Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Why the Bears’ bet on Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson will take longer than expected

Release Date: September 19, 2025
Host: James Palmer with guests Kevin Fishbane, Nick Kosmider & Jake Ciely

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the evolving situations with the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos. The core focus is on why the Bears’ plan built around rookie QB Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson requires patience, and why early struggles should perhaps not be cause for panic. Additionally, the crew examines the Broncos’ challenges despite preseason hype, provides inside fantasy football advice, and offers a forward-looking MVP case for Justin Herbert.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Chicago Bears: Growing Pains with Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson

Guest: Kevin Fishbane (The Athletic)
Timestamp: 03:02–18:38

Observations on Ben Johnson

• Attention to Detail Not Yet Reflected

  • Johnson was known for his meticulous and detail-oriented approach, but "to see the Bears in two games have false start penalties, have, you know, just not being on the same page on all three phases... has not reflected a coach who is supposed to lead this program" (Kevin Fishbane, 04:03).

• Competitive Edge Offers Hope

  • Despite early missteps, Johnson’s intensity remains promising: "There's a competitive fire that makes you think that they will get out of this rut." (04:13)

• Delegation as a Learning Process

  • Johnson, influenced by Dan Campbell, strives to delegate but is still adapting: "Ben Johnson admitted to us after week one that he threw a challenge flag he shouldn't have thrown. He should have listened... the head coaching things are something to learn." (Kevin Fishbane, 06:44)

• Accountability as a New Culture

  • Chicago fans are noticing: "The Bears might be 0-2, but fans are like... excited they have a coach who will actually point the thumb about certain things." (06:57)

The Eberflus “Revenge Game” Narrative

• Facing former coach Matt Eberflus is a subtext ("Is that talked about at all in the building?" 07:24). The matchup’s emotional undercurrents could be substantial—especially if the Bears fail and Eberflus’ defense shines.

Caleb Williams’ Development

• Signs of Growth

  • Improved footwork, better reads, and decision-making seen from week one to two.
  • Still prone to “airmail throws, reckless scrambles,” but “the physical talent is out of this world.” (Kevin Fishbane, 12:36)

• Offensive Structure Matters

  • The run game is vital for Williams’ stability: "If the Bears could just get into a rhythm, run the football... that makes things a lot easier for Caleb." (13:24)

• Problems with Pre-Snap Complexity

  • Struggles with pre-snap motion and personnel—comparable to Bo Nix’s early rookie-year overload (13:41).

Team-Building Philosophy

• Offensive line investments are helping, but lack of development requires expensive free agent fixes.
• Two tight-end sets are used more than anyone, but not producing; "something's not aligning." (Kevin Fishbane, 14:41)
• Draft choices and resource allocation are under scrutiny as second-round picks remain under-used.

Prediction: Is There Any Optimism?

• Fishbane, despite all, predicts a close Bears win in a shootout:
  • "Let's go Bears 32, Cowboys 29. I like to try to find scoregami-esque scores… This is their opportunity to show it because they need a win. So I will give them the credit." (Kevin Fishbane, 17:45–18:14)

2. Denver Broncos: Culture, Continuity, and Growing Pains

Guest: Nick Kosmider
Timestamp: 19:41–30:26

Culture and Expectation Under Sean Payton

• Payton has "built a culture very quickly," but self-inflicted errors persist: "Before we can learn to win these games, we have to learn how to not lose them." (Nick Kosmider, 20:44)

Bo Nix’s Transition and Offensive Identity

• Nix’s comfort evident, but the offense lacks a clear identity, still cycling through lots of personnel and schemes.

• Notably, “10 different receivers catch passes” in week two, but TE Evan Engram, long expected to be central, is underutilized (23:03–24:26).

• WR Troy Franklin’s emergence highlighted: "None of it really since, you know, the OTA program has been like a flash in the pan. He's been consistent every single day." (25:02)

Defensive Identity Crisis

• New additions like Talanoga Hufanga making an impact, but the defense gave up four 40+ yard plays to Indianapolis.
• "They blitzed over 51% of the time, #1 in the NFL. ...They need to stick to that formula," but must avoid overexposure against QBs like Herbert (28:00).

Critical Divisional Game Looms

• Week 3 vs. Chargers is “massive for this early in the season." If Broncos lose, the Chargers “could be 3–0 with a win in hand against every team in the division."
• Nick sees it as another close matchup, with RB J.K. Dobbins (Broncos) as a player to watch (29:13).

