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Episode 4: Week 1 Preview: The Chicago Bears vs The Green Bay Packers
38 Plays1 year ago
Stein and Omar have a special guest this week, Isaac! They go through the strengths, weaknesses and questions marks of the Bears and Packers rosters, give the NFC North a vibe check, and get ready for this years first iteration of one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. Give it a listen!
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Transcript
Introduction and NFL Season Preview
00:00:00
Speaker
real quick. I'm going to introduce both of you fellers.
00:00:05
Speaker
I thought you meant like we had music finally. Gotcha. No, not yet. Not yet. I was like, you said real quick. I was like, what? I just started fucking shred. All right. Welcome to the Bear Claw podcast is episode four. I'm your host, Omar Delgado with me. Zachary Stein, also known as Stein. And then this week we have a special guest, Isaac Turgeon.
00:00:31
Speaker
Hello. Isaac is a Packers fan. And so we thought it'd be good to have him because in this episode, apart from cleanups and updates, we're going to be discussing the final roster. And then we're going to be talking a little bit about the NFC North. And we're going to go into week one, which is going to be Chicago versus Green Bay. And so
Roster Changes and Player Acquisitions
00:00:52
Speaker
we thought it'd be good to have an insight into the enemy here for week one.
00:00:57
Speaker
Insight into the enemy he said You gotta get in your enemies head you gotta get in there in their brains Yes, finally I'm so excited I'm so excited to just start and just be done with all this speculation and bullshit. It's so annoying. I
00:01:18
Speaker
You can see how bad Justin Fields actually is. How terrible he is. We can see how fucking, you know, Jordan Love's going to be another generational fucking talent. He's going to win five MPPs. Five instead of four. Maybe he'll actually get a second Super Bowl. That's asking a lot. All right. So just some of the cleanups and stuff from the last episode.
00:01:42
Speaker
Travis Gibson is not on the squad anymore and he actually came out in a tweet and said that he never requested a trade. Polls also said that he never requested a trade.
00:01:49
Speaker
Yeah, so I mean, I guess it was kind of just inference, I think, on my part and the part of most Bears fans that were like, he wants traded, he wants out. It was all rumor. It was all like rumor has it. Yeah. But regardless, he's not with the Bears anymore. I think he's with the Titans now. So he's gone. And then I wanted to touch back on the TJ Edwards stat.
00:02:13
Speaker
Because it's genuinely impressive. With his 159 tackles last season, that was the second most in Eagles franchise history. In a single season. In a single season, right. And then the first most in Eagles franchise is Brian Evans, with 175 tackles in the single season. And that was in 1992, which is pretty impressive. That's a hell of a record.
00:02:34
Speaker
Yeah. And then just an update on Tevin Jenkins. Earlier this week, he was earlier this week, or maybe late last week, I can't remember. He was put officially on IR, on injury reserve. And so he's going to be missing the first four weeks of the season. But Poles and some of the bear staff have been talking about how they're confident that he's going to be ready to jump right back in. So hopefully that's true.
00:02:56
Speaker
They haven't really elaborated on the injury or been specific about it, just more that they think it's a weak, weak thing. And so he is expected to be ready to go. And they also believe that right now they haven't locked down who's going to be starting. But they had the offensive line.
00:03:19
Speaker
sort of shuffling between positions during the preseason and in practices and OTRs and all that good stuff, specifically because of, you know, entries are going to happen in the regular season. That's one of the things that fucked us deeply last year on the offensive line, which we talked pretty in depth about in the offensive episode. So, yeah, I think it's a smart move that they've got guys practicing basically multiple positions ready to go, whether it's at guard or center. Yeah, ready to fill in the holes wherever they pop up.
00:03:48
Speaker
Yeah, that's good. So yeah, we're going to talk a little bit about the final roster. But really, the roster is what we covered. We covered in episode two and three the offense and defensive rosters respectively. And it's mostly stuck that way. I don't think outside of Tevin Jenkins getting hurt and not starting. Everything is what we got. We did end up getting Mercedes Lewis from the past.
00:04:09
Speaker
Then we got Dan Feeney, an old lineman from Miami. So he should be another one that should be able to hop in and get into that rotation in case, you know, if someone gets injured. I think Mercedes Lewis is a good pick-up. Yeah, he played 17 games last season with the Packers. It seems like he has some pretty good productivity.
00:04:29
Speaker
I mean, he had 41% of the snaps and he only had like seven targets. So he was basically like a six all alignment. So I mean, but that's what he's good at. He's just a big body. He's a big body. He's a good pass blocker.
00:04:41
Speaker
He, I mean, because where was he before? Uh, Jacksonville at one point? Yeah. So, um, you know, he's not necessarily one of the young bloods anymore, but I think that he's got that veteranship to him that is definitely missing in some areas. Um, and I think, uh, from what I understand with again, personality and, and the way that I think he's well suited for the.
00:05:07
Speaker
environment that Poles and the company are trying to build here. So yeah, I agree. I think that was a good pickup. Yeah, veteran presence and good pass blocking. Can't ask for much more. Defensively, we did have one. We got Khaleed Kareem, who's going to help us on our defensive end. He's going to be an end. He's going to help us with the pass rush a little bit. But even then, I don't think he's going to be towards the top of the roster.
NFC North Predictions
00:05:33
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, we can touch on special teams, but it's pretty much the same. We got Cairo Santos back and he's not, you know, Cody Parkey. So that's always good. And then I was looking and it looks like for returns, it's going to be mostly Bayless Jones Jr., which honestly worries me. Well, we also brought Trent trailer back.
00:05:55
Speaker
Yeah, he's a receiver he's a return specialist specifically so good and he's like he would be like a Fifth sixth option on receiver, but he's he's a return specialist too. So I think
00:06:10
Speaker
I think we should see some nice fluidity there. Good. Yeah, because I don't trust Bayless Jones Jr. I don't know if you saw, there's someone, I'll send it to you. Someone did a compilation, and the caption was like, Bayless Jones Jr. when the team is counting on him. And it's literally just like several and several just like fumbled and like fucking biffed like punt returns that just get recovered by the opposing team. And it was like, oh, great. Like, yeah, that's awesome.
00:06:38
Speaker
So yeah, the final roster, it's locked in now. We're past the deadline. There shouldn't be any more big moves or anything. So yeah, now we're going to move into the risk and talk a little bit about the NFC North. We're going to give a quick buy. I'll let one of you guys, whoever wants to take it, start it and see what you think about it. I can take it. Go for it. I think the Lions are getting a little
00:07:03
Speaker
overhyped just a little bit. I think everyone thinks they're gonna come out guns blazing but this year last year they were playing with house money and they were able to sneak out nine games but this year they have expectations and I don't think they have a roster that is set up for expectations right now.
00:07:20
Speaker
Um, but I think they can still sneak out like nine, 10 wins again, but I think it might be just enough. That's what I think. Maybe they'll actually make playoffs and I have them winning the division for sure. Um, either of them are the Vikings. Cause I think they'll have the same. Well, last year they played the NFC North really well. I think they went five and one in the division. So I think they can beat out the Vikings, even if they have the same record. I think it'll be other thing. It'll be between the lines of Vikings till we get the North.
