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Bears Over Beers: The New Look NFC North Is Here · 2nd City Gridiron

• 0:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: oh yes we are on the eve of something very fun something great the 2025 NFL football season it is bears over beers powered by second city grid iron i'm Ryan drostie with my guy Brian orange chuck Brian how you doing tonight
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: fantastic man 24 hours away before football and we'll have to wait a little longer for our beloved to play, but they'll be worth the wait when we're the only ones playing on Monday night.
• 0:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm stoked, bro, how about you?
• 0:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: Very excited.
• 0:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, starting tomorrow night, basically five days straight of football.
• 0:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I'm being on him.
• 0:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know.
• 0:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: How do you feel about opening on Monday night?
• 0:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: This is going to be a
• 0:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, it is and typically I think I'm pretty disappointed, but it's one of those things where every other year after the Sunday games have played, which is awesome every year, week one, but then we have to wait till Monday night games, and it's you know, all eyes are on Monday night and and
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: how cool is it to see our favorite team, especially with all the new wrinkles and acquisitions and at home and against a revamped younger in a lot of ways
• 1:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Minnesota Vikings rivalry.
• 1:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's going to be it's going to be awesome to start the I'm I'm grateful it's not a packers.
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like that's been played out.
• 1:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we'll talk about that but I'm excited for the late season, you know, it's almost like we're used to to see them early every year and now it's our both our games going to be late.
• 1:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: So that's going to have its own little allure to it.
• 1:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I mean at the end of the day, we waited this long, what's another, you know,
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: 36 hours or whatever it is to get our team on prime time.
• 2:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm I'm stoked man.
• 2:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I mean, this go one to two ways.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, obviously we're very excited for the start of this season, like all bears fans.
• 2:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: We see a fun season ahead.
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: I can think of different times we've opened in prime time where it's gone really well, or at least it's maybe it started really well.
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I should say that, maybe not gone really well, but started very well.
• 2:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: Another times where it was just a massive disappointment.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, like that Thursday night opener gets the Packers in 2019, what a downer.
• 2:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: Didn't even score a touchdown at home.
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: After that great 2018 season.
• 2:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: I've talked about how back in, I think it was 96 great memory from childhood when they opened on Monday night against the Cowboys in one, you know, like the dynasty Cowboys in 96 and we beat them.
• 2:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: It seemed like it was going to be a really fun year and then it wasn't, but it was a memorable opener to the season.
• 2:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: And then, you know, other seasons, like, oh, six, we open with a new game, gets the packers absolutely stop them, and it's a Super Bowl season.
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, you know, who knows?
• 2:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope that, you know, in recent years, we've had so many prime time games that have been embarrassments to our team that has been rebuilding now, you know, seemingly for so long that hopefully we can get the whole nation to see something really fun, really exciting.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: And
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: you know, get people off our backs a little bit.
• 3:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: This team never gets any respect.
• 3:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: No matter what Caleb Williams does, he can never do anything right to some people.
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, so I hope he goes out.
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: Ben Johnson's first game with the Bears has an outstanding game and, you know, quiets all the haters out there.
• 3:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I think as a team, we're going to see a much improved product.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: We've been seeing glimpses in training camp, especially in the joint practices with our physicality, with our attention to detail.
• 3:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we're going to see some more of that.
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: However, I would ask any bearers fan to temper expectations a little bit when it comes to Caleb.
• 3:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: As far as him really flowing with Ben, I think that's going to take, you know, until at least after the buy so weeks six, you know, really the second month of the season, I feel like is when we'll start hitting our stride.
• 4:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, don't be disappointed if we come away with a win.
• 4:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Much like we did last year, right?
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was Caleb's rookie season home opener and we won that game against not so good tight in this team, but we won.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so if we come away with the win, especially against the division rival on prime time, I'd be thrilled, but I don't necessarily expect fireworks.
• 4:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: I expect more of a physical game, a pound rate run the game, pound it,
• 4:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: game.
• 4:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I do think there's much to be said about Ben's approach to scaling it back now, the seasons here and giving Caleb what he needs, plus Ben's history against Brian Flores is also pretty impressive.
• 4:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it's going to be an interesting chess match all the way around.
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I just think Caleb's not going to quite hit his strategy.
• 4:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we'll probably still have haters.
• 4:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's still going to have haters, even without him, you know, but you know, if you watch the game closely enough through through, you're going to see some wow plays by him with his arm.
• 5:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm excited about that.
• 5:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I tend to agree with you.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, best case scenario.
• 5:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: He just goes balls out and has a just an unreal game.
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: Probably not going to happen But I think it will be quite a bit better than what we saw last year that game is the Titans that you mentioned.
• 5:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: I would not that game and Not the most fun game to to watch from the stands.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, that first half was absolutely horrendous and we saw things in that game that plague the bears all season long being unable to stop the run
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I'm I'm put for the whole team obviously like we've been talking about here in the offseason Dennis Allen was to do with this defense and we're going to get to more on the bears and the Vikings and you know their their history and recent years and in the 2000s due to a little research on this to kind of jog my memory of where this rivalry has been and where it has not been over the last few years Brian but before we get to that this is bears overbears after all so.
• 5:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not time, bro.
• 5:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's because I'm let's get some beer in the glasses
• 5:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh boy.
• 5:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm excited about this one.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is, well, that make you full screen.
• 6:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let me see if I can do this.
• 6:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 6:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: There you go.
• 6:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hopped a mom triple IPA.
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah.
• 6:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's a 2025 appearance.
• 6:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: I thought it was appropriate given our first show on this season.
• 6:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sierra Nevada local, local brewery you've heard of it before from California is also
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Then Colorado where I lived and now there's also brewery here in Asheville, North Carolina.
• 6:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you ever make to Asheville any of you did the breweries near the airport, highly recommend 10 out of 10.
• 6:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: And also you got to shout out to this sweet bottle opener.
• 6:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is from my cousin, he's a Steelers fan, we love him anyway.
• 6:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Check this bottle opener.
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you are a beer kind of sewer, you got to appreciate a nice bottle opener.
• 6:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm big in the medieval times and nice little bottle opener, but
• 6:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is the crown jewel of the night.
• 6:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Gotta go full screen again.
• 6:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can hopefully get these soon on a website near and it matches my shirt as you might see.
• 7:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: We are bringing out the big guns this season.
• 7:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I've already given Ryan crap for not donning here shirt, but he's got something special.
• 7:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Show us what you got tonight for your drinking.
• 7:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I have a shirt too, obviously, but I was like, I bet Brian's gonna be wearing the shirt.
• 7:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: And if we match and we're like twins, well, people think that's weird, so I didn't wear my, but I do have the glass.
• 7:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: And yeah, like you said, here's the glass again.
• 7:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm hoping we can get these available for the listeners.
• 7:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, you know, drop us a note on social ad bears over beers or here in the comments on YouTube.
• 7:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let us know if you'd like to get one of these glasses.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm also hoping to do maybe some giveaways here on the streams.
• 7:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: this year just incentive for you guys to catch us live on YouTube.
• 7:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: So if you're interested let's know I am talking to our bosses over at Second City Grid Iron about making them available but that maybe even the shirt too Brian maybe get that available but more to come on that as a season goes on exciting things happening but hot to them.
• 7:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: great beer.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: I haven't had that in a long time, but that is solid.
• 8:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah.
• 8:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it reminded me of the hope you and that us bears fans are feeling at the start of the season.
• 8:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So how did you had to go with that and I'm excited for what are you drinking, man?
• 8:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: I can kind of a tie in like that, too, with word word play.
• 8:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: Here's what I got.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: I've got from Lua Brewing, which I know JB will appreciate because this is a Des Moines Iowa.
• 8:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: Brewery kind of Hawaiian theme brewery.
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: It is a tiny beam of light, hazy pale ale.
• 8:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's got citrate, which is my favorite kind of hop
• 8:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: Um, yeah, because I felt like tiny beam of light.
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: We see a ray of light coming from this team, Brian and, uh, hopefully it's pretty large.
