Wilbon, 04:49)

• Stat of the night:
  “[J.J. McCarthy became] the first guy to, in his rookie debut at quarterback, win a game by being down 10 or more in the fourth quarter... since Steve Young in 1985.” (Kornheiser, 08:13, corrected 11:55)

• Dodgers’ pitching depth could win it all:
  “If [the Dodgers’] starting pitching... pitch, I think they repeat as World Series champions. I do.” (Kornheiser, 10:18)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Wilbon on Bears fans’ agony:
  “I was angry and thought they were just like headed for doom. The whole season was a waste of time. That's how I felt.” (01:42)

• Tony on early Caleb Williams:
  “It looked to me that he was making the leap from rookie to second year quarterback.” (02:55)

• Wilbon on patience and legendary coach starts:
  "Joseph Gibbs went 0 and 5 in his first year… Bill Walsh went 0 and 7… It takes time is my point.” (04:18)

• Jeff Saturday on Bears’ penalties:
  “If you're too dumb to figure out the snap count, we need to find somebody else… It's day one stuff. Really disappointed in that.” (16:12)

• Jeff Saturday, spitting on the field:
  “No, it's disgusting and it does not go into the radar... I got no tolerance for it. I'm all for ejections the minute you see it.” (17:37)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Bears’ Postmortem & Hope Debate: 01:17 – 04:49
• J.J. McCarthy’s Breakout, Rookie QBs: 04:49 – 08:41
• Dodgers No-Hitter Drama, NL West Stakes: 08:41 – 11:39
• Jeff Saturday Interview – NFL O-line & Conduct: 13:32 – 18:42

Conclusion

This episode offered a classic PTI blend of critical takes, hopeful (or skeptical) analysis, and veteran perspective—especially around the Bears’ woes and the contrasting poise of rookie QBs. The conversation with Jeff Saturday provided sharp, no-nonsense explanations behind technical failures (O-line false starts), a candid stance on sportsmanship (spitting), and a dash of locker-room wisdom. The tone flowed from exasperation to measured optimism, leaving listeners with clear-eyed context for early NFL storylines and postseason baseball drama.