00:07:50
Speaker
So looking at, you know, I may or may not partake in some betting situations here and there. If my wife is listening to this, I don't, not at all. But, you know, it's always interesting, like right now, if you were to break down the NFC North, looking at the lines, the Detroit Lions,
00:08:15
Speaker
are set at anywhere. They're hovering anywhere between like a 40 and 44% chance to win the division. The Vikings are next up at like, they hover anywhere between 24 and 28%. And then
00:08:30
Speaker
And then it's the bears that they go from like 15 to 19%. And then it's the Packers that are going from like 14 to 18%. And then there's something else that a lot of people have basically put out there. Listening to pundits on ESPN is one thing. Listening to the people that are like, hey, here's where you should bet money. Why not bet money? They tend to be a little more realistic with shit. They're like,
00:08:57
Speaker
The fact of the matter is that at the end of the season, the NFC North could literally fall one, two, three, four in any order. And that could make sense simply just from like. Well, just just like Isaac said, regarding the Lions last season, they just played the NFC North really well. They didn't have an amazing record by any means, but they played their division really well. I mean, five and one and you're able to take the division like
00:09:26
Speaker
That literally could happen for any one of these four teams just on dumb luck bullshit NFC North type games, you know when you still have You know group two of the four locations are outdoors like Heading into
00:09:45
Speaker
Seasonal weather that tends to affect some some play and we get Crazy memorable games. I mean, I think that's also one of the reasons that it's fun to See the the rivalry between those teams. So yeah, I don't know. I'm I'm kind of
00:10:00
Speaker
yeah i am i was leaning towards the lines for a bit but i also everything everyone else is just sort of like an unknown did did the bears make the right moves we all know the vikings didn't get any worse but they didn't really get any better um and then the packers are kind of a question mark until jordan of like you know is he the guy you know what i mean like and and how how long do they stick with that so i just feel like there's so many unanswerables right now that
00:10:28
Speaker
any factor could sway one team being first place to all of a sudden being last place.
Bears vs. Packers Rivalry
00:10:34
Speaker
So I'm very interested to see how the division plays out this year. I think it's a little more well-balanced across the board. Yeah, my general impression has been that it's pretty much wide open. And I think it's almost a fool's errand to try and figure out who's going to make predictions of first, second, third, fourth. It's just so tough to even try and figure out just because you're Sandstein. There's so many question marks across the board.
00:10:57
Speaker
Well, I think the Vikings, I think their offense is going to be crazy good. But their defense, I mean, they have so much turnover. I mean, they got Brian Flores, but I think they let like their top four corners go. So I mean, their linebackers are trash too.
00:11:14
Speaker
It becomes that game of I had mentioned in a previous episode. It's kind of like the Saints for a while where it was like Drew Brees would go out and put up crazy fucking numbers and they'd score like 40, 50 points. But that's because they had to and they'd still lose because they didn't have a defense. That's kind of where I see I see the Vikings right now. It's good. It's in that same boat of like, yeah, they're often against should be good. It should be one of the top 10 handedly, but
00:11:41
Speaker
You know, I want to know how the team morale is going to operate when they're out there putting up 30, 40 points and still losing. So who knows? We'll see what happens. All right. Any, uh, any final points on the NFC North this year?
00:11:58
Speaker
No, I know I'm just excited for it like yeah, I think we're it's all the same kind of consensus just Pretty wide open gonna come down to a few games. It's gonna be who plays a division the best Week 18 match, you know, absolutely good
00:12:14
Speaker
Which would be, we would all have to join back up. Yeah, I was going to say, which is going to be a Bears Packers. It's the only proper way to end the season, too, right? That's actually kind of nuts, starting the season and ending the season. I'm looking forward to it. This is going to be a fun season. Yeah, I think across the board is going to be really fun. A lot of question marks. NFC North is on the come up as a whole, I think.
00:12:36
Speaker
I definitely wouldn't say that they're one of the stronger divisions. No, they're not. But I think we're getting better though, I think. We're certainly not the AFC South of years past. Because I think we still have... I think every team in our division still has the ability to throw a wrench in any prime time team's plans. To like, oh shit, that's what gave them...
00:13:01
Speaker
the one loss on the season, or that's what cost them a star player or something. So you've got the Lions beating the Chiefs in week one, is what you're saying. That's not what I'm saying. All right. So let's get into it. Let's get into what we came here for, the fucking meatless sandwich here, the meat and potatoes, steak and potatoes.
00:13:30
Speaker
Next week, on what day is the game? Sunday, right? This upcoming Sunday? Yes. Yeah, double checking. No, it's on Wednesday. I just want to be sure. Oh my, what a Thursday night game. Make sure you're on. All right. So this Sunday, we got Chicago versus Green Bay Packers. Very historic. One of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. Some fun facts for you. It started in 1921. And back then, the Chicago Bears were still at Chicago's dailies.
00:14:00
Speaker
Up until now, the record between the Bears and the Packers is 105 to 95 with the Packers lead. They took that lead recently in 2017. They've won 13 of the last 14, just definitely. Yeah. I was just throwing that out there. Yeah. Or is it 14 of the last 15? No, it's 13 of the last 14. It's something like that. We haven't lost since 2018. Yikes. 12 of the last 13 series games played in Chicago. Yeah, so. Yeah, that's tough.
00:14:31
Speaker
You guys want to talk a little bit, maybe hit a little bit about just, I mean, I guess we kind of hit that, but maybe going a little more in depth into the history of it, kind of our experiences and whatnot, generally. I mean, I'm on the, we're on opposite ends of, you know, the recent history, so. I mean, that,
00:14:53
Speaker
the change of record, I remember very well. I mean, it's pretty dramatic. It was like, I mean, the whole thing, it was, but I think that's what makes this one fun, you know, just being able to have, and you never know, even though the Packers have won it 13 out of the last 14 times. And even prior to that, when you go back to the number of times played in Chicago, 12 over the last 13,
00:15:20
Speaker
I mean that could still flip again you know that's why it is the oldest rivalry for a reason and it has gone back and forth you know it's it's it's only 10 games down like when you look at it from a bear's perspective like yeah it's not like it's not like it's not like we couldn't take that over another basically waiting for them to find another generational quarterback or all of a sudden we land one somehow which
00:15:49
Speaker
I'm still very, very, very fucking hesitant about that. I love the games though. Because regardless of what that record shows, even without that, in my mind every time that we play, it's a zero zero. This literally could go anyway. And that's just because of the excitement of being in the NFC North and having both of these clubs have
00:16:12
Speaker
I think two of the coolest fields in the NFL. You're constantly open and at the whim of the gods, basically. That's all I got for it. I actually do have a fun fact real quick that I found. Let's do it. Hit it. When the rivalry was born, November 23rd, 1924,
00:16:36
Speaker
Chicago's Frank Haney and Green Bay's Tilly Voss were the first players in league history to be ejected from a game when they got into a fight in a Bears 3-0 victory. That's fantastic. That's awesome. I love that. That's crazy. That is awesome. You said 1924 was that, uh, is that when the Bears pack, like the Bears became the Bears and they weren't the Staley's anymore? So then the Bears pack. Okay.
00:17:01
Speaker
Well, maybe because what I saw is like they started playing each other in 21 But I don't know if that's because like you're saying that was born in 24, but I don't know if it's going off of like That's when they started like beef and I go like started kind of that it became a rivalry Yeah, I think that's because we had played before then but yeah, I think the rivalry like they tried from that incident, right? Yeah, the two guys fighting each other
00:17:29
Speaker
Sorry, I'm trying to remember here. I was going to say something, because you were saying about how it is 0-0. I'm trying to remember because I had something and I can't. The bears are two-point favorites. Yeah. It's funny. Oh, that's what I was going to say. That's what I was going to say. Go for it. Sorry. Before I lose, I just don't want to lose it. OK, so even though you were saying how it feels like it's 0-0, I do feel like this is the first time in a long time where it really just feels a little more like the bears have more of an edge, I think.
00:17:56
Speaker
I
Packers Season Outlook
00:17:57
Speaker
don't know how you feel, Isaac, as a Packers fan, if you feel like, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if you feel like safe, but I really do feel like for the first time, like I'm not totally just like, you know, it's not just hope and emotion that's keeping me like feeling like the Bears have it, but I do feel like genuinely we have made really good strides. Like we made a lot of good additions and I think the Packers are in like a weird transition year and still trying to figure some things out. And so I really do think that like this, like,
00:18:22
Speaker
for the first time in a while, it does feel like, all right, this is legit. We have a chance of it. I agree. I think it feels a little more balanced. Again, I think the NFC North in general feels a little more balanced, a little more competitive, I would say. Yeah, yeah, more competitive. But yeah, I am very interested to see. Isaac, what are your takes on, what are your outlooks on Green Bay? Let's start with that. Let's start with what are your outlooks, not just for this game, but on Green Bay this season as a fan.
