Transcript
Deck: Well, good morning gentlemen. Welcome back.
N D: Good morning.
Deck: So. Just wanted a pretty special episode today. We got our first guest on in our new format here, so we'll talk about him here in a second. but As always with me, we got Angry Mike. So if you've seen his posts on X.
Deck: You already know him why he's called Angry Mike. And, you know, today with the Yankees loss, he's ah he's a little bit pissed off. So fair warning. Helps.
angrymike: Yeah, I'm... Yeah, I'm like propane gas and ready to get lit up here. um
Deck: ah
angrymike: But yeah, they're pathetic Yankees. Same shit every year. Same stuff every year. Just like. they're i said earlier they're like the the Packers of of major league baseball, you know, they're in it every year and they find a way to lose it, but that's not what we're talking about today, but I appreciate you already getting me fired up.
Deck: Yeah.
Deck: No We wanted to get you upset. And then, of course, we've got Dix. He's that Hall of hall of Fame sportscaster. from North Dakota. He's forgotten more about sports than the rest of us will ever know. he's He's funny about 50 % of the time. So how's it going there? Mr. Dex.
N D: ah the You know, the sun's up. The sun came up, so it's always a good day.
Deck: One minute.
N D: Dodgers advanced on, and we aren't talking about baseball, but. We're doing okay.
Deck: yeah Yeah, I
N D: Ready to go.
Deck: All right. All right. And special guest. we they believes in Chicago. So he is a... Pretty passionate Bears fan. So we thought we'd have a Bears fan on today for the Bear Packer week.
Deck: And so, Believes, welcome to the show, and why the hell would you want to hang out with us three idiots? so
N D: ah
Bleeves: Well, thank you for having me. I appreciate you guys letting me come on here.
Deck: but
Bleeves: It's called slumming where I come from.
Deck: Okay.
angrymike: ah
N D: there There you go.
Bleeves: So. Yeah, let's ahs let's talk about what's going on. Let's talk about the Chicago Bears. Let's talk about the Green Bay Packers. Let's talk about the Minnesota. I can't even say their name anymore
Deck: oh and ah we'rere We're not...
N D: Oh!
Bleeves: I can't even say the name anymore.
N D: Oh. i picked the right guy i told you that You're dead.
Deck: right Yeah.
Bleeves: Ugh.
Deck: So. So we don't have to talk Vikings today because, you know, they got a game against the Saints. And i I would think, I know Mike is feeling this way. He would like it if the Vikings beat the Saints, right?
angrymike: No. Not at all.
Deck: No, okay. All right. Well god Things have changed since the last time we talked. So, all right.
angrymike: I never want, I never want the Vikings to win ever.
Deck: well I'm disconnected. Okay. All right. Well, I'm just going to sit back and kind of laugh and I'll let you guys kind of go after each other and let's see what we can come up with.
Bleeves: I'll tell you. I'll tell you what, guys, I would normally be a a NFC North maxi when it comes down to it.
angrymike: So I...
Bleeves: You know, I want my team to beat all of your teams, but to. On Sunday, is it Sunday? i want I do want the Saints to win. And the reason that I do is because I'm originally from Louisville, Kentucky.
Bleeves: born and bred there and tyler shuck was the quarterback for the louisville cardinals and
Deck: ah
angrymike: Oh got it.
Bleeves: I loved his game in college.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: And I really liked the way that he played. I was surprised that he that he went to the Saints. And I'm even more surprised that he's having a level of success in the NFL. Like he's been a really good starting quarterback for them for a little while. so I'm going to be rooting for him tomorrow. I'm not going to be rooting for the. but I can't even say the name again.
Deck: yeah There you go. Well, I think... I think... I think your quarterback's going to be in for a long day on Sunday, but you know what?
Bleeves: Probably.
Deck: That's a whole other story. We'll talk about that maybe Monday after the game. but
angrymike: So i want to I want to talk to Believes a little bit here. Believes. Louisville, Kentucky, by the way, I'm a huge bourbon guy. so
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: Love Michter's. Love Whiskey Bro. I go there. Probably once a year. I try to go twice a year depending on. how happy my wife is with me. but
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: How did you become a Bears fan? I know i know Louisville, Kentucky is not that far away from Chicago, but... um how did you become a bears fan and and uh Yeah, what's what's the origin story?