• 8:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's pretty large in a charge.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not tiny unless you're the most doom and gloom fan there is, which we have some of them at Wendy City Grid.
• 8:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know about it.
• 8:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, I can dig it, man.
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's definitely, you know, tempered expectations and hopeiam.
• 8:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's what we're, we're wrong with.
• 8:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I'm trying to keep my expectations and check a little bit, in fact, I took a screenshot Brian of the night we did the schedule release show.
• 9:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, minutes after the schedule dropped, and with Jacob, we did our predictions, we're going to revisit that later in the show here and see if your mind has changed at all or at least recap what we were thinking at the time.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: But for
• 9:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, that's, that's delicious.
• 9:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, yeah, that's enough.
• 9:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: That is good stuff.
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
• 9:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, you know, we were talking earlier, Brian, about what we wanted to have on the agenda tonight, and I kind of had the mindset of, it's going to be a pretty free flowing show because, you know, as we get back into these weekly podcasts now in the season, mostly weekly, I don't know what we'll do by week, we'll have to see in around the holidays.
• 9:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: But for the most part, we're going to be with you every single Wednesday night now again during the season,
• 9:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: some guests here and there and you know usually those the weekly shows we kind of got the agenda for us.
• 10:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: We kind of recap the last game and we look ahead of the the next game.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: But here tonight a little more free flowing.
• 10:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got some we're going to hit the NFC North.
• 10:10
  [SPEAKER_03]: The new look and FC North how things are going to be different this year.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: We're going to talk about that new edge rush or up in Green Bay a little bit.
• 10:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: But first, yeah, let's recap or start talking more, continue talking more.
• 10:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: I should say about the Vikings game on Monday night.
• 10:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: So Brian, I know when we did our preview show, I think all of us chalk this one up as a win.
• 10:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: I do think it is close to a toss-up game.
• 10:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: The reason I'm given the bears the edge is it's at home?
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got a more experienced quarterback, you know, JJ's first game in his hometown from the Chicago area, it's going to a lot of family there, prime time lights, lot of pressure on JJ McCarthy and you know, for me, I got to give it to the bears just because, you know, Caleb has the edge here.
• 10:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: I do think it's going to be.
• 10:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: a close game.
• 11:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: A very close game like his bear's Vikings games usually are.
• 11:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: I believe the odds have the Vikings as a one and a half point favorite last I saw.
• 11:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I mean odds makers are right there with this being a toss-up too, but I am sticking with the bears just like I did on schedule release night.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: How are you feeling?
• 11:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Same here.
• 11:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: I will say, as far as JJ McCarthy is concerned, he has that clutch factor.
• 11:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 11:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not worried about him showing up.
• 11:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's going to show up, but you said it first.
• 11:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: We have the more experience quarterback.
• 11:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, so is there going to be enough time in all four quarters for him to overcome some of the challenges that he faces from a Dennis Allen defense
• 11:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: really every level of our defense will get to our our edge opposite Montez sweat at some point for sure, but I think JJ is a solid quarterback.
• 11:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: He just didn't play all last year, right?
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was hurt.
• 12:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm still chalking up to when I will say I am increasingly concerned about Jalen Johnson.
• 12:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: and the health of our secondary.
• 12:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Kyler Gordon's back at practice full speed.
• 12:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jalen was at practice today as well, but he's been out for six weeks.
• 12:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: His physical conditioning is not going to be where it even should be for week one.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: So when you are going to be matched up against arguably the best
• 12:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: and you're not 100% that could lead to some problems.
• 12:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm kind of expecting not as much man coverage for Jalen this week for a group effort, bracket coverage type situation between our corners and our safeties.
• 12:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's a good question.
• 12:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I think that's really that if nothing else that kind of made me lean it a little bit more towards of Vikings win because you know, they can I know they don't have Jordan Addison But that's huge, but but they have the best receiver still if they can take advantage of our secondary Then they can keep up with us in the point game now
• 13:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's going to be ground and pound both sides.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think the Vikings are really going to lean on the run as well.
• 13:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it's going to be an interesting old school black and blue.
• 13:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think everybody's going to expect all these fireworks, Kevin O'Connell, Ben Johnson, first round draft picks at quarterback.
• 13:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be a run the football stop the run game, in my opinion.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, but I still think we come out with a win for the reasons you said.
• 13:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, it's
• 13:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like as bear's fans, we're used to story books happening against us like this, where J.J.
• 13:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: McCarthy's got his family at soldier field, and he breaks out of miraculous win against us and is opening, you know, opening start.
• 13:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh man, don't start.
• 14:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, I can't stop that outfit.
• 14:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I could see, I could see that happening, but I don't think it will.
• 14:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we've added too much town.
• 14:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think our coaches are gonna be more,
• 14:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: influential throughout the game at halftime especially to overcome.
• 14:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: I just think our team is built right, finally, and I think we're going to see that Monday night.
• 14:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: I have a few counters to what you said there, but mostly, yeah, I agree.
• 14:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, obviously, JJ McCarthy has been in some big games in college at Michigan.
• 14:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: Caleb, you know, also had a lot of big games and still he struggled in that first game.
• 14:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him have a big game.
• 14:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: We've talked about this in the show many times.
• 14:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: I have so much respect for Kevin O'Connell.
• 14:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think he's a top three coach in the NFL.
• 14:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I'm sure he's going to get everything out of JJ possibly Ken.
• 14:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's going to have a great game plan.
• 14:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh, and I agree with what you said about, you know, it could end up being a game where they're relying on pounding the rock and rushing the ball.
• 15:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: Then I heard a stat today from Adam Johns, I got to give credit Adam Johns from CAsio that really surprised me about the Vikings and running the ball because I thought, you know, it could be a situation where maybe they don't want to put too much on McCarthy and they rely on running the ball against the bears.
• 15:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: Here's two stats about the Vikings under Kevin O'Connell when it comes to rushing the ball.
• 15:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, 27th in the league and rushing attempts, 29th in the league in yards per carry under Kevin O'Connell.
• 15:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's stunned me when I heard that.
• 15:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: 29th in the league in yards per carry rushing the ball under Kevin O'Connell.
• 15:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: So if they do rely on running the ball more than passing it.
• 15:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think that the numbers say it might help the bears.
• 15:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: And we've said we've got the edge with the quarterback right now at least having more experience.
• 15:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's been in these situations in the NFL now.
• 15:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: And that gives me a little more confidence in the bears.
• 15:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: I agree with you, I am worried about Jalen because those soft tissue injuries can linger.
• 16:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: He hasn't practiced all preseason.
• 16:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: He was out there today.
• 16:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh, you know, I'm certainly a little concerned more than a little concerned about the left tackle situation too, but I also feel like we've upgraded the interior of the line that that should help out, you know, play next to Joe Tuney.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh, I hope Brachson.
• 16:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: does well out there, but you know, he's got a lot of pressure on him, too.
• 16:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: So a little worried about protecting Caleb's blind side, but yeah, I just feel like overall there's a little elements of this game that should tip it in the favor of the bears, despite it being, it is pretty much a toss-up game.
• 16:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I think when we go up to Minneapolis, it's going to be a tough game to win.
• 16:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I, I just, I got to go with the bears.
• 16:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, I don't discount what you said about O'Connell and the run game for Minnesota, but they didn't play us every game last year.
• 16:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: And where they did play us, Aaron Jones, averaged almost five yards of carry, both games, and they had camacers when he had more than three carries,
• 17:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: He only averaged 2.4 yards of carry.
• 17:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, Income's Jordan Mason, who's signed a two year 10 and a half million dollar contract as a backup tailback.
• 17:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: So he is going to get his chunk place.
• 17:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's going to spell Aaron Jones better than anyone that has yet in Minnesota.
• 17:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he could end up being V-guy in a year or two as well.
• 17:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: So they've got a two-headed monster now that people are not really talking about.
• 17:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: that I think is going to leave the charge here.
• 17:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the counter to that is what we have done to our interior defensive line.
• 17:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: And
• 17:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: and then obviously an offense conversely on our interior offensive line.
• 17:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I think it's going to be a ground in pound.