00:18:49
Speaker
So yeah, like you guys were saying I think it is more of a level playing field obviously this year with you know because People are used to Aaron Rodgers just kind of pulling wins out of his ass Whenever he wanted to he reaches pretty far up to like it's crazy. He's like elbow in there He's elbow deep elbow deep. I mean like working it like a puppet, you know and so I think people have gotten used to that and so now I
00:19:15
Speaker
we have to be more like systemic from like, uh, if we want to win, we have to kind of plan it out a little more. And I think it's going to definitely even, it's a more even playing field now, but as for the year, I mean, I'm just, I just want to see progress in like the young stars. Cause I mean, we have a, we have a super young offensive weapons, but we have like,
00:19:45
Speaker
they're all athletic and super fast. So I'm hoping they can turn that into something. A lot of, I'm hoping for a lot of, to be better on early downs, to make short third, third and manageable for glove and kind of make it easy on him. Yeah. Cause I think regardless, like
00:20:04
Speaker
Even if love does turn out to be a generational quarterback, I think this season is gonna be tough for him. Cuz even looking back at when you guys made a transition from Favre to Rodgers, that was a six and ten season for you guys. And so I just think that even if he does turn out to be really great, I think there's just no way around having that transitional year that's just gonna be off and hard to, you're just gonna have a learning curve. Going from 0% to 100% ownership is especially in
00:20:32
Speaker
a franchise like the Packers, that's a big deal. Especially, again, taking over for another generational talent. That's the big thing, is that you guys have been able to go from one to another, and now it's like, all right, can you do it a third time? Third, yeah. So yeah, I think that I am interested to see, even if he does have a...
00:20:56
Speaker
good year it might be tough like just finding what works and what doesn't and sort of ironing that out to where I think it next season obviously I think is where you might seem really shy just statistically speaking like anyone taking over in their first year just is not it's just not there the data is not there to support it so
00:21:18
Speaker
I think that that's kind of what brings Green Bay down to the same level, but you're absolutely right. It's not just him. It is the other offensive weapons that you have. And I think that was our issue last season with our young guys. We did that. The snap count on like the number of guys under a certain age was by, it was like a thousand more snaps than the next team in order, like, which is just insane. So it'll be interesting to see how
00:21:45
Speaker
your offense I think is kind of put in that position this year versus our defense last year. So, you know, hopefully I would love to see them get some good reps and
00:21:55
Speaker
You know, I think I think this season is going to be very telling of not necessarily this year, but next year. So I think I'm hopeful as well for it. But I mean, everyone keeps saying like, is he another generational quarterback? But I don't think he needs to be. I think he just needs to be. Yeah, I mean, that's a huge thing. He doesn't have to be. He doesn't have to be generational. And I don't think you need it. I don't know. I don't think you need a generational quarterback to necessarily win a Super Bowl or go pretty far in the playoffs.
00:22:22
Speaker
staff are just one more. I think we're setting him up with a really good floor. We have a solid O-line, a really good O-line depth, and then I think our coach is going to set him up with a good scheme to make sure he's comfortable. You guys are super deep at O-line. It's kind of crazy.
00:22:46
Speaker
we have like the tallest o-line depth our o-line tackles are like six foot six six foot seven six foot nine and six foot eight jesus christ is jordan love even gonna be able to see over those fuckers what the hell well they're on the bench right now so we'll just hope for no injuries yeah damn yeah i was listening today too i i heard a stat that um the average age of the packers
00:23:10
Speaker
is 25. And I think you guys only have like one player over 30 or something, which is kind of nice. Yeah, I think that's about the area. Yeah. Because we had Pat O'Donnell, but we just released him. Yeah. So we touched a lot on the weaknesses, I think, already. Just with like super young offense, it's going to be transition year. That's always tough for Green Bay. So now I think let's go a little more into the strengths now. We started talking with the O-line. Like you're saying, we have you guys have a lot of a lot of depth out of the line. Tall starting online, but they're on the bench.
00:23:40
Speaker
right now or? Those are the tall ones yeah but we have like a super solid O line right now I mean it was it's just preseason but we let up one sack the entire preseason and it was for like zero yards so it was like on the line of scrimmage and that was without David Bakhtiari as well so that was our um just rotating through our depths and stuff like that
00:24:04
Speaker
And I think we're, I think we're going to be able to, if we can stay healthy, I think we could probably push out like a top five O line at least. Yeah. That's the hope. Good to have.
00:24:17
Speaker
Yeah, I saw your defense too as a strength for your guys. Do you want to touch on that a little bit? To an extent, I think our edge group is really deep. I think our edge group has a lot of good talent, like Roshan Gary and Iqbari has flashed a lot. We have Preston Smith, who's been there for a few years now. But then we have a few young guys. We've got Lucas Van Ness, but he's going to be more unlike that Roshan Gary.
00:24:44
Speaker
trajectory where it's gonna take he's more of a project because he's got the athletic tools But it's more just Getting the basics down and stuff like that. Yeah, we picked up the UDFA Brenton Cox jr. Out of Florida He was kind of surprised of camp. So he kind of earned his sixth spot on the edge Our safety room is a big question mark. That's my biggest
00:25:09
Speaker
like I don't know what's gonna happen there because we have Darnell Savage who had a terrible year last year and then other than that we have Rudy Ford who I mean was decent last year but nothing crazy and then behind them we have Anthony Johnson Jr. who's the seventh round rookie and then Jonathan Owens who is the Texans starting safety last year so
00:25:34
Speaker
And Darnell Savage wasn't even at the last practice. So I don't even know what's going to happen. And Darnell Savage plays better close to the line. He doesn't play good deep. So I think our safety room is going to not perform as well this year. That's my big question mark. But our strengths would be probably our edge group and our corner backs.
00:26:04
Speaker
Nice. Is the Packers mostly the same team that they were last year, or you guys have made a lot of changes across the board? We made changes along the D-line, man. We have Kenny Clark still, but we got rid of our two other starters, and now we have Devontae Wyatt, who's a second year starter, and then we got TJ Slayton, who's a third year starter. So that should give us more, they're more versatile pieces, so I think we can
00:26:31
Speaker
It should help us defend the run a little better than we did last year. I mean, TJ Slayton has been playing at nose a little bit, so if he can play at nose, then we can move Clark to the end or something like that and just kind of switch stuff up. If something's not working, go to a different scheme or whatever we need to do. But other than that, yeah, it's pretty much the same. I know Stokes is injured for now.
00:26:54
Speaker
We have Russell Douglas and Jair Alexander on the outside. And then Kishan Nixon has been taking all the slot reps for a corner. Sure. All right. Let's go into, I think it's important to talk about just kind of the question marks and just kind of the unknowns, especially with all our teams being at NFC and like we're touching on earlier, like how we're talking earlier, how
00:27:16
Speaker
It's just hard to know what's going to happen, because there's so many question marks. I think the big question mark in Green Bay is just the quarterback, Jordan Love. And I think unfairly, because like you were saying, like we were both saying before, just that I don't think he needs to be a generational talent. But it does seem like everyone's waiting. It seems like regardless, everyone's waiting around to see if he is going to be that. What are your thoughts on Jordan Love?
00:27:44
Speaker
Yeah, just generally, do you think, yeah, let's just go over. How do you think he's going to do the season? Because he's looked pretty, yeah, you and all the other Packers fans. Because he's looked pretty, it's the preseason, you know, so you always take it with a grain of salt, but it looks like he's done pretty well. Yeah, I think he's going to have an easy floor to work with. I mean, I think he's going to have all day in the pocket to kind of
00:28:10
Speaker
wait and kind of get what he wants in the scheme. I think they're gonna, I hope they rely on the run game, but that hasn't panned out in the past. I think if we can get a solid run game going, that'll obviously let Jordan Love kind of
00:28:31
Speaker
Take some pressure out ones.