3. Fantasy Football with Jake Ciely

Timestamp: 33:08–45:07

Key Segments:

• Fun Sidebar: Arcade Game Rankings

  • Jake and Kevin bond over their love for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons arcade games.
    • "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." (Jake Ciely, 33:58)
    • "I don't think Burger Time gets enough respect." (Jake, 35:11)

• Running Back Concerns

  • RJ Harvey & Amarian Hampton:

    • Harvey is “a timeshare piece at best…can’t use him right now.” (36:44)
    • Hampton has efficiency and scheme fit issues, but "still getting two-thirds the touches of Najee Harris." (37:54)

  • Ashton Jeanty & TreVeyon Henderson:

    • Jeanty needs to "stop smashing the B button…sometimes 4 is better than losing yards." (Jake, 39:00)
    • Henderson’s usage remains a concern, but has pass-catching upside in the James White role.

• WR Panic Meter

  • A.J. Brown: Not worried, production will ebb and flow, "he'll still be top 15 when we get to the end of the season."
  • Drake London: "Opportunities have been there...buying low."
  • Brian Thomas, Jr.: Getting "way too much hate," not his fault, but Trevor Lawrence’s inaccuracy to blame for lack of production.

4. Host’s Extra Point: Justin Herbert as an Early MVP Candidate

Timestamp: 47:26–49:58

• Chargers are 2–0 and Herbert is thriving under Harbaugh and Greg Roman: More aggressive, using his legs (7+ carries in both games, a career-high), and taking more deep shots—but doing so in a simplified offense leveraging his strengths.

  • “He has five touchdown passes and no interceptions thus far.” (James Palmer, 47:26)

• Stat: Only Herbert and Peyton Manning had 125+ passing TDs in first 5 seasons with no playoff wins. Manning won MVP and playoff games in year 6—is this Herbert's year?

Notable Quotes

• On Ben Johnson’s first impression:
  "We spent six to eight weeks talking about...how this guy was maniacal about the details…But...it hasn’t been reflected on the field."
  – Kevin Fishbane (03:55)

• On Caleb Williams’ improvement:
  "The physical talent is out of this world...It’s all about harnessing the good, trying to get rid of the really bad."
  – Kevin Fishbane (12:36)

• On the Broncos’ culture vs. execution:
  "Before we can learn to win these games, we have to learn how to not lose them."
  – Nick Kosmider (20:44)

• On the state of the Bears:
  "When you’re 0-2 and you’re 0-2 the way that you’re 0-2, you open the door for every bout of criticism."
  – Kevin Fishbane (16:49)

Timestamps—Important Segments

• 03:02 – Chicago Bears dissected: Ben Johnson’s early tenure and Caleb Williams’ progression
• 10:55 – What to be optimistic about with Williams’ development
• 14:41 – Bears’ roster construction, O-line, and resource allocation criticism
• 17:35 – Bears-Cowboys preview and predictions
• 19:41 – Broncos’ reality check: culture vs. execution, Bo Nix’s adaptation
• 25:02 – The emergence of WR Troy Franklin
• 27:31 – Broncos defense: blitz rates and challenges ahead vs. Chargers
• 29:13 – Previewing the importance of Broncos-Chargers for AFC West race
• 33:08 – Jake Ciely’s fantasy analysis and arcade game rankings
• 36:36 – Assessing rookie RB situations for fantasy players
• 41:20 – Wide receiver panic index: why you shouldn’t bail on A.J. Brown, Drake London, Brian Thomas Jr.
• 47:26 – Justin Herbert’s early MVP trajectory

Summary

This week, Scoop City takes listeners through Chicago’s turbulent early days with head coach Ben Johnson and rookie QB Caleb Williams, highlighting why serious expectations may need to be put on hold as the new brain trust builds culture and cohesion. Denver is similarly dissected as Sean Payton’s Broncos search for an offensive identity and struggle with the same old close-game woes. The show is buoyed by expert fantasy football guidance and closes with a sharp, forward-looking take on Justin Herbert’s emerging MVP candidacy.

If you want clarity on what’s plaguing the Bears, insight into Denver’s uneasy transition, and actionable fantasy tips—plus a little arcade nostalgia—this episode is a must-listen.