• 17:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, Aaron Jones has been has been doing too much damage to us over the years as a as a packer and now Viking, where I think he's one of the most underrated backs in the lead personally.
• 18:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: He is getting older though, and so then they bring in Jordan Mason why I think is going to be a factor Monday night to say that.
• 18:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 18:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, yeah, I thought we could also talk here a little bit about the history of bears Vikings, at least in the 21st century.
• 18:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: I want to go back to 1960 or anything here, but I had kind of forgotten Brian, how dismal we have been against the Vikings lately, because it seemed for a long time, like,
• 18:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: the bears were pretty much always when when they played in Chicago.
• 18:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: We go up to Minneapolis with struggle to win there.
• 18:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: But let me see if I can put this up on the screen because I was taking some screenshots earlier and it did not save here in studio.
• 18:39
  [SPEAKER_03]: So let me try this.
• 18:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 18:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: This is the history of bear's Vikings since 2018.
• 18:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you know, the win loss and the lap that's from the bear's perspective.
• 18:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you can see that in the last eight games, the Chicago Bears have only won once.
• 18:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: It was in Minnesota, that game, Monday night game, a couple of years ago near the end of the season.
• 19:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: Otherwise, I mean, the Vikings have been dominant in this series, the last five years or so, four or five years.
• 19:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: And it seems like both teams kind of go on these runs when you look at the history, you know, like before that, the Bears were pretty dumb.
• 19:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, and so I was like, why am I remembering the bears just always winning for the most part of the soldier feel, because we actually haven't beat them at soldier fields since 2019, which Brian, I don't go with to a ton of games.
• 19:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: I was at that game, too.
• 19:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I remember that game in 2019, you know, early in the year, I think might have been week three or four.
• 19:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: Because Tabiski got injured on the first drive.
• 19:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: And me and my dad were at that game and I looked at him like, of course, you know, we're going to lose, but Chase Daniel came in and he played a really good game like 100 plus pass rating.
• 19:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: There's won the game 16 to 6.
• 19:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: Dalvin Cook didn't have a very good game that day.
• 20:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, I mean, I looked back further in the history, uh, going back to 2000.
• 20:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Bears lost the Vikings in 2000 by 12 points, but then they went and this is just the soldier field games went on a six year winning streak.
• 20:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, they didn't lose again to the Vikings at home until 2007.
• 20:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: Do you remember why that game was notable.
• 20:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: Who you're not shown it on the screen right now.
• 20:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, which was in seven in that was in the soldier field.
• 20:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, has to do with a running back.
• 20:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Adrian Pearson ran for 224 yards in that game as a rookie year against the bears and we lost 31 to 34 so that stopped a six game bears winning streak at soldier field and then after 07 and that loss which is a close loss 3 points.
• 20:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: The bears won 7 years straight at soldier field from 08 through 2004 to 7 games.
• 21:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: They lost in 2017 at Solger to the Vikings, another three-point game, and then, as you see on the screen here from 2020 to 2024, the Vikings have one every single game at Solger field, but they've often really close, like 6.8, 116-point game in 2022, and the Bears are bottoming out, but then 6 points last year, over time, 3 points, right?
• 21:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: So it looks like it's close to swinging back in the Bears' favor, but
• 21:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 21:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, the bears are 15 in nine in Chicago against the Vikings in the 2000s.
• 21:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, before this stretch of got five games in a row that they've lost to the Vikings, at home, it was 15 in four.
• 21:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, you know, historically speaking, the bears had have been pretty successful in Chicago at Soldier Field against the Vikings.
• 21:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, we'll see.
• 21:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll see what happens.
• 21:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, those stats make me feel even more confident that we're going to win
• 22:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, we got the only person in our chat right now is a Vikings fan.
• 22:07
  [SPEAKER_03]: We're our bear's fan set, but Viking Jerome says, I just hope the bear's stadium turf is playable, you know, that's the thing is they actually have kind of fix the turf in recent years.
• 22:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's been holding up late to the year.
• 22:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: They finally seem to get have gotten the turf monster under control.
• 22:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I'm sure it'll look pretty good.
• 22:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: Now they've had some big concerts there in recent weeks, which sometimes hurts things, but it's a valid concern.
• 22:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: It is for sure.
• 22:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: But it seems like the ground's cruise has done a much better job in recent years.
• 22:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: And if they don't, I'm sure Ben Johnson will be giving them a new year full.
• 22:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 22:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, I will take the bears and we'll see.
• 22:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll be talking about it next week here on the show guys.
• 22:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: Before we go any further, we're going to stop for a word from one of our new sponsors this year.
• 22:52
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• 22:57
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• 23:08
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• 23:10
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• 23:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: every play is your next shot to win speaking of bears Vikings now the odds are subject to change but as of Wednesday night like we said the bears are a one and a half point underdog to the Vikings the over under is set at 43 and a half you can check all of the latest
• 23:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: updated odds with the draft king's sports book app.
• 23:43
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• 24:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: NFL Sunday ticket offer for new subscribers only in auto-renews until canceled digital games and commercial use excluded restrictions apply additional NFL Sunday ticket terms at youtube.com slash go slash NFL Sunday ticket slash terms limited time offer all right Brian let's get back to it what's your extra do you want to take the show you unless you have any other thoughts on the Viking before we move forward
• 25:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, shout out to a Vikings fan.
• 25:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I actually know some Vikings friends, fans, and, uh, some good people.
• 25:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: I am, I am shocked that they actually own the series advantage 68 to 58 and 2 against us, um, but, uh, I do think it's going to change.
• 25:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, we have our Kevin O'Connell, and, uh, we'll see.
• 25:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Come on tonight, but, um, but yeah, I think it's going to be ground
• 25:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: which brings into some questions.
• 25:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, let's talk about our health, right?
• 25:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: real quick, let me shout out some minisotans too because I also, you know, I don't really have the hatred for the Vikings that I do are other neighbors up north.
• 25:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: I agree, you know, my wife from Minnesota, my co-host over on top of nation, Jesse lives in Minneapolis big Vikings fan.
• 25:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm trying to get to a game at U.S.
• 25:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: Bank Stadium with love.
• 25:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: I have never been there yet.
• 25:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm only three hours away.
• 25:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Would love to get up there.
• 25:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe it's a top three rated stadium and yeah, it's for people.
• 26:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I've been wanting to go for a long time, but I've kind of been waiting for the bears to turn it around first, you know, so I know it's going to be a decent game.
• 26:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: So yeah, if my buddy Justin can be tickets and he was at that Monday night game, the bears won two years ago, and he was in a luxury box and I'm like, man, if you can pull that off again and whichever friends you have, they got you in that box at US Bank Stadium and bite me next time.
• 26:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: So we will see, but yeah, you know, I love Minnesota.
• 26:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm from Iowa Minnesota's a great state.
• 26:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't really have any bad blood for the Vikings.
• 26:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope it's a good game.
• 26:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, more often than not in recent years, I'm not going to say it's not a rivalry, but when the bears have not been good, which has been a lot in most years until recently, the lions have also been down.
• 26:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm like, well, you know what?
• 26:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'd rather have it be the Vikings in the packers.
• 26:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: Winning the NFC North, you know.
• 26:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: So agreed.
• 26:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's kind of how I've always felt about the Vikings.
• 26:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you know, I think when we go up to Minneapolis, I'll probably be picking the Vikings to win that game.
• 26:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Unless we're just having a blowaway season to that point in time, pretty much a toss-up, but I got the bears in a close one.
• 27:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: I do think it's going to be a really good game.
• 27:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we have them November 16th at many, after a home game against the giants,
• 27:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: and before we go at home again against the Steelers.
• 27:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we'll see, it's going to depend on our health, it's going to depend on how Caleb is handling Ben's offense, but yeah, shout out to the Vikings fans.
• 27:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: You guys are classic, classy people from what I've experienced as well.
• 27:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: Alright, let's hit the health point.
• 27:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: You're going to bring up.
• 27:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: Sorry to interrupt.
• 27:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, all good.