Bears Season Outlook
00:28:33
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, um real quick just speaking of the run game I just wanted to throw in the fact that was kind of nuts we were talking about just before we started recording that Justin Fields last year had more rushing yards than Yeah, Justin Fields had more rushing yards than Aaron Jones did last year which is kind of nuts and that
00:28:54
Speaker
I don't know. That's not it's cool. But that's not something I think we want. I don't know. That's not that is not sustainable. You want him to be the guy? He can't be doing that. He can't be putting them in positions where he has to do that. Yeah. Also,
00:29:17
Speaker
In Aaron Jones's defense, he was split in carries with AJ Dillon. You're right. Right on. So he only had a legit one too. Yeah. Yeah. I think they split carries by like 40 carries or something like that. Yeah. And I will say too, it wasn't by much. It wasn't like Justin Fields, but I think it was by like 20 yards or something. It's not like Justin Fields had a thousand more yards or something. It was, he didn't blow them out of the water. It just was just barely. Um, yeah. Any final thoughts on Green Bay?
00:29:44
Speaker
Um, if I could just about the offensive line. Uh, so I was, cause I was interested in that as looking at the O-line rankings and heading basically consistently since the end of last season and throughout the, the off season and into camps and through the pre-season, uh,
00:30:02
Speaker
offensive line rankings The Eagles are have like number one spot lockdown. Basically, they just that's just what they're doing with like the Chiefs up there at two or three usually Some of the moves that the Browns have made have actually gained them up into the top five just since like June July ish the other interesting part that I found was between June and now is that both
00:30:32
Speaker
both Detroit and Green Bay are have hovered anywhere between the like fourth and eighth spot so just coming in already based on personnel based on
00:30:47
Speaker
their experience and their experience working together, they're already like have been pretty consistently ranked in the top five to top 10. So I think that right there hopefully gives love some really good opportunity to explore and develop.
00:31:07
Speaker
into a halfway decent quarterback. Plus, the other thing that we need to remember is he's not a rookie. I think that's something that people might not always realize is that he's actually had three seasons of development already. And under Aaron Rodgers. Under Aaron Rodgers. Now, what that means, take Rodgers wild, ridiculous personality the last few years for what it was. How much did that rub off
00:31:37
Speaker
behind the scenes. Hopefully he was able to pick up some really good football IQ and football acumen from that. But we'll see. But as far as the O-line is concerned, I think he's positioned in a much better spot than Fields ever was. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I was going to say. I think that's huge. That's important. He's going to have a really good O-line for him. And yeah, that's definitely something Fields hasn't had. And I would not be surprised to see
00:32:03
Speaker
your running backs getting a little more work this season. Just a more balanced approach in order to allow love to take that leadership and evolve. So yeah, it's definitely gonna be very interesting to see what the Packer football is gonna look like for the, at least, near future. Well, I think...
00:32:24
Speaker
he I like his personality recently because he's more of just like a strictly football kind of guy with rogers and farves they're kind of very big personalities so I think Jordan Love is going to be a good switch up I think it's going to be
00:32:38
Speaker
He kind of gives me that Jalen Hurts kind of vibe where it's just strictly football, you know, like he's here and he wants to win games and he kind of treats it like a full-time job. Like a job? You got a job to do? Oh, like a fucking job? Yeah, like a job that he gets paid millions of dollars to do. Yeah. And then also with his own contract that he just had, I don't think he feels the pressure to perform to get a big contract this year. I think kind of takes the weight off of him.
00:33:06
Speaker
Yeah, he's not coming off of a rookie contract. He's got a legit contract built out already. You're absolutely right that he doesn't have that, oh, I got to show out my first couple of years in order to, when I get off this rookie contract, have room to maneuver. It is definitely a very interesting situation that he finds himself in.
00:33:29
Speaker
I think a big thing that saved him was bringing Tom Clements back over as well, because he was the one who helped develop Rogers and stuff like that. And he was in Arizona helping develop Mary for a little bit. But I think we pulled them back in like 2021. And that's kind of a night and day difference since working with Tom Clements. I mean, just
00:33:47
Speaker
functionality standpoint he's been better it seemed like a little bit of a difference for arizona as well and i mean even though our offense has a lot of young pieces so far in camp and preseason they've looked like a pretty good well-oiled machine for the most part i mean i think there's gonna be there's gonna be a lot of bumps and bruises along the way but
00:34:12
Speaker
I think we've been able to bypass a lot of the communication issues and stuff like that. So I think for the most part, I'm hoping that they can keep the consistency with that. And I'm just hoping they can run with that. Yeah, I did see.
00:34:30
Speaker
Part of it, I had a little bit rolled my eyes because I was listening to these two guys talking about the Packers or Packers fans. And I had a little bit rolled my eyes at first, but they were talking about how, for them, they felt like the first game of the season didn't even really matter. And they started going into it and talking about the reason for that was because under your guys' coaching staff, you do tend to progress and get better as the season goes on and have a really good record in the second half of the season.
00:34:59
Speaker
And so I just think that's pretty important. I think that's gonna, that's something for you guys to look forward to and I think that is, even though I did, like I said, I rolled my eyes a little bit, once they talked about it a little more, it kind of made sense in the terms that like, you know, maybe the second meeting of the Bears Packers is gonna matter a little more than the first meeting. And I think, I think
00:35:19
Speaker
Not just your team because the Packers it's happened historically, but I think also this year I hope that The Bears are gonna have the same kind of deal where it's like, you know Maybe it'll start off a little rough or whatever But then as the season goes on as the defense starts to mesh as hopefully we have you know Some sort of consistency on the offensive line and maybe Justin Fields gets you know more comfortable and used to having a pocket that he doesn't have to run out of I think we'll also get better and I think that I
00:35:47
Speaker
Yeah, even just talking about it gets me excited already for the second and for the last game of the season and the second meeting of the Bears and Packers. So yeah, let's talk about Chicago a little bit. Let's start with the strengths. I think one of the strengths of Chicago is going to be the secondary because I think we got two really good veterans in our secondary. And we got two guys coming back that are younger but have shown that they have a lot of good potential.
00:36:14
Speaker
And with the tutelage of the veterans, I think that that's going to help solidify them even further. But they've also shown really good growth in camp, which I think sometimes you miss going into your second, third year, especially if you did.
00:36:31
Speaker
halfway decent in your rookie year. Some guys don't necessarily come in with the same work ethic. Same hunger. And I feel like that's very different with this group than what I've seen of younger guys in the past sometimes. Maybe not necessarily Chicago, but just in general.
00:36:51
Speaker
I think the Tyreek Stevenson pickup, I mean, new draft in him will definitely help because I mean, Kyler Gordon doesn't have to move over so much. You know what I mean? He can just kind of stay strictly in the slot. Yeah. Which is what he's good at. Yeah. Stop making him float. Yeah. Yeah. I think another strength of ours too is the running game for sure. Because I think even last year, I don't know. Last year, I think we should have at least had one of those two games, if not both.
00:37:20
Speaker
just from the way it started off in the first quarter. I just remember the first game that we met last year.
00:37:29
Speaker
We're running over you. Montgomery and Fields were just running all over the place. And it was truly insane. So I think, and I don't know, I think it's the same. This year, I think we have a strong running back, because we have a lot of depth at running back. I think Fields, even if he is not improving at passing, is still going to have his legs to count on, for better or for worse. So I definitely count that as a strength of ours.
00:37:53
Speaker
In that second matchup, I mean, you guys kind of controlled that game the entire time. And that's what was confusing to me. And I think I remember us having that conversation last year where I was like, are we tanking on purpose? Because we should be, we were beating the fuck out of these guys. And then we're just like not doing it. Like the first game was like, we just stopped running the ball.
00:38:16
Speaker
I was like, OK, so we're not going to do what we were having success with, and we're going to let them win the game now? OK. And then the second one, yeah, we were controlling the game, and then it was just like, I think we're going to stop trying now. And I was just like, all right.
00:38:31
Speaker
How much of this is intentional? And it was, I was worrying a little bit too. Cause then I was like, is this just coaching fucking up or are they just being like, no guys, we're going to tank here. I was like, that was that second green Bay game was good. Was making me suspicious of like, all right, this might be an intentional tanking of the season here. Cause we should be beating these guys. I guarantee they'd already had talks with lovey. They already knew what he was doing. Like, Hey, will you do it or not? Well, you do it or not. Cause if not, we're going for this. Yeah. Now we're going to beat, we're going to beat the Packers. But if you're going to, if you're going to come through for us.
