PTI Podcast Summary
Episode: Did YOU Think the Bears Would Win After Caleb's TD Pass?
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: January 19, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon dissect an eventful weekend in sports. The main theme revolves around the Chicago Bears' heartbreaking overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams after a miraculous Caleb Williams touchdown pass. The hosts also explore major NFL coaching changes, key playoff performances, controversial officiating, and look ahead to the college football title game and other headlines. The tone, as always, is conversational, opinionated, and laced with humor and nostalgia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bears-Rams Overtime Thriller & Caleb Williams' Impossible TD
- Wilbon’s Insider Perspective at the Game
- Wilbon, physically present, details the drama of Caleb Williams' no-hope, back-foot pass for a last-gasp touchdown to tie the Rams.
- "The touchdown pass is not possible? No, it's not possible. And yes, I'm sitting there seeing the whole thing play out ... when Kmet catches the pass I didn't have words, I didn't scream... I just sat there cause it's not possible." (01:08)
- Even after the TD, Wilbon didn't expect a win until the Bears got a stop and looked set for a winning field goal in overtime.
- Kornheiser's Fan Reaction
- Tony texts Wilbon: "Unbelievable, unbelievable, inevitable with a lot of exclamation points." (02:08)
- Raises the classic debate: should the Bears have gone for two after the TD? Wilbon cites the advice of Bears legends like Richard Dent and Otis Wilson — go to OT at home, play defense first.
- Legacy of the Play
- Kornheiser: "I think this play lives forever. Had they won the game, it becomes the pass, the drive... I still think it lives forever." (03:38)
- Wilbon agrees: "You can't presume there's time, but...the play lives forever. You just said Chris Collinsworth...said he'd never seen anything like it." (04:08)
2. Bills Fire Sean McDermott After OT Loss to Broncos
- Broncos' Future Without Bo Nix
- Kornheiser thinks Denver, with backup QB Jared Stidham, faces an uphill battle in the AFC playoffs: "It’s a hard ask to come and win those." (05:36)
- McDermott’s Firing & Officiating Controversy
- Tony suggests McDermott was a sitting duck, with his job doomed by the next loss.
- Wilbon and Tony both argue bad officiating swung the game: "I thought it was a catch. That was a catch in the Rams game, why wasn’t that a catch in the Bills game?...Sean McDermott got fired because of an officiating call. Because if they win that game, he ain't fired." (06:49-07:41)
- Critique of the Bills’ organizational decisions, especially the lack of talent around Josh Allen.
3. Patriots-Texans: Weather, Defense, and Rookie Quarterbacks
- Stroud’s Meltdown or Patriots Success?
- Both hosts agree bad weather was a massive factor. Kornheiser: "Both quarterbacks had trouble handling the ball in awful weather. The weather was... A bigger story in Chicago, but... worse in Foxborough." (08:58)
- Wilbon prefers to credit the Patriots’ performance, noting both he and Tony were the few picking New England pregame.
- "You don’t have Nico Collins, you don’t have an offense I can count on. You got a quarterback coming off five turnovers. I'm not going to pick you at New England." (09:11)
- Coaching Decisions and Texans’ Big-Picture Needs
- Tony questions Houston's decision to punt on 4th-and-18, Wilbon suggests the Texans need to beef up their offensive roster before making assessments on Stroud's future.
4. Around the League: Snapshot Reactions
- Seattle Seahawks skepticism:
- Wilbon thinks Sam Darnold "has to win at least this one" in the playoffs to change perceptions, given previous turnover issues. (13:36)
- Tony highlights Seattle's defensive dominance over the 49ers but notes they may need more from Darnold against the Rams.
- College Football Playoff Title Game Preview
- Debate over whether Indiana is rightly a "big favorite" over Miami.
- Tony: "Indiana is undefeated...can I see Miami winning the game? I can. I don’t want that...the better story is Indiana." (15:54-16:27)
- Wilbon, Big Ten guy, reminisces about Miami’s underdog story in the ‘80s and believes Miami returning to glory might be the more compelling narrative.
- Debate over whether Indiana is rightly a "big favorite" over Miami.
- Other Notables:
- Discussion of the Giants hiring John Harbaugh and the Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski as head coaches. (22:43)
- Steelers potentially interested in Aaron Rodgers.
- 45-year-old Venus Williams nearly achieves an upset at the Australian Open.
- Jonathan Taylor and Patrick Mahomes honored in the "Happy Time" segment.
- Remembering knuckleballer Wilbur Wood, a White Sox legend.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Caleb Williams’ Miracle Throw:
- Wilbon: “I just sat there cause it's not possible.” (01:35)
- Kornheiser texting Wilbon: “Unbelievable, unbelievable, inevitable!” (02:08)
- Wilbon, on the play’s legacy: “The play lives forever.” (04:08)
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On Bills-Broncos Officiating:
- Kornheiser: “I thought the Bills got hostile. I thought that was a catch. That was a catch in the Rams game. Why wasn’t that a catch in the Bills game?” (06:49)
- Wilbon: “…basically, Sean McDermott got fired because of an officiating call. Because if they win that game, he ain't fired.” (07:41)
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On C.J. Stroud and the Texans:
- Wilbon: “I'm going to choose to give New England credit...my whole thing was you don't have Nico Collins, you don't have an offense I can count on.” (09:11)
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On Sam Darnold’s Playoff Pressure:
- Wilbon: “You have to win at least this one. I'm not even saying he's got to win the Super Bowl, but he’s got to win this game at home against a hated division rival.” (13:36)
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On College Football's Best Storyline:
- Kornheiser: “Indiana is undefeated. Indiana is doing great. Can I see Miami winning the game? I can. I don't want that. I gotta be honest...the better story is Indiana.” (16:27)
- Wilbon: “Miami would be returning to waking up the echoes...when they beat Nebraska...and the U beat Nebraska had 20 years of history going into that. Indiana has zero years of history.” (16:43-17:46)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Opening/Bears-Rams overtime drama: 00:22–05:03
- Bills fire McDermott/Broncos fallout: 05:04–08:24
- Patriots-Texans & rookie QBs: 08:24–11:16
- Seattle/Darnold, College Football title game preview: 13:36–17:54
- Rapid-fire topics (NFL, tennis, golf): 19:26–23:23
Tone & Language
The episode features the hosts' characteristic blend of rivalry, camaraderie, and deep sports knowledge, matching the original language and conversational, sometimes playful tone:
- Insightful yet emotionally connected takes from Wilbon as a longtime Bears fan.
- Kornheiser’s witty, sometimes skeptical, always thoughtful contrasts.
- Plenty of classic PTI back-and-forth, with affectionate needling.
Conclusion
This episode of PTI covered the emotional fallout and long-term narratives from NFL playoff thrillers, interrogated controversial officiating, reviewed hot-seat coaching changes, and debated the best college football storylines of the year. The hosts' signature banter and their decades-long perspectives offer listeners both rapid-fire recaps and reflective wisdom on sports history and culture.