• 27:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: So the health in the ground and pound game without adding too many running backs, this offseason really any but one in a commonung guy and then you have Britain Brown, but who is he?
• 28:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that's going to be a concern.
• 28:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, Rochon Johnson was not spotted at practice with a
• 28:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's been my expected kind of touchdown leader at least to start the season.
• 28:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: If he's not gonna be there, some of that ground and pounds can be out because you can't really ground and pound too much with the Andre Swift 580-205.
• 28:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you know, so that's gonna be critical.
• 28:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: You might end up seeing a lot more of a non-guy or as we've seen in practice, DJ more in the backfield,
• 28:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I wasn't sounding the alarm all summer with our health, but now we're, you know, we're practice week.
• 28:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jalen's got his first practice reps in today as I already mentioned my concern there.
• 28:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Rochon wasn't there.
• 28:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: We haven't even talked about the left tackle position for us this episode, but that's gonna be an ordeal.
• 28:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now granted, Braxton's a better run blocker than he is past blocker.
• 29:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: But also our offensive line.
• 29:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: What is the one consistent thing with any offensive line to be successful?
• 29:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Continuity and time clocked.
• 29:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: We haven't had that.
• 29:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is game one.
• 29:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it'll be interesting, you know, there are a lot of factors that I could see go in either way, but I am a little bit concerned about our health, you know, two key players on one on each side with Jalen, who's arguably our most important position on defense against the Vikings, and
• 29:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Rochon Johnson, who I expect to be an integral part of our offensive attack, especially week one.
• 29:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: So that it's going to be interesting is do they end up wrong with Britain Brown or does monogh guy get the nod?
• 29:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Do they bring someone else in or promote or bring in a guy like Royce Freeman or I don't know, but the health is starting to be a concern of mine for sure.
• 30:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I mean, absolutely.
• 30:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, a health of a team will destroy even a good team, see, sitting on, and you hate to see, key guys out, week one, you know, we've, yeah, I kind of felt all summer, like, you know, it won't matter, Jalen will be fine, but like, it lingered and it lingered, and you finally get there on the practice field today.
• 30:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, high level player, you know, obviously,
• 30:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: are arguably probably our best player on defense and, you know, we have a strong secondary, but as you said earlier, we need Jalen to be on Jefferson, you know, we need his talents there.
• 30:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: So it's worrisome for sure, you know, with Braxton, what's been going on with the left tackle position, like I said earlier, and, you know, in his health, that is concerning.
• 30:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think the rest of the
• 30:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: super talented.
• 30:48
  [SPEAKER_03]: And so I'm not, you know, as concerned about the rest of the line, I think they'll hold up well, but the left tackle has been the point of concern all summer.
• 30:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, we had this kind of competition and it doesn't seem like anyone really went out and won it.
• 31:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: So.
• 31:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: Uh, you know, I think we all had, I think we talked about the last time we're on the on the pod here when training camp was starting we all kind of In vision maybe even Aussie winning that position and then as things got underway is more suited for the right side.
• 31:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: It seems like and then you're hoping that Theo can maybe step up and then Braxon is he is he all the way healthy and just problems galore.
• 31:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope Braxon can go out there and you know quite the doubters, but you know, yeah, that's a concern.
• 31:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: Obviously, everything you said about running back, you know, it's been on offense outside of left tackle, the one area we've been concerned about.
• 31:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: We talked about it in our pre-draft shows, how much we wanted the bears to pick somebody in the first couple of rounds at running back, and it didn't happen.
• 31:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: And then we kind of sold ourselves, and I'm, well, Rochows look decent when he's in there, you know, can he come back and
• 31:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: And maybe even overtake Swift and, you know, he hasn't been bad guy yet.
• 31:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: So he's not been healthy.
• 31:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, early in camp, he was when we talked with Taylor doll about camp and our expectations for the year, Rochon was healthy.
• 32:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was shown up every practice.
• 32:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was scoring touchdowns and then he got injured and he's not been back.
• 32:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so it's disappointing.
• 32:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think this is where
• 32:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is where the luxury pick of a tight-end and round one is going to come in the play.
• 32:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of Coulson's biggest, most underrated attributes is his ability to block, in line and in space, and
• 32:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think you're going to have 12 personnel with both him and Cole Kinet in a lot this game to try to control those edges and also give them, you know, more flexibility in the past game.
• 32:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be fascinating to see how Ben Johnson deploys our offense this year.
• 32:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: This game against Flores with all that said, you know, I mean, there's so many different ways you can go about it.
• 32:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: I feel like so often as Bear's fans, we've known
• 33:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: what an offensive coordinator should do, only to see Shane Waldron do completely the opposite or Matt Nagy throw Justin Fields into the wolves against the Browns.
• 33:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, the obvious is not so obvious apparently.
• 33:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, but so I'm gonna really excited to see how, then, you know, compensates for that left tackle position.
• 33:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: And,
• 33:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: And again, I think we're going to compete this year.
• 33:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love to look at, I'm glad you brought that up our schedule prediction.
• 33:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love to look at that.
• 33:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we're going to compete for playoff spot this year.
• 33:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Still, but next year, I feel like it's going to be the year where we will compete for beyond.
• 33:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the health is going to be key in the chess match about, you know, office versus defense, Ben versus Flores is going to be huge.
• 33:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Did you hear or see any of Ben's press conference today?
• 34:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: I saw a couple of quotes, but yeah, I haven't watched it yet.
• 34:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, he made a comment that I thought was fascinating.
• 34:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it was him.
• 34:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: It might have been Caleb, but it was basically like we're, you know, we're not going to get any, like, I forget what he called it, like, rest plays or reset plays.
• 34:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like every play they're going to be have to be on their
• 34:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so, with that said, I don't think we're really going to get a feel for what Ben wants to do as a coordinator until next week, because you've got to almost be playing offense and defense all together at the same time when you're playing against Flora.
• 34:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it's going to be a fascinating chess match.
• 34:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think these two guys have a lot of respect for each other and yeah, I mean, if we can stay healthy
• 34:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, that's a thing too you mentioned earlier.
• 35:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Has he been healthy.
• 35:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, hasn't looked healthy.
• 35:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, we'll see, but I do expect that grounded bound for sure.
• 35:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, what you said about the luxury picks, I mean, also brings true for round two because, you know, all this talent, we have a wide receiver.
• 35:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: And
• 35:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, we, we like to pick a Luther Burton.
• 35:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: We think he's going to be a star, perhaps.
• 35:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, he has playmaking ability.
• 35:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's awesome in college.
• 35:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: We, we heard, you know, Jacob's talked about it a lot.
• 35:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, as a, as a guy from down there who lived down there for a time period, but with all these guys on offense, it's going to be hard to get him touches.
• 35:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I'm real curious about special teams because
• 35:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, like, do Renee at punt return and kick return doesn't scream excitement, you know, it'll be fine probably, but I wonder how long it's going to be.
• 35:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: And we've seen other people back there take, you've seen Rome, you know, and can't practice taking puns and stuff, but I wonder how long it's going to be until until they actually pollute their burden back there on special teams to get the ball on his hands more.
• 36:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think that's something I'm looking for, maybe.
• 36:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love to see that happen.
• 36:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 36:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: I forget where it was.
• 36:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was in our group chat with Wendy City Gridiron.
• 36:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: I can't remember, but, you know, there's a lot of all-time greats who started off with a bang on special teams before they really hit their stride as receiver.
• 36:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of my favorites is Steve Smith.
• 36:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, you put your best athletes on the field, period, and let them make a difference.
• 36:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Make an impact.
• 36:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: You saw it in the, if you watch the Ohio State Texas Game of the day.
• 36:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: First game this season, every time I'm talking playoff game, but it was a huge game, obviously, Texas, which was ranked number one at the time at on the road against the defending national champs.
• 36:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: And who they have back there returning a punt at one point.
• 36:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Jeremiah Smith, who is arguably, I think even universally touted as the best player in college football as a sophomore.
• 37:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: returning punts in a game.
• 37:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I feel like like you said we've got kind of a just a spoiler of riches back there on that receiver.