00:39:01
Speaker
And the lovely was like, I'd like to hope that we didn't take, I mean, just from like a, it's a business at the end of the day and I get that. Yeah. But also from like the love of the game for me personally, I like, I would, I would hope that you wouldn't do that. Yeah. That makes it feel a little gross. Yeah.
00:39:18
Speaker
But what can he do? I think that was Field's best game as a passer last year too. I mean he was like 80% for like 250 yards or something like that. And then he just kind of threw back to back game ending picks and then just fell apart. Yikes.
00:39:36
Speaker
So those are the strengths that I feel, you got any more to touch on for strengths, Stein? That's funny. You put under, under weaknesses, you put, you know, entirely new front four on and line backing squad. I mean, yeah, our defense is definitely, we have only at six people coming back from the like original starters of last season on the defensive side of the ball. But if anything, I think all the moves that were made were definitely in the right direction. So,
00:40:05
Speaker
I'm not as concerned about the front four. I think we've got a better pass rusher. I think we have a better edge man. I think we've got the line backing squad. There's more veteranship here. There's more leadership on the defensive side of the ball now that was very much missing last year. And so I think that alone is going to help.
00:40:26
Speaker
help hone the troops a little bit, keep the focus where it needs to be, as opposed to everyone kind of floating here and there and trying to figure shit out on the fly. So I'm not as concerned about that. Oh, so you feel it's a strength? I feel it. I don't know if I'd say it's this. I would say that we are positioned for it to be a strength, especially going into this game. I'm not looking that as a weakness. I am excited to see the whole defense together because we didn't really get to see that during the preseason.
00:40:55
Speaker
again due to injuries and and you know rep management and such due to injuries so uh i but i think all the moves were there i'm not as concerned my weakness still lies on the outline as much as a lot of the guys were able to get reps in other positions just in case besides the position that they'll be starting in i
00:41:21
Speaker
We have yet to have a solid offensive line for consistent games. Yeah. And so that for me is is the weakness. That's the big question mark for me. I don't think the passing game is as much of a question mark yet because that doesn't give it doesn't fucking matter if there's no offensive line. So, yeah, my biggest weakness right now and question mark of the game is going to be does the O line show up? Sure.
00:41:47
Speaker
Well, you can make the outline from now on then, Stein. But no, tell me why you thought like- No, I mean, and I'll be honest, like, I'll be honest. I'll be honest. The weaknesses part, it was more an overlook and oversight on my part, I think. I did forget. I don't know how, but I forgot that. I mean, our old line, it just hasn't been consistent. I think also I just too, it was kind of hopeful. It seems right now, like the only injuries, the only major injuries, injury is Tevin Jenkins.
00:42:17
Speaker
And I mean, we got someone to fill in for him already. So I guess I would put that more of a question mark, I think, than a weakness or a strength. I mean, definitely not a strength, but I would put it more of a question mark just to see if we can have some consistency.
00:42:31
Speaker
Yeah, and the new front four in line backing squad, I had that as a weakness just because I imagine it's going to be tough to get them all to gel together if they've never played together. And I could see that. But I think you make a good point. A lot of them are veterans and younger veterans. So it's not like any of them are in the second half of their careers. And we said that last episode on paper.
00:42:55
Speaker
Well, and they did get tons of reps in camps and in practice and in training. They all feel very good about it. They all speak very openly about how tight-knit they feel from what they've done so far together. So it's just we as a team.
00:43:15
Speaker
as a patronage have not seen that yet. And that's what I'm excited for, you know, is getting back to like, Monster to the Midway, get back to that, that good NFC North football, yeah, defensive style. So yeah, I think
00:43:29
Speaker
I think you guys have a good, I mean, definitely an upgrade for your past rush. I mean, Enoch and Gokwe is a solid pickup and then also DeMarcus Walker. Titans had one of the best run defenses. I think they were top three run defense last year. The last two years, I think. I mean, they have a lot of other pieces, obviously, like Jeffrey Simmons, but any piece from there is going to be an upgrade.
00:43:53
Speaker
Yeah, and then I don't know. I guess just another oversight on my part, just because I think you are right, where if the O-line isn't solid, it doesn't matter. But I do still think, I mean, that's one of the big question marks, and that's one of the main criticisms that everyone has about Justin Fields is his passing game. So yeah, I think maybe that's gotten to me a little bit, because I do also. And I think that is my one holdup, is if he can just pass consistently. But again, I think a lot of that does hinge on the O-line too, and having consistency there.
00:44:24
Speaker
So I guess you could throw that in with the question mark on the O-line, right? Yeah, no, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, no, that's why I think I agree with you on that. Yeah. I think if the O-line can hold up, if the O-line actually shows out and is like on a play by the way. Fuck, just doesn't totally collapse, you know, at least. If they are successful on a majority of the plays as far as like holding blocks, proper assignments, all that good stuff, no injuries,
00:44:52
Speaker
Uh, yeah, we definitely have a better wideout squad. Yeah. Oh, it should be. Yeah. It should be like, Oh shit. We actually have like a couple of real targets now. So hopefully, and then at that point, at that point, then it's okay. Perform fields, but let's see. I hope to see the people say that your, um, uh, that your target has gotten a little bit better throughout the off season. That was something that he worked on was like.
00:45:18
Speaker
Tighter windows, tighter spiral, a little more consistency with where he was placing the ball on receivers.
00:45:29
Speaker
The word is that it's gotten better. So they didn't look like it in that last preseason. No, that last preseason was again. That was tough. Comes right back down to that. Some of that stuff. I mean, I just say, you know what, I am what I am. I'm a Justin Fields apologist still. And some of the stuff they were saying wasn't his fault. Like, and some of it was very obviously not his fault.
00:45:52
Speaker
You had rookies that didn't know where they were going. Stuff like that. That doesn't necessarily isn't him. Bad routes run. Never got the same offensive line. Bad route running.
00:46:03
Speaker
the bad communication between the quarterback and the route runners. It's hard to literally, as long as there's a little bit more consistency across the board, he should be better just from circumstance.
00:46:22
Speaker
Literally to where he's not forcing as many passes where he says he's not trying to force as much to happen. So right I think the Bears got a drop. I mean, I think the Bears can drop plays where their playmakers Go and make plays. You know what? I mean, they got the playmakers to do it So, I mean, I think that would trust him part of it, you know I mean DJ Moore has how many yards after catch already after like two catches. Yeah
00:46:47
Speaker
Yeah, I'm just I'm hoping I'm in my last week of being a Justin Fields apologist and hopefully I won't have to do that so much anymore. He's going to take more than one game for that. Yeah, we'll see. We'll see. Yeah. Any final remarks on Chicago? I do wonder about Edbens.
00:47:06
Speaker
because he kind of took a minute to get his footing in the league and I mean you guys are paying him to be like an elite linebacker I just I guess my question would be if you guys aren't able to generate pressure all the all the pass rough struggle is gonna the burden is gonna go on the linebackers and it's gonna be a lot for them to
00:47:26
Speaker
hold I think in their first year, but Iber Flus has always worked with good linebackers. So I think I trust his, I mean, in Indianapolis, he had Shaq Leonard and, uh, okay. Okay. Before he got really good. And I think, I think he could work with it, but I think it'll just be a little bit of a transition period. Like you said, from just being a whole new, you know, front seven.
00:47:51
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's it. I mean, I'm not too worried about it. I think there will be a little bit of bumps. But I mean, he had a great season last year. It's a whole new team and stuff. But I don't think it'll be too bad. And I don't know. I love Jack Sanborn, too. So he's in there. And he's shown to have really good instincts. So I don't know. Are you worried about his time?
00:48:11
Speaker
I'm not at this point because he did have such a good season last year and really showed that step up. I think that was that light bulb moment that I think you wait for in a lot of elite.