Bleeves: Walter Payton. I mean, you know, really, it was to watch.
angrymike: Okay.
Bleeves: And and by the way, up until i'll I'm going to be honest, and this is going to hurt some people, but up until Barry Sanders came around, I thought Walter Payton was the greatest running back that I'd ever seen. and i was such a big fan and i thought it was so ridiculous that super bowl shuffle
angrymike: fair
Bleeves: that you can't help but be a fan. I mean, like they they took the world by storm at that point.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: And I was still in my formulative years.
Deck: oh yeah
Bleeves: where I was into baseball, I was into football, I was playing all the sports.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: But I really hadn't settled on teams. You know, I like John Elway. So, you know, I watched the Denver Broncos a little bit.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: I wasn't a huge fan. um but I go back all the way. Danny White was the quarterback when I was at just a tiny kid.
angrymike: mm -hmm
Bleeves: Danny White was the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. You know, I had all these different players, but never a real team. But then the Chicago Bears in 85 just started dancing on the screen. I was like. This is an MTV music video.
Bleeves: You know what I mean?
Deck: Yeah. Yes, sir.
Bleeves: and And the next thing you know, I'm a Chicago Bears fan.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: and
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: I've moved around the country a little bit and I've supported whatever team that has been around, but really it's always been the Chicago bears. It's just, it's just, you know, something that's built into your DNA, if you will.
angrymike: I'm good.
angrymike: Yeah, you know, and that's awesome. So my origin story, I'm from Iowa. And. I grew up a Packers fan. My my dad. You know, his, his grandfather was a Packers or his dad was a Packers fan. My dad was in Milwaukee in the army and in the sixties was able to do a color guard.
angrymike: at some of the games.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: so um That's how I became a Packers fan. I was an 80s kid. Green Bay was terrible when I was a kid, man. When you were Super Bowl shuffling, I i was hiding in a closet somewhere.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: i Whenever they played, Green Bay would get their ass handed to them. 89 is like the first time I remember Green Bay actually winning ah the Makowski game where there he was over the line of scrimmage, but he wasn't, you know.
angrymike: and After that.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: It kind of turned around a little bit, but the far of trade, obviously. flipped it. But. When I was a kid, the Bears used to kick the crap out of us. And then once I became a teenager, it kind of flipped and it stayed that way for a while.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: Other than a couple years, you know, 06 was a really good year for you guys. Um, 2010 was a good year, even though Green Bay beat you in the in the in the playoffs, but I won't bring that but that up until later. but You know what I mean? It's just been a fantastic rivalry, and and usually it's never been where both teams have been good at the same time.
angrymike: And I'm hoping Green Bay can kind of rebound a little bit here.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: I'm not 100 % confident, but I'm hoping we end it, start an era where. The Bears and Packers are both good. and we can just really enjoy this rivalry and go back so it's not just a one -sided on either side so that's what i'm excited about
Bleeves: Yeah, okay. Can I tell you one of the things that to me kind of soiled the rivalry? was. I don't know how to so respectfully say it about the Chicago Bears because the Chicago Bears always had a certain toughness about them.
Bleeves: So there was always a really strong defense.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: You know, the the team was built on that.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Bleeves: You know, the problem was this.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: The problem was that the Green Bay Packers. Boy, did they get lucky with quarterbacks. They made some just wonderful draft choices.
angrymike: Yes, they did
Bleeves: And I mean, Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame legend. he is To me, he's the ultimate gunslinger. um for for lack of a better description.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: And then, you know, when, when you acquiesce that to Aaron Rogers and Aaron Rogers, I think has the best deep ball in the history of the NFL. Um,
angrymike: Dope.
Bleeves: when when When you have back -to -back. legends like that then boy it makes it difficult for a rivalry team to to keep up with and the Chicago Bears to their discredit when the McCaskies took over they became you know they became a frugal sort of team for a while and they weren't willing to spend and it's not that you can't spend the money you have to meet the salary cap you have to meet the standards
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Bleeves: but they weren't signing big free agents. They weren't doing all the necessary little things to really build this team, and they weren't making the right personnel decisions. And boy, did it change that rivalry. Those quarterbacks caused the Bears to get frustrated, and then from there, the the the Green Bay Packers just kind of owned us for a while.
angrymike: Yeah, I think. You know, i'm I'm just gonna be totally honest with you. I never really. It's. Going into a Bears game, you know, the last 20 years, I was always kind of like.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: I hope we don't lose because it'll be embarrassing if we lose.