• 37:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Get looked there burden on some kick returns or pump returns and see what he can do.
• 37:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm with you.
• 37:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do like dover nay.
• 37:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's a solid if not unspectacular player.
• 37:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: But burden is special with the ball in his hands.
• 37:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: If he's not going to get ton of touches on offense, put him back to.
• 37:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love to see that.
• 37:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm disappointed that the Dept.
• 37:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: chart says dover nay.
• 37:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I would love to have burden open the year up.
• 37:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: But again, the day, if they're getting him in on offense, making some plays here and there, I'm excited.
• 37:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: And, you know, we should say, when we have these concerns about, you know, certain areas on the field and the injuries and stuff, I feel that, you know, we're still way ahead.
• 37:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: Even with these concerns, way ahead of what the team was a couple of years ago, I mean, you look around that offense at the skill positions and just unbelievable riches we have on this team now.
• 38:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Like we've said, it's so many times if Caleb can't succeed with that kind of talent around him.
• 38:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: four guys on the O line who should all be very good we think three to four depending on how Jonah bounces back you know and then we'll see from Braxton and with Ben Johnson calling the place how's it ever going to work you know he's got so much town around the back end of the defense.
• 38:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: is great.
• 38:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, we have concerns about edge rusher obviously and we'll get to where we fall in behind on that over the last week.
• 38:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: But you know, they did some things to show up the interior of the D-line, like you said earlier.
• 38:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I think even with all of these concerns that we have and their valid concerns,
• 38:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: I just feel so much more confident, you know, as a fan, because of who we have in that head coaching role.
• 38:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I don't know if you saw this.
• 38:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm going to put this on the screen.
• 38:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: And not just that.
• 38:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, decordinator too.
• 38:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: But the athletic had a poll that they took of executives and NFL coaches.
• 39:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: There were 31 of them that they got to vote in this poll.
• 39:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: And the question was, who are the three best offensive play callers in the NFL?
• 39:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: and Ben Johnson was number three with 14 of the 31 votes.
• 39:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: The only people ahead of him was Shanahan Kyle Shanahan with 18 and Sean McVay with 25 votes.
• 39:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: O'Connell was fourth of eight votes.
• 39:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, the fact that we have a guy with that much respect around the league and offense of guy is just, it's like, finally.
• 39:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: And then not only that, but then we got Dennis Allen, who has a long track record of being a great defensive coordinator in this league.
• 39:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't think
• 39:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: And basically since, you know, we're the same age, I can only remember the tail end of the DITCA years, but like, I'm not old enough to remember when Buddy Ryan was here.
• 39:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I guess for the most part, in my lifetime, I don't think we've ever had a coaching staff where I have this much confidence on both the offense and defense of side of the ball.
• 40:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: Even close.
• 40:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, same here, I agree.
• 40:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, it's the, it's the,
• 40:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Bill Nuggets, we hear from the Dan Rochauer, the Office of Lion Coach, who is not even talked much about.
• 40:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: In his constructive criticism of Braxton Jones and the left tackles midway through camp, that just sticks out.
• 40:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, the Antoine Rindalelle, and what he does, obviously on practice field, but also on game day,
• 40:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Anthony Harris and or Al Harris.
• 40:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Al Harris always makes makes his name up.
• 40:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Al Harris and you know, right before we even had a practice, he was already reaching out to Tyreek Stevenson.
• 40:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was reported to do that work and he's got a, they have track records, right?
• 40:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've got proven track records in this league already.
• 40:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so,
• 40:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, I'm with you.
• 40:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's what I'm saying.
• 40:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Dennis Allen as well.
• 40:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, he's a proven coach and he's got his guys along side him too.
• 41:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm I'm I'm with you.
• 41:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like there are no excuses.
• 41:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, our our worst line in last year.
• 41:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Are all long gone.
• 41:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Braxton was one of our best.
• 41:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he is our weakest link this year.
• 41:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 41:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we've we've got the same weapons, but more, you know, we've got a better play caller.
• 41:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, so better defense, which I think is going to matter.
• 41:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like we're, you know, as you said, for that first game, we could not stop the run.
• 41:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, that was our biggest Achilles here.
• 41:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: We couldn't stop the run.
• 41:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we basically couldn't stop drives because they could just keep pounding the rock getting first downs against us.
• 41:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Uh, and that's going to be a huge factor this year.
• 41:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Did you pay attention to the team captains?
• 41:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 41:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I was pretty surprised that that Grady Jarrett got nominated.
• 41:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now I can understand it and I'm really looking forward to seeing him step up as it runs stopping defensive tackle obviously provides some past rush from time to time.
• 42:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: But that's going to be key.
• 42:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we can't stop the run, it doesn't matter.
• 42:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, like if we're going to shoot out every week, then you know, we might win 50 percent of the games.
• 42:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Mm-hmm.
• 42:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: So.
• 42:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but the coaches are going to be huge, but obviously the the additions we've made as well.
• 42:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we're now top 10 top, I want to say top five or six most highest spending team league wide for our whole roster.
• 42:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: and that's not been the case with us.
• 42:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, things are shifting.
• 42:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, we've got one of the highest head coach, this list wouldn't be too far off when it comes to the highest paid coaches either.
• 42:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ben is close to the top.
• 42:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think he's top 10 for short.
• 42:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, things are changing.
• 42:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, it's to be seen if it changes on the field, right?
• 42:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're right.
• 42:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like, that's
• 43:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna enjoy it, man, I'm curious, I was first weeks and we're going, we're going, you know, kind of fluid.
• 43:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: What is your week one ritual when it comes to or routine or do you have one?
• 43:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: When it comes to watching games, week one.
• 43:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, it's different because normally they're Sunday afternoon.
• 43:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is Monday, prime time, but what are some things?
• 43:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we were gonna be a bug on the wall, you know, watching Ryan.
• 43:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: with the game on the night, what are you going to be doing?
• 43:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: Hold on a second.
• 43:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: I just took you off the stage.
• 43:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: Sorry, I was trying to take the picture off the screen.
• 43:39
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I don't know.
• 43:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: I like to grill if it's a new game for sure.
• 43:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: This is going to be different because it's a work day and it's a night game.
• 43:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, I'll be total meatball in the morning.
• 43:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll play and bear down as I'm getting ready for work in the morning for sure.
• 43:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I might put the Super Bowl shuffle on at some point on YouTube, but, you know, I'll have some cold beers ready to go for sure.
• 44:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: Usually my dad comes over, we watch most of the games together, we usually go to a game every year, we're going to the Saints game this year, figure that should deal with.
• 44:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: but no, you know, I don't know that I have something every year that I do really routinely.
• 44:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's just usually beer, grilling, watching with family.
• 44:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's about it.
• 44:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: What about you?
• 44:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 44:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: Nice.
• 44:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so I don't do too much grilling on game day, just because that's a lot of prep, a lot of work for me with a big family.
• 44:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: We both got plenty of kids and whatnot.
• 44:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 44:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: I am, I better fact, ironically enough, I am grilling Monday night, this Monday night.
• 44:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, I'm, my sister-in-law, it's her birthday and what she wants
• 44:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Nothing other to do is to watch the game and and bear it out.
• 44:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: So she requested my homemade burgers.
• 45:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm making some burgers.
• 45:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: And on the grill.
• 45:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: But typically, I'll make my fresh homemade sauce, which as well, which I'm entering into a contest later this month off the way to that goes.
• 45:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's pretty awesome.
• 45:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's called Pico de Brillo.
• 45:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's amazing, but yes, it's super good, real fresh and healthy.
• 45:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'll do that, you know, but I don't really go out all, you know, all game every week.
• 45:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Um, I do, I do always have good, a good beverage, um, and, um, past couple years, family have come over to watch my sister-in-law, my nephews, and, uh, just kind of watch and, and, uh, drink some beer, um, and we do, we, we always, week one will do some special, which usually try different recipe of something we did like Slider sandwiches,
• 45:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: like chicken smothered sandwiches.
• 45:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was delicious.
• 45:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, you got to have some good food after watching football all day.
• 46:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Wings are a classic staple.