00:48:25
Speaker
level linebackers and especially on the defensive side of the ball is there there does very rarely is it ever someone's literally coming right out of college and stepping in and immediately being that person right like no matter who that top right right I mean like they're very again there's very few like when you consider the number of players that come out of the draft every single year on the defensive side of the ball
00:48:51
Speaker
very rarely are they coming out literally ready to be an elite at the NFL level. They might've been elite in college, but in NFL, everyone was elite in college. Like that's just it. Like you've narrowed it down even further, right? So for me, I think that so far his,
00:49:15
Speaker
his timeline hasn't really bothered me too much, mostly because it's at least shown consistent growth. So the trend has always been in the right direction. So for me, I think it's fine. I think he's fine. We'll see what week eight looks like. And obviously like in real game time situations under this particular coaching staff, under this particular scheme, how it actually plays out.
00:49:44
Speaker
That's where I stand
Game Strategy and Key Players
00:49:45
Speaker
for now. Cool. All right. So with that, we'll move into our keys to victory for both teams. For game one, you mean? Of course. For game one, yes. Which is, it's Sunday, right? Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. 325 Eastern. Yeah. What is that standard?
00:50:09
Speaker
What's the conversion rate there? How many euros is that? $225. How many dollars? Central standard. How many doll hairs? What's the conversion rate? Isaac, you want to start us off here? What do you think the keys are to victory for the Green Bay Packers? Yeah. So I think being able to take advantage of the bank double line early could help with the pass rush. But I think the biggest thing would be to stop the run.
00:50:38
Speaker
They had, you guys had like one of the best yards per carry last year and we gave up one of the worst yards per carry last year. So, and like we said earlier, last year that was their, they kind of controlled the games for a while because of their running game. And I think if they rely on that, it's going to be kind of hard for green beta stop them when it comes to that. And that's, that's all I can think of for keys to victory is just to stop the run game. I think that's going to be the biggest problem.
00:51:07
Speaker
All right, well, I think Stein and I will do the keys to victory for the Bears, because I don't really think it would make sense to do the keys to victory for the Packers. Stein, what do you see as the keys to victory for the Chicago Bears in this Bears-Packers matchup?
00:51:23
Speaker
Biggest piece coming into game one for me keys to victory is as again I'm going to go right back to the offensive line as long as the old line shows out and Performs their duties responsibly duty Above 50% of the time Provide we've got real playmakers finally at the wide receiving allow them to like go out Get set up and make the fucking play
00:51:51
Speaker
That's my big thing. O-line consistent throughout the game. I think on top of that, the defense is, I'm really excited to see what they look like together. Even if they're not gelling a hundred percent, they still across the board are well above average in the league. So I, you know, as long as none of them just totally shit the bed, they can keep us competitive in the game. Yeah.
00:52:19
Speaker
Yeah, I think, too, and I don't know how much of this, for me, is key to victory and how much I just want to see it. I just think putting pressure on Jordan Love is also going to be really important. I think if we can put a lot of pressure on him, make him feel uncomfortable, get some heat, turn up the heat on him, I think it's, again, a transition year. I think it's going to be his first year without Rogers and him really taking over the helm. And I think it's always tougher. It always, just making his job harder and not letting him get comfortable, I think it's going to be.
00:52:49
Speaker
A big part. I think if we can do that, I think that alone, I think, will give us an advantage. So any more thoughts on that?
00:52:59
Speaker
Well, yeah, and then obviously we have to make sure that we're controlling the game with the rush, right? That's the big one. But hopefully having slightly more balance in this to where we're not relying so much on fields to do that. Yeah, and I think we've talked about that where we don't want that to be the case. We don't want to be relying on fields as legs or the run game on me. I think
00:53:23
Speaker
I think the offense of Green Bay just kind of needs to take advantage of the limited tape that they have and kind of go out there and run the, cause we kind of had to adhere to Rogers last year, obviously. So I think Matt LeFlore finally has like full control of the system and stuff like that. So I think he just got to, I think he's got to take advantage of the limited tape that there is and kind of try and confuse the defense, whatever.
00:53:47
Speaker
However you can. Sure. That is something I'm interested to see is how different the offense for Green Bay is going to look without Aaron Rodgers because no one truly knows. There's a lot of like random estimates out there from pundits and shit that of like how much was actually far of changing plays and making the calls and stuff. So I am very interested to see
00:54:09
Speaker
What? What the play calling actually looks like and if there is a significant difference if you know and not just because it's a different quarterback but because Literally, no one's there to change the place Yeah, exactly guard. No, we're not doing that. You know, this is what we're fucking doing Like I don't think you're gonna have that so much, you know, it'll be not it'll be nice to see like From a coaching perspective like okay. How good is he really? Yeah
00:54:36
Speaker
I think it'll be fun to see kind of how much they unleash for him to do, you know, right away. I mean, I think so far the preseason we've seen that they try and scheme up a lot of short to intermediate routes, but also take that deep shot if it's there. I mean, I think that's...
00:54:52
Speaker
I think that's what he's going to continue to do. I'm hoping for a lot of design plays for like the running backs and also for the new tight end, Luke Musgrave. I mean, he's one of the fastest receivers on our team, including the receivers. So I think integrating him will definitely help us out.
00:55:11
Speaker
from as a tight end fan, like he's a solid, he is a solid choice. So I was, I was like, Oh, okay. Yeah, sure. Go for it. I guess. Dicks. We haven't really had like an elite tight end since for Michael Finley. So I'm hoping, I mean, he looks the part. So I mean, hopefully you can stay on that trajectory. All right. Predictions. Stan, you want to go first on predictions?
00:55:38
Speaker
predictions all right so right now if you look across the board i have nine different betting sites i mean i have nine different source sites open right now that have the bears seven of them have the bears as one point and favorites and two of them have the bears as two point favorites uh... it's funny because at the beginning of the summer they were starting out at like three and a half point favorites uh... and over the last week that has started tightening up to the point where
00:56:07
Speaker
some analysts are actually saying that they wouldn't be surprised if Green Bay ends up being like a 1.1 and a half point favorite by the time, like by game time. Again, anything could change that though, like an injury during practice this week or whatever could all of a sudden like completely sway that if, I don't know, like one of the starting quarterbacks goes down. That's a big red flag for everyone. But,
00:56:36
Speaker
Uh, also looking at it across the board, it looks like the over under is like 42 and a half, 43 and a half points. Um, first off, I think it's going to be an underscoring game. I don't think it's going to hit the over. Uh, I think it's, it's going to be fairly competitive, but I would put it probably around.
00:56:55
Speaker
maybe 40 points 42 points total. And so that's I mean, that's looking at like, you know, about three touchdowns a piece. So I don't think it's gonna get to that point. I am I am going to, for me, I am going to take the bears on this like
00:57:17
Speaker
from like a pickup perspective, the Bears on it. However, I am not applying like 16 points to it. You know, I'm going to be putting like one or two points because I think that it is a big question mark game. So personally, I mean, I think I would love to see the Bears walk out of here with like a 20 to 17 win, you know, something that's I think it's going to be pretty close. I don't think either team is going to necessarily blow the other out.
00:57:44
Speaker
So yeah, that's what I'm taking it as. Yeah, I mostly agree. I don't think it's going to be a super high scoring game. I take the Bears. I always seem to take the Bears, obviously.
00:57:57
Speaker
There's that there is that part of me that's still like hurt. It's still wounded, you know, just from I mean like you're saying 13 of the last 14 like it just seems like they and granted they had Aaron Rodgers before and he's got the bad man is gone, you know, but you just can't help but feel a little bit of like they're gonna fucking bad man to be straight. Okay. Yeah, so it's just like
00:58:22
Speaker
You know, fuck, dude. They just seem to always find their way every season and stuff. So I'm a little bit got the PTSD from that. But I do think we have an edge. I do think we made some really good improvements. And yeah, I think Green Bay, like I said, is in a transition year. So I see the same 40 points between both teams, not super high scoring. Yeah, that's where I'm at.