Bleeves: Right.
angrymike: And now it's kind of turned into. I hope we don't get embarrassed by the Bears.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: You know what I mean? So it's kind of flipped and it really started. um when ben johnson was hired because ben johnson Great off offensive line. He's tough. He's going to help. build and mold a team.
angrymike: to win.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: And he did it in Detroit with a strong running game, a really good offensive line. And he just took the weapons that he had and he molded it around his team to make them successful. So as soon as he came on board and he was signed like a day after.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: you know he was available I'm like. Green Bay's in trouble. uh or the rest of the nfc norris in trouble just for the fact that He knows how to win and he knows how to get the pieces to build.
angrymike: a foundation of winning. And you could tell with the Tooney trade, the Jonah Jackson trade, you know, Darnell Wright is really... Flipped it around. I mean, even Ozzy Trappolo, you bring him in there.
angrymike: I don't know if he was a late pick or an undrafted guy. You bring him in and he's serviceable. the but they're built the right way and that's that's kind of what's scary to me a little bit So. Um,
angrymike: Going into the game Sunday. How do the Bears win this game? And are you nervous at all?
Bleeves: You know what? Because there is a rivalry, because it's always... you know Anything could happen in a rivalry because you get amped up, you get your emotions. You know, you get that feeling, you know you get that excitement, you get that nervous sentiment.
Bleeves: fans in Chicago. And, you know, like, because I am who I am, because I do what I do, I get inundated with people just trying to tell me what their opinion is or what they think or how we're screwed.
angrymike: Yeah. yep
Bleeves: so I've had probably 20 people.
angrymike: Mm -hmm.
Bleeves: sending me messages in the last 24 hours, like, Oh my God, what are we going to do? Jonah Jackson, Darnell Wright, and Joe Tooney didn't practice yesterday. We're so screwed.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: Just, you know, Because of that, but me? I think that the Chicago Bears are going to absolutely. annihilate the Green Bay Packers.
Deck: whole
Bleeves: in a bad way. on Sunday and not a huge high scoring game.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Deck: oo
N D: but
Bleeves: I don't mean that. I mean, they're going to assert themselves because the good part about the Chicago Bears is that run game.
angrymike: Mhm.
Bleeves: The bad part about the Green Bay Packers.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: is their run defense. I think this is a recipe. And by the way, the game might be a lot closer than what we're saying. Like, I think last week's game was very, very close. that compared to what actually happened on the field. So I'm not sure that the scoring is going to be represented. representative of it. But man, oh man, oh man, I think the Chicago Bears are going to walk into Lambeau.
Bleeves: I think they're going to absolutely dominate. And again, we might not see it in the final score. but you guys are going to know that you just got whipped. is what I think is going to happen.
N D: Well, no.
angrymike: Yeah, and that's kind of...
N D: And last. Last week.
angrymike: Go ahead.
N D: just Going back to that Bears -Jets game. You know, we watched the whole thing. They win 23 -12, and at the end of the game, it was like the Bears just dominated. They annihilated them. I'm looking at the score going.
N D: Yeah. it it It should have been worse. I mean, you look at the Viking.
Bleeves: Yeah.
N D: of game. That was 9 -3, and we lost. there's We... wouldn't say we dominated, but we should have probably won that game. 28 -9. So the bears.
N D: dominate at times. um I like what you're saying as far as going in the Lambeau and annihilating the Packers.
Deck: that
N D: That would be. I'm a little nervous because of, like you said, the rivalry. That is always such a big thing that. you know, we We've looked in the past. You look at the last 20 score results.
N D: When Rogers was kicking our butts all over the place and all of a sudden there's a score of 23 -21. There's another one that's 27 -24. But they dominated us. They beat us. And I think, like you said, that's exactly how. This Sunday is probably going to go.