• 46:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: We do chili.
• 46:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's probably our most constant week to week meal is chili because, you know, football, especially if you're watching all day, that's like two meals.
• 46:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Easily, sometimes three if there's like a, you know,
• 46:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: England game on or something like that.
• 46:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, shilly, you can just go back to get yourself another bowl and you got, you got to be eating, you know, especially as we're getting up there in age, you've got to be hydrating and eating or else, you know, we're going to be feeling it the next day.
• 46:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Beer water, beer water, beer water.
• 46:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 46:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.
• 46:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
• 46:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can't forget to eat.
• 46:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: but yeah my salsa is a pretty regular and and chili I would say throughout the year but I I really want to try this pico de braio you might have to send me some of the mail okay yeah we'll figure it out for sure bro I will say I was disappointed I know you were too that we didn't get together this training camp we weren't able to get tickets so we were trying to swing something a bears overbears
• 47:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: you know, in bourbonet, obviously, in bourbonet anymore, something like that would have been super fun, but we weren't able to to conjure up those tickets.
• 47:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so we'll figure something else out.
• 47:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if and when we're together, I will make you some salsa bro.
• 47:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's, and the good thing is it's huge, it's a huge batch.
• 47:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 47:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: And sometimes it's a crowd pleaser and it's gone, which is somewhat surprising because it's so massive.
• 47:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: usually I'll have leftovers and I'll put them in omelette's the next day.
• 47:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's divine, bro.
• 47:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, it's good stuff.
• 47:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
• 47:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it would be quite the gathering with all the daughters, the two of us had to get these families together.
• 47:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: We will be bringing the testosterone because other than us, seven daughters.
• 47:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: This is the this is the girl
• 47:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we, we get our bro time Wednesday nights with you guys.
• 47:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.
• 47:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ryan and I together get our bro time.
• 48:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: Otherwise, we are surrounded by females and we love them.
• 48:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, we do.
• 48:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: We wouldn't trade him for anything.
• 48:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: They complete us.
• 48:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: We need some bro time.
• 48:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: So cheers to bro's cheers to daughters.
• 48:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: Absolutely.
• 48:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: Alright, Brian, let's revisit.
• 48:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: I got the screenshot ready here.
• 48:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's do it.
• 48:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: Our show we did back at over three months ago now when the schedule was released.
• 48:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: And, oh, that's a wrong one.
• 48:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: Hold on.
• 48:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: Life podcasting here.
• 48:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: Give me a second here.
• 48:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let me find the right one.
• 48:39
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, where is it?
• 48:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: Is this the one?
• 48:45
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, this is the one here.
• 48:47
  [SPEAKER_03]: Okay, let me get this one off the screen.
• 48:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: There it is.
• 48:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: So this is screenshot from Bears Overbears back in.
• 48:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: Was that May when the schedule came out?
• 48:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: And we had Jacob on that show with us too.
• 48:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: But as you look down the line for each game, the second winner loss was Brian's prediction for each game.
• 49:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: And the final one was my own.
• 49:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you can see for these first three games, and I actually still feel very much the same here.
• 49:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think even with everything that's transpired, I had us winning.
• 49:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: versus the Vikings losing at Detroit and then winning against the Cowboys and the Raiders, you had the same thing.
• 49:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: Anything you would redo there.
• 49:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think the Raiders are gonna be better than I was thinking then, but I still think we win that one.
• 49:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's gonna be like a home game out in Las Vegas.
• 49:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I still think we split with the Packers, but I might switch my wins and losses with them.
• 49:48
  [SPEAKER_03]: Oh, I was talking just the first four games, but yeah, with the rest of the schedule, your grand day prediction.
• 49:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, no, with your whole schedule.
• 49:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, of all four, I like it.
• 49:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: I still like it.
• 49:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's crazy that Jacob called it.
• 50:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: He thinks we're going to beat the lines into Troy.
• 50:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I could see it.
• 50:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's going to be for an awesome game, man.
• 50:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: We've been Johnson's turning.
• 50:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we're all the way healthy, you know, like that could be, I could see it.
• 50:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: But now I would keep the same four there.
• 50:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Gosh, I want to be to commanders, man, but yeah, I think I think gosh, man, the rest of the week, you know what, I think we could beat the 49ers.
• 50:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I do too.
• 50:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: No.
• 50:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, looking at this, you know, I think both of us had us winning at the commanders Jacob has losing.
• 50:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: I just, my thought process was what a downer that game was last year.
• 50:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: This whole team's going to be off a revenge.
• 50:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, and coming off a by week extra time.
• 50:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And normal coaches who are good at their craft, they come out stronger.
• 50:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: from a by week, but we've had Matt Eber loose and Matt Maggie and we're used to, you know, puttering in after the break and embarrassing ourselves.
• 51:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's not going to be the case with Ben.
• 51:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I like our chances still there.
• 51:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: the bangles are getting an awful lot of noise.
• 51:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't see it though still.
• 51:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously they've got firepower, but you know, definitely not on defense.
• 51:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't see it in their offensive line.
• 51:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not still, I'm not sold on still.
• 51:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, that that's it.
• 51:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: That was one that was kind of rethink just because of the schedule like at Baltimore and then the next we at sincey we were all all three of us had wins at the bangles it's going to be a really tough game.
• 51:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, that's what I've been rethinking here and there.
• 51:40
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm not I'll stay with the win right now.
• 51:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll see how the season develops.
• 51:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: I do think the bangles, you know, after that kind of a down over your last year or the night and eight.
• 51:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: Um, you said it fire power.
• 51:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm a big fan of Joe Burrow.
• 51:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm, you know, really really curious how they bounce back this year.
• 51:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Um, but we'll see.
• 52:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: Have you seen that quarterback show, by the way, on Netflix?
• 52:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: No.
• 52:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's just a super likeable dude.
• 52:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Very authentic.
• 52:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe like him even more watching that.
• 52:10
  [SPEAKER_03]: How about Jared Goff?
• 52:12
  [SPEAKER_03]: Golf is, too, obviously.
• 52:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it's cool to see Ben on there as well.
• 52:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, I mean, Kirk Cousins, just a weirdo.
• 52:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I mean, he's likeable because he's goofy, but, you know, your neighbor is a goofy guy.
• 52:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: He's like the accountant down the street or something.
• 52:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, exactly.
• 52:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, it's solid, check it out.
• 52:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: I haven't seen the receiver.
• 52:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: I haven't seen that series, but quarterback solid.
• 52:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, I mean, I'll be watching the bangles because I've always like Joe Burrow and that show made me like him more.
• 52:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: So we'll see, but yeah, I do think the bear's match up well with them.
• 52:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's just it's on the road.
• 52:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be tough.
• 52:48
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, giants at Vikings.
• 52:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: We had as a loss all across the board.
• 52:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: Beat in the Steelers got, I hope so, especially if Aaron's playing got to get some revenge there.
• 52:57
  [SPEAKER_03]: At Philly's going to be tough.
• 52:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: We were all losses on that.
• 53:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: at, you know, we are kind of back and forth on.
• 53:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: I think if we're gonna split with the Packers, they went up there again or at home.
• 53:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll see, Ryan, I'll wait till later in the year on this, but I might have a chance to go to that game.
• 53:14
  [SPEAKER_03]: I haven't decided if I'm going to or not.
• 53:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, Green Bay.
• 53:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Green Bay.
• 53:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, Green Bay.
• 53:20
  [SPEAKER_03]: The problem with it is it's the day after one of my daughters' birthdays.
• 53:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I'm not going to leave town on her birthday, and it's a new and game.
• 53:27
  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, if that game gets flexed back three or Sunday night, then I will go.
• 53:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Our kids are still young.
• 53:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, she probably, well, it's my oldest after bedtime, nine o'clock.
• 53:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Get a flight, it's like 10 o'clock at night.
• 53:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, be good.
• 53:43
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, it would be a drive for me.
• 53:44
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know what it is, a five hour drive, something like that.
• 53:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, it's not bad then.
• 53:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, bro.
• 53:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: You could leave after bedtime, check in, get some sleep, wake up and go.