00:58:47
Speaker
It's from my prediction, at Games' End, there will be two teams of contrasting moods heading off the field, my friends. One glum, one gleeful. The gleeful of which being the Bears. The Bears. The Bears. 74 to 2. I mean, after all, our civic pride is on the line, because let's face it. Is there a worry in the Bears fandom that Jordan Love is going to be very good?
00:59:18
Speaker
I don't think it's a reasonable word. Like it's not anyone being like he looks like he is going to be that good. But I think everyone is. I think all the Bears fans are just scared that by some fucking miracle he is going to be because that would just be our luck. Like from what I see online, that's the conversation. And that's how I feel. I genuinely like I look at it and I'm like, he's not he's not going to be fucking, you know, another generation. He's not going to be another. He's going to be far. He's not going to be Rogers. I think this comes down also to like
00:59:45
Speaker
what the algorithm is that like is leading to whatever it is that you look at maybe because mine on my side, I rarely see much conversation so much about love as much as about fields. Yeah, I think that that is a bigger
00:59:58
Speaker
Concern for Bears fans you mean that people are more scared that fields isn't gonna be that guy than they are that Yes, Justin Fields that is a bigger question mark for us one and love us Yeah, and and so so for me, I think that it's I don't think it's a huge issue I think the big issue right now that is on the front of Bears minds is do we have a fucking quarterback? Yeah And it's not
01:00:19
Speaker
based on reason and it's not like, okay, logically, like, you know, is, you know, I think it's just mostly emotionally, like a lot of the, from what I see, it's emotional just being like, I cannot fucking, I'm not going to be able to handle it. If the Packers score another fucking like generational quarterback, I just am not going to watch football anymore. You know what I mean? So I'm more from an emotional standpoint than a logical one, you know, like,
01:00:41
Speaker
That's just logically. Yeah, like you always go back to a relationship. So yeah, I think like that totally makes sense. You know, it is, I think more logical to be concerned about like, you know, fields not being that guy than Jordan Love, you know, being a great, you know, but
01:01:00
Speaker
Oh, I'm not saying that. I wasn't arguing whether it was logical or not. I'm saying that this is funny to show the difference in the algorithm. Oh, I see online versus what you're saying. What has pushed at me and what what shit pops up in my stream and stuff versus what you're saying and like what you're because I literally have seen almost none of that. That's crazy. None. Yeah. And I just spent too much time on Reddit. This is the problem. It was just fucking.
01:01:26
Speaker
the reddit bears fans are brutal man dude have you are you do you follow the nfc north memes it's fucking brutal but like i mean particularly like there's like bears fans are kind of brutal but even there's like a community there's a reddit community that's like nfc north memes and it's like all the fans in one reddit dude it's fucking nuts like
01:01:49
Speaker
But yeah, I don't know. We should just make going into like reading the conversations from those. Honestly, it wouldn't be bad content, honestly. Fuck you. No, fuck you. All right. Any final thoughts? Oh, my prediction. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're just going to like. No, no, you don't get one. You don't get one. No, that's my bad. That's my bad. Like, I don't give a shit. But like, however, if you're going to have a guess, look at the application down there. At least we'll see his piece. You're right. You're right.
01:02:17
Speaker
My prediction is about in the same area. I got 24-20 Green Bay. I think it's gonna be close and low-scoring. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I just... We've won eight straight. I'm looking to make it nine. I'm hoping to go to Lambo South and start the year off right, you know what I mean?
01:02:43
Speaker
Lambo South he just called it. Lambo South. That's crazy. That's wild. I don't make the rules to this gang world, but I have to abide by them. You're closer to him than I am, so you might have to make a trip, I think. Where are you at? I'm in Washington.
01:03:04
Speaker
I'm in Minnesota. So I'm like in the middle. No, he's like Washington. There's a city in Illinois. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah. OK. He's from Wisconsin, Stein. He doesn't know the Illinois cities. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. I'm born and raised. Cheese head. I hate to see it. Indoctrination. It's unfortunate, you know? Jesus. Somebody saved these children. Is your family all pretty big on football, or?
01:03:35
Speaker
My mom could care less. My dad is kind of what got me into it. And then my sister and her husband were around for the games. He's a big Packers fan, so just family sitting around watching some of the night football, stuff like that.
01:03:55
Speaker
The earliest Green Bay Packers memories I had was when Favre was on Minnesota and we were trying to take down Favre and stuff like that on Minnesota. That's pretty fun, that's cool. That's the earliest, you want to know what one of my earliest Green Bay memories was? Favre got drafted.
01:04:19
Speaker
Beat the New England Patriots in what was that 96 in the Super Bowl because I was a big Drew Bledsoe fan so Yeah, that was I was My biggest Packers heartbreak why I never really was I never really caught any of the farf era I Kind of started paying attention around
01:04:43
Speaker
a year or two before the Super Bowl. But my biggest heartbreak was, I mean, my first heartbreak as a Packers fan was the year before the Super Bowl when we went against the Cardinals. And we went into overtime 45 to 45. And then he fumbled it right away and like one of the first plays and they brought it in for a touchdown. I was like, I don't know if I want to do this for very long. I don't know if I can live this life. Yeah.
01:05:21
Speaker
How many more of moments like that did you have it doesn't help that you're also a Cubs fan
01:05:28
Speaker
I think the biggest letdown I've ever had was when we lost to the 49ers in the divisional round because I mean that was our year I mean we had the pieces to you know There was no fucking reason for you guys not to win exactly I mean the Rams and Bengals went to the Super Bowl we could easily like we could have pieced the Rams over the Bengals easily, but we just couldn't do it we couldn't get past the 49ers and That's what happened. Yeah, it was it was
01:05:56
Speaker
If one of that happened, I was like, when Robbie Gould kicked that field goal and we lost, I was like, did that? I was just sitting there asking Leslie, I was like, did that just happen? Did that seriously just happen? I felt like I was just in a dream. Bears legend, Robbie Gould. Literally, bears legend. Literally, I was like, when it happened, I had a very different response than that.
01:06:23
Speaker
You guys ever seen that interview that Aaron Rodgers did with with the Bears fan and He asks he asks the bear fan. He's like, oh, what's it like? You know having such a bad team and watching me go to that, you know watching the Packers go, you know the playoffs every year blah blah blah and
01:06:39
Speaker
And the Bears fan is like, look, I'm realistic about my fandom. I know we suck. I know we're not good. He's like, my Super Bowl every year has been watching you go to the playoffs and fucking lose. He's like, it's my favorite thing. He's like, I get ready for it every fucking year. And I love it. That was a while ago. Truly, is it hard for you as a Bears fan that some of your greatest moments are cheering against me when the Bears aren't playing?
01:07:06
Speaker
Very good question. No, it's actually great because what I've told everyone is I'm very realistic about the Bears. Not a great franchise. Just don't do the right things for the most part. Every year I look forward to the playoffs and the game that you're going to lose.
Aaron Rodgers' Move to the Jets
01:07:24
Speaker
And I've told this story on the air, but like when you guys lost to San Francisco this year, we were watching the game in New Jersey.
01:07:30
Speaker
And I drove back to Brooklyn, Bragg. And I listened to Tauscher, ESPN Wisconsin. For three hours I sat in my car. I arrived home, it's a 20 minute drive. I sat for three hours listening to callers, be like blow up Lambo, get 12 out of here. We need to build a dome. This team isn't built for the outside.
01:07:53
Speaker
And that was the highlight of my NFL season. And I have no problem. That was the same guy who, after the I own you stuff, he was like, because he's a big Bears fan. So he's like, yeah, we know it. We just don't want to be told.