• 53:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it's, and not only that, this is a buddy of mine who's company has a luxury box there.
• 53:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: Hmm.
• 54:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: So the all you can eat food and beer never been to Lambo, the birthday situation is what's complicating it.
• 54:07
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I told them like reserve the two seats in that box right now just in case.
• 54:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: Have them reserve three.
• 54:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, there you go.
• 54:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: Fly up.
• 54:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I said, you know, for sure, if they flex it back to like 325 or the Sunday night, I'll for sure go.
• 54:23
  [SPEAKER_03]: If they if it stays at noon, I'm not sure yet, but yeah, I mean, I could leave really early in the morning too.
• 54:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll see, but I could see a swimming that and I could see it being flexed like if at that point, I see one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
• 54:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we have won eight games already, Packers, assuming they're right around that ballpark, first game of the rivalry in that season, I could see that one being flex for sure.
• 54:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: That would be fun, man.
• 54:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: Good for you.
• 54:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll provide some updates as the season goes on.
• 54:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I mean, I think the rest of this, it's tough.
• 55:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's really tough down the stretch.
• 55:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, we better beat the Browns, but then he had the Packers.
• 55:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: Those will probably split one direction.
• 55:07
  [SPEAKER_03]: We don't know where the Bears will get the win.
• 55:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: We'll see.
• 55:10
  [SPEAKER_03]: Like you said, we could maybe win at San Francisco.
• 55:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: We all across the board had that as a loss back in May.
• 55:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: But, you know, we came in at 11 and 6.
• 55:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: Jacob was 10 and 7.
• 55:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: When people asked me for my record prediction, I've generally been saying 10 and 7.
• 55:25
  [SPEAKER_03]: I've been saying like somewhere like 9 to 11 wins, is the sweet spot.
• 55:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: And I've been mostly going with 10 and 7.
• 55:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, I mean, first of all, technically you actually said 11 and 6.
• 55:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it's just let the record show that you need to start telling people what you actually said in that a little bit dishonest, right?
• 55:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.
• 55:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I, I, I, I'm not a fan of preseason power rankings.
• 55:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, schedule stuff because you never know.
• 55:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like you talked about the Browns.
• 55:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: The Browns have some exciting young pieces.
• 56:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I actually really like their draft this year.
• 56:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Quincyan Judkins aside, they have another running back who nobody's talking about that could be and end up being the starter all of a season for them and do well who broke all sorts of records in the SEC last year and is only 20 years old.
• 56:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've got two quarterbacks behind a Joe Flacco who remind you a couple of years back when we played against the Browns.
• 56:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Flacco sliced us up, bro.
• 56:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: He is a solid quarterback and they've got some weapons there.
• 56:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do think they need another receiver to really hit the next level, but they got a tight end in the third round that I'm really high on to pair with David and Joku.
• 56:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: And they have Miles Garrett, who is arguably the best past Russian league, they have a solid defense.
• 56:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think that could be a loss.
• 56:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's the thing, is like, any given Sunday in the NFL, they're talking about professional athletes.
• 56:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: If they click and the coaches do well and in young players step up, and they stay healthy, like you never know.
• 57:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so, you know, barring everything, you know, going our favorite when it comes to health, I think we should at least be at 10 wins.
• 57:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I think we could be at 12 or 13.
• 57:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I wouldn't be surprised.
• 57:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: But it really all depends, you know, how Caleb progresses.
• 57:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we've seen and done this before with quarterbacks and predictions and things not going our way.
• 57:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I'm excited, man.
• 57:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm tempted to, value six.
• 57:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Uh, tempted to, you know, get on a live stream with you Monday night, bro.
• 57:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, yeah, but, uh, you know, we'll be suffering through the work day on Tuesday.
• 57:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's the one thing I don't like about it.
• 57:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, it's going to be on the East Coast and there you guys are central.
• 57:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that'd be the nice thing about living West Coast is, oh, yeah, it's a one to a little bit.
• 57:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: Well, yeah, I mean, because he can't just go to bed right when it ends either.
• 57:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: You're watching or listening to post game, you know, people are saying online or even recast.
• 58:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'm up like two hours after the game.
• 58:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: If there's any tradition for me, it's me pissing my wife off in bed.
• 58:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's all dark on our room.
• 58:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: But my phone is blaring with those game press conferences of locker room players and the coach.
• 58:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I'm in all that.
• 58:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, you're right.
• 58:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not.
• 58:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be a long night.
• 58:20
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's real quickly, Brian.
• 58:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let's talk about green bay before we go off there and the acquisition that everyone's been talking about.
• 58:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: And you know, me and you have not talked much about this.
• 58:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't really know where you're at.
• 58:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: We're going to find out live on air.
• 58:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: with the micoparsons acquisition.
• 58:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Now obviously, we saw the rumors for a long time, but I kept telling myself, there's no way Dallas would trade their best player to the team that has had their number for years in conference.
• 58:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: It has ended their season in the playoffs, like that can't happen, right?
• 58:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: They wouldn't be that stupid.
• 58:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, then it actually happens and you're you're thinking, you know, we think this whole NFC North is going to be very good, but I did have the packers as last.
• 59:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: I did think roster wise top to bottom.
• 59:08
  [SPEAKER_03]: They arguably had the weakest roster, but then you add a, you know, an edge rusher like my comparisons and then I'm like, oh my god, here we go again, you know, they're going to be on the rise.
• 59:17
  [SPEAKER_03]: Then I talked myself off the ledge a little bit for some reasons.
• 59:20
  [SPEAKER_03]: I'll mention here in a little bit.
• 59:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: is the issues with this back still, you know, more has been coming out about that.
• 59:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, where are you at on this, Brian?
• 59:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think Barnan the Packers fleece the Cowboys in that trade.
• 59:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: They got two first round picks.
• 59:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: They got younger.
• 59:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: They traded an older player, got a younger one back who's in his prime, absolutely a past rush specialist.
• 59:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't think he's as much of a run threat.
• 59:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, one of the first things that came to mind was Calil Mac.
• 59:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like it felt like that sort of a, that magnitude of a deal.
• 59:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: But remember, we didn't win with Camille.
• 59:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: We won, we didn't win against against the Packers when he had the most dominant game I've ever seen.
• 1:00:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: We lost that game.
• 1:00:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
• 1:00:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we did not win a playoff game with Camille Mac.
• 1:00:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Who I think is by far, at that point, was a better player than Micah Parsons is right now.
• 1:00:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: By far, he was an all-around demon on the edge.
• 1:00:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Camille Mac was.
• 1:00:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Micah is a stud, past Russia, but he can get nullified and he often is when you run at him and he's got the back issues.
• 1:00:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I think Green Bay fleeced the cowboys and I, for all the reasons you mentioned, why would you trade to a team that just knocked out the playoffsons, who has your number in conference?
• 1:00:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Like it doesn't make sense.
• 1:00:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I'm not big on Kenny Clark.
• 1:00:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I was really high on him last year and he just looked washed.
• 1:00:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, as a year progress, so I don't think he's a big big difference, but I think it's a good trade for that man.
• 1:00:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's it's he's going to be a problem.
• 1:00:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but do I think that over comes Jared loves lack of elite skills.
• 1:01:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just like Tribisky Mac did not do I think it over comes their lack of talent in the back seven.
• 1:01:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: no, I do not.
• 1:01:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I think it raises, like it was one of those, it reminds me a little bit of the lions when they got Gibbs and Montgomery, you know, that it's kind of like they doubled up on positions.
• 1:01:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've got Rochon Gary, they already spent a first try and look at Lucas Van Nass.
• 1:01:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: They've got
• 1:01:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, if we just pay attention to him, I think, I think we'll be okay.
• 1:01:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do think it increases there.
• 1:01:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, we're already with the best, best division in football.
• 1:01:41
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
• 1:01:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think we for sure are now.
• 1:01:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, um, yeah, I think it makes them better.
• 1:01:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I'm not quite as worried.
• 1:01:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, it's goes down to Ben Johnson at the helm.
• 1:01:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, he knows what he's doing.
• 1:01:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: At least we hope so as
• 1:02:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Cowboys are the biggest losers here, yeah, first year, and I applaud the Packers for making that move, you know, get a young player and offload an old, you know, player.
• 1:02:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it's worth it.
• 1:02:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: They don't pick well in the first round anyway it seems.
• 1:02:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I mean, it's I guess the week three game against Dallas, our odds have gone up.
• 1:02:26
  [SPEAKER_03]: I do think, but yeah, I mean, I grew with you.
• 1:02:29
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to certainly help them right away.
• 1:02:30
  [SPEAKER_03]: They're going to have better team this year.
• 1:02:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe another winner too for sure, just because of getting him.
• 1:02:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I like I mentioned, I started to talk myself off the ledge a little bit because I thought back to how many years did we have a defense?
• 1:02:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: full of great players.
• 1:02:53
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, a Hall of Fame generational middle linebacker like him and Ray Lewis, the best middle linebackers of that generation.
• 1:03:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: Right in the middle of our defense and all pro linebacker next to him in Lance Briggs and an all pro borderline hall of
• 1:03:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: And yet with all that talent, Brian, you know, as well as I do, we usually lost those games against the Packers and the reason was they had the better quarterback.
• 1:03:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: It always comes down to quarterback.
• 1:03:21
  [SPEAKER_03]: And so if you believe that Caleb Williams will be a better quarterback long term than Jordan Love, the Bears are going to be fine.
• 1:03:30
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
• 1:03:31
  [SPEAKER_03]: That's kind of how I've been thinking about it and we all think as bears fans that he's going to be better than Jordan love already is.
• 1:03:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, some would say already is.
• 1:03:39
  [SPEAKER_03]: So if that's the case, yeah, they're going to it's going to be a problem certainly, but we have, you know, we don't have a defensive head coach anymore.
• 1:03:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: We've got we just put the pole up there, one of the best play callers in the league.
• 1:03:50
  [SPEAKER_03]: So if anyone can figure out how to neutralize him as best as possible at least, it's going to be our head coach.
• 1:03:56
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I feel like we're in a good position to minimize the damage as we said, you know, I'm not clueless.
• 1:04:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: I know they're going to be better with him.
• 1:04:04
  [SPEAKER_03]: It does create problems for the Packers long term.
• 1:04:06
  [SPEAKER_03]: Paying Jordan love and him over a hundred million dollars a year.
• 1:04:10
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, this would make a lot more sense when you have a quarterback on a rookie contract.
• 1:04:13
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I feel like Green Bay needs to feel like they could win a Super Bowl the next couple of seasons.
• 1:04:18
  [SPEAKER_03]: Otherwise,
• 1:04:19
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's probably going to start to create some cap problems.
• 1:04:22
  [SPEAKER_03]: Now, I know you can move money around and stuff.
• 1:04:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: But I've talked to myself off the ledge.
• 1:04:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: I don't think it's like a game ending trade for them.
• 1:04:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, like I think I still think we're going to split with him this year.
• 1:04:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: That hasn't changed, you know?
• 1:04:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Right.
• 1:04:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you look at how great have the cowboys been with him.
• 1:04:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Right.
• 1:04:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 1:04:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you could make the comment of how great were the raiders before when they had collude
• 1:04:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, and that's the whole thing is is you have to look at the whole team and it is led by courts, a quarterback driven league, absolutely.
• 1:04:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, and I'm just not scared of Jordan love, I'm not scared of those weapons, and I'm certainly not scared of that defense.
• 1:05:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so you talk about
• 1:05:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, the back said we can hold up for another thing we're not going to get too deep in analytics here, but we talk about time to throw, getting the ball out quickly.
• 1:05:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Caleb has improved so far when it comes to the pre-season, his ability to get the ball out quickly.
• 1:05:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's what you need to do to neutralize the past rush, and they don't have a back seven to really stop us from doing that.
• 1:05:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: We've got talent all the way across the board.
• 1:05:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: We've got four or five receivers deep,
• 1:05:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: And another two tight ends deep running backs that can get open and swift in the back feel.
• 1:05:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, like you said, I trust Ben.
• 1:05:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I'm not too worried about it.
• 1:05:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do think it made them better, like you said, but it was a position that they already had a strength that if you ask me, if you would have talked about
• 1:05:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: getting a Patrick Sertan, I would be pretty worried.
• 1:06:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Someone like that, they got rid of higher Jair Alexander and they got some known name corners.
• 1:06:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we've got weapons, man, I'm not too too worried about it.
• 1:06:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: If banking can get the ball out quickly and run at, run over, Micah.
• 1:06:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, his back seemed to be curious to me, if that's healthy.
• 1:06:24
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, plus it also helps us just personally that we don't play Green Bay until late in the year was a week 14.
• 1:06:28
  [SPEAKER_03]: So I mean, we hope our offense is humming by then and we've got some things figured out.
• 1:06:34
  [SPEAKER_03]: So it will be fun.
• 1:06:35
  [SPEAKER_03]: It's going to be a fun season.
• 1:06:36
  [SPEAKER_03]: We're all looking forward to it.
• 1:06:38
  [SPEAKER_03]: I hope next week Brian, when we get on the air, we're celebrating a week one victory.
• 1:06:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Bro, see what we need to do next week.
• 1:06:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're going to talk about a game that happened.
• 1:06:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
• 1:06:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Next week.
• 1:06:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Cheers to that.
• 1:06:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: Cheers.
• 1:06:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: One final cheers.
• 1:06:55
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I'm looking forward to watching tape again, man.
• 1:06:58
  [SPEAKER_03]: Watching the L-22 coming on here talking about it.
• 1:07:01
  [SPEAKER_03]: Gotta be fun.
• 1:07:02
  [SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, it will.
• 1:07:03
  [SPEAKER_03]: All right.
• 1:07:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: So, hey, we appreciate all of you who are joining us either live around demand, podcast speed as well.
• 1:07:11
  [SPEAKER_03]: Make sure you hit subscribe.
• 1:07:12
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• 1:07:14
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• 1:07:15
  [SPEAKER_03]: Let us know again.
• 1:07:16
  [SPEAKER_03]: If you want to be able to get your hands on one of these fancy bears over beers, pint glasses or even the shirt that you see Brian wearing, and we can make those available if there is demand.
• 1:07:25
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• 1:07:32
  [SPEAKER_03]: Subscribe to the channel on all the podcasting feeds, and here on YouTube, we're going to have just a great rotation of shows going up every single day.
• 1:07:42
  [SPEAKER_03]: Bill Zimmerman dropping one day with Capitol in earlier today here on Second City Grid Irons.
• 1:07:46
  [SPEAKER_03]: If you haven't seen or listened to that, make sure you do when you're done watching this.
• 1:07:49
  [SPEAKER_03]: Taylor Dolls obviously always doing great stuff.
• 1:07:51
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got Mason West.
• 1:07:52
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got Jacob and Fonte.
• 1:07:54
  [SPEAKER_03]: You know, we got the Bossman, Lester and JB.
• 1:07:59
  [SPEAKER_03]: Mac and Reed show.
• 1:08:00
  [SPEAKER_03]: I mean, we're just adding to the talent all the time here on second city gridiron.
• 1:08:05
  [SPEAKER_03]: So yeah, man, stay tuned.
• 1:08:07
  [SPEAKER_03]: We got big things ahead this season.
• 1:08:09
  [SPEAKER_03]: And hopefully it'll be a little more positive than last season was bright.
• 1:08:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that was a little depressing last year, but first year on the show, and then it was like lots of drillons.
• 1:08:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: Why are we doing this yet, but yeah, I mean, either way, I'm excited to be here with you guys, excited to be here with you, and we have lots of look forward to.
• 1:08:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: I think it starts week one, so let's do it, bear down, bear down.
• 1:08:33
  [SPEAKER_03]: We will see you guys next Wednesday, evening, 8 p.m.
• 1:08:37
  [SPEAKER_03]: central, but celebrate a dub, go Bears.
• 1:08:41
  [SPEAKER_03]: See you guys next time.