01:08:10
Speaker
which that's like dead on that is dead on so you don't have to fucking rub it in dude like you're just being a dick dude when that happened i was ready to run through a brick wall i was like yeah i can't imagine being on the other side of that that must have been so fun because that was not fun for me that was honestly that like up until then
01:08:30
Speaker
I didn't have like I didn't like Aaron Rodgers all that much or whatever but I didn't like after that I was like I hate Aaron Rodgers now like fuck you Aaron Rodgers well it's so funny because I'll watch Bears fans sometimes like podcasts and stuff like that and they all like hate Green Bay but
01:08:47
Speaker
I'm like, the only reason you hate Green Bay is because we always win. So like, no, but it's always weird. That is about it. I want to say you don't always win. And that's the thing. So like the hatred has gone back far longer than since you guys. Yeah, it's more recent. So I also have been through not one, but two of your fucking generational quarterbacks like
01:09:12
Speaker
I have been ready for number three. And so for me, it's very much a like.
01:09:19
Speaker
Like, it doesn't need to be said. Like, when Rodgers really kicked off, I'm like, yeah, you're right, you do. Even when we have, like, one of the best defenses in the league, like, you still were able to show out against us, and that's fine, you know? But it was, like... But it hasn't always been that way. Like, historically speaking, it hasn't always been that way. This has shifted back and forth, and this has been so... But it is fun, it is fun to have, like, that...
01:09:45
Speaker
that trash on and be like, no, you're right. This is your 100 percent. Yeah. I can't even argue that. I mean, when I was looking to it, it seems like it goes like it wins like decades wise, like with how long it is. It's like there was decades of the Bears absolutely dominating the Packers. And then just more recently, in terms of history wise, obviously, like more recently, like we're talking like 20, you know, the past 20 years is that it's been the pack. The last two starters. Yeah. So.
01:10:12
Speaker
But yeah, I don't know. I think regardless, I don't know. I kind of feel like this is kind of, it's going to set the tone for maybe the next decade, you know? I think within the last 20 years, the Bears have been one of the most inconsistent at starting quarterbacks as well. Sure. Yeah. That's been a big issue. That's another thing. Generationally is that we have not had
01:10:30
Speaker
And not just quarterbacks, like head coaching staff even. We've had so much turnover in the last 20 years now. It's been, it's outrageous. So it's hard to get anything going at that point. I will say the other thing too, the NFC has been really weak for the past couple of decades too.
01:10:48
Speaker
relative to the afc i mean you know relative nfc north sorry i mean like the nfc north not i was going to say yeah we've had plenty of nfc that's what's shown out but ultimately like well you also had brady in those 20 years like now you got my homes you know it's exactly like the afc is fuck yeah that's just god damn it they keep getting they don't just get the generational guy like for a team they get the generational guy for a fucking league you know yeah
01:11:16
Speaker
Yeah. All right. I
Closing and Social Media Promotions
01:11:21
Speaker
did want to hear your thoughts, Isaac, on Aaron Rodgers now and the Jets, just real quick. I mean, he's my favorite.
01:11:34
Speaker
football player ever because I grew up watching them. I mean, but the glazing is crazy. Yeah. No, that makes sense. That makes sense. I think, I think the glazing from the media standpoint is getting kind of out. Yeah. Yeah. From, I mean, he's in like the hard knocks clips. It's all just, it's basically just an Aaron Rodgers documentary. I mean, it's getting kind of a,
01:12:00
Speaker
I don't know. I think the Jets will be decent. I think he finally has that elite defense that he needs to work along with him. He seems happy. He seems genuinely like he's having fun playing football. Yeah. And I think it sucks losing him just because he had
01:12:25
Speaker
highlight throws every single week, even last year. I mean, he was just making stupid passes that just didn't even make sense. But I think it made sense to move on from both standpoints. I mean, our timelines were just kind of completely mixed up. And yeah, definitely ready to win. You know, I think that relationship to between Rogers and Green Bad was definitely spoiled. Like it definitely was. Yeah.
01:12:50
Speaker
History repeats itself. This exact conversation took place when Farthe left. This exact one. I hope the Jets are ready for Jordan Love in like 15 years. Right, exactly. That's what I'm saying. They're watching Packers games being like, let's hope this guy's good so we can catch him. You know what this means, though? This means that we expect to see Rodgers in a Vikings fucking uniform. Imagine, dude. Imagine. And then we all go, god damn it. The NFL is scripted. The NFL is scripted, and I will stop watching football.
01:13:20
Speaker
Maybe not. Just out of the sheer, that'd be crazy. I mean, it looks like he's planning on being in New York for a few years. Yeah, he talks about he wants to be there for a couple years and stuff. And then hand the keys back to Zach Wilson. Yeah. I do wonder how Roger's being in New York is going to affect Zach Wilson and if they're going to keep him around. No, it just gives him more time to go and fuck some moms, right? Yeah, sure.
01:13:47
Speaker
all right we did it boys we went all through the outline and so now we're at the point in the episode where we do our plugs for other projects yes you can't just say plugs man like you can't like why not
01:14:06
Speaker
We're not that we don't have a we don't have like a sex shop sponsorship. All right, get your mind out of it gutter Minnesota just legalized like this month. So All right
01:14:22
Speaker
Stein. Yo. What do you got? What are the projects you're working on? What do you want to show? Be sure to check out my other podcast chick flicks with dicks. We've got about three seasons worth of episodes out there. You can find us on any podcast platform that you can think of pretty much. And if you can't fucking let me know so we can get it on there. Also, you can check out Jim Heroes dot com. Hit me up if you are interested in
01:14:48
Speaker
One-on-one consultations program development for one-on-one exercise You know, whatever your goal is I primarily work with athletes so high school college and amateur level if but I also am going to be starting up a I'm starting up a Hang on I fuck what was it called?
01:15:17
Speaker
Okay, I'm starting up a Midwest dad bod wad which is basically a Midwest dad bod like workout of the day why this man talking about wads give me shit about saying
01:15:31
Speaker
And then I also will be dropping some PDFs and stuff on there for if you don't want the one-on-one which includes like you know weekly consultations weekly meetings to go through the program make sure that you're abiding by and adjust if needed there will be PDF so you can just buy like a basically a standard like do-it-yourself workout program type thing so
01:15:57
Speaker
Yeah, check that out. Cool. Those are the two primary things I got. I'm gonna let you go last Isaac since you're the guest.
01:16:04
Speaker
You should let him go first. So they know because that'll be the last thing people have heard. I think that's unless you are serious. Yeah, I see. I was going to say because you're the host. But I'm going to go on and his stuff. No, it's truly so that what you're plugging will be the last lesson people here. Whoa. Stop. Come on, Fraser. Whatever. Get out of here.
01:16:29
Speaker
You can find me on Instagram, O-H-M-A-R, Daniel. You can find my music anywhere you find music, Spotify or Apple. That's just regular name, Omar Daniel, no H. Whatever. OK, we're on TikTok, we're on Instagram, and we're on YouTube as Da Bear Claw Pod if you want to follow us. And then our email is bearclawpodcontact at gmail.com if you want to get in touch with us. Any criticisms, any praises, whatever you want to send. Give us a five-star rating wherever you're listening.
01:16:57
Speaker
And share with your friends, whether you want to get them into the Chicago Bears or just football in general or whatever. I feel like we're a great place to start. So let them know. And Isaac, what do you have to share with the people? I just had a song release on Friday with an artist named TT, T-H-Y-T-H-Y, called Parachute. That's pretty much all I got going, just producing music and stuff like that. But that's my most recent project that I've just released. Cool.
01:17:26
Speaker
Where did it drop? All streaming platforms. All platforms. You got an Instagram or something you want to share or no? Yeah, my Instagram is Isaac, E-Y-E-Z-E-C-K. I'm not very active on there, but I respond, so.
01:17:43
Speaker
Yeah, you keep updated with music projects on there, too, don't you? Yeah, for sure. So that does it for this week's episode. Next week, we're going to be back. We're just going to be recapping the game. Because finally, we're at the point where we're going to have actual football that matters happening. I'm excited. Are you guys excited?
01:18:01
Speaker
Fuck yeah, man. Week one, let's do it. Yeah, week one. Bears Packers. So we'll be back next week recapping. Just talking about what happened. Hopefully it's good for the Bears. They're going to do a preview next week as well for the week two. Yes, sir. At the end, we'll probably hit a preview for the following week. So all right, guys. Thanks for listening. That's it for the episode. And we'll catch you next week. Bye.