N D: Bears could probably dominate them, but... it might not show in the score. you You could be, it could come down to a field goal at the end of the game. especially in Lambeau.
Deck: Well, for for both you Bears fans, how do you guys lose it?
N D: I think injuries.
Deck: How do you look?
Bleeves: ah
N D: I think injuries.
Deck: Amen.
Bleeves: How do you... how
N D: I think if we don't have... ah two healthy running backs back there. um And B, I... I'm confident in Bajan. Every time Bajent steps out on the football field, I mean, he...
N D: He completed over 70 % of his passes last week, and he's just a game manager. and and he He knows where Odunze and Burden are and Loveland are now. so I don't know. It's it.
N D: if If we have injuries, if they start piling up throughout the day, I think we could lose it that way. but I think we're just going to be too dominant running the football. and We're just going to wear Green Bay down.
N D: I hope.
Bleeves: Now, I'm going to say that here's what will happen. The one problem that we had in 2025. was the Bears got off to slow starts. They didn't you know they didn't put their foot on the gas initially. And if that happens and the Chicago Bears can't score a few points early on.
Bleeves: then they're going to be forced into a passing game, which will not be their forte. And for me, Tyson Bajent. Tyson Bajent for anybody in the NFC North is, to me, the second coming of Teddy Bridgewater.
Bleeves: great quarterback that just. is a like like like uh like Indy said, was a game manager. he's not really He's not really a guy that you're going to put. He's not going to put a team on his shoulders.
Bleeves: And he's not going to do some kind of come from behind huge victory or anything like that. Maybe rarely it might happen, but he's just a as as a game manager type quarterback. I think he's limited in what he will or can do. And I don't think that he's had enough real game experience in the last couple of years.
Bleeves: where he can just flip that switch. I mean, Caleb Williams can just flip that switch and he's on fire. He is that guy. um And the Chicago Bears don't have that guy. So if we get behind early.
Bleeves: And.
Bleeves: If that defensive line for some reason kind of buckles. And by the way, if Jonah Jackson sits out, if Darnell Wright sits out, if Joe Tooney sits out, I don't care. I think the backups for the Chicago Bears are serviceable enough that we're going to be fine in our protection schemes. I'm not really worried about that. And if DeAndre Swift or Kyle Menungai or both are not there, Roshon Johnson, I have no problem with that. I believe Ian Wheeler is on the practice squad. and Ian Wheeler gets called up. And I think the Chicago Bears rushing game is still going to be fine. It's the scoring. It's the actual getting the points on the board.
Bleeves: that we've seen enough from the Chicago Bears to know that. you know We score 59 points against the Carolina Panthers, then we come back and score three points against the Minnesota Vikings in the rain. you know there' there there's and And by the way, I think it's going to be raining this weekend. so There is a recipe right there for the Chicago Bears to walk into Lambeau Field and...
N D: no
Bleeves: maybe things don't work out the right way, but I don't think it's going to be because of injuries. I don't think other than Caleb Williams, I don't think it's because of injuries or anything. I think we've got a next man up mentality.
Bleeves: And I think this team is locked in and focused. And I think that there is a bigger picture right now that the Chicago bears are working on. And so I don't think that any of that really matters. I think we're going to be fine.
N D: Does Ben...
Bleeves: But again, if we get behind the sticks, we're in trouble.
N D: Does Ben Johnson make you nervous like in a game like this where. We could have the ball. We're marching. We're at the. Our 45 -yard line, and it's fourth and one, and we don't get it.
N D: Or will he? I know he's not a conservative coach, but. there's times man, when he goes for that fourth down. and certain part of the field you're like man what are we doing
Bleeves: All right.
N D: um That could easily implode. You know?
Bleeves: Well... let me Let me tell you this. I am what you would call a math nerd. It is almost. It is almost guaranteed that if you get beyond the 50 -yard line, you're going to give up three points for the Chicago Bears.
Bleeves: It's the same way ah and We have not. And by the way. He will probably get more conservative as he starts to review the data. But up until this point, giving up three i mean we're the chicago bears have long been what's called bend but don't break defense so
N D: Yep.
Bleeves: Giving up. Yardage or or going for it at the 20 or 30 yard line on a fourth down when you only need one yard, that's confidence in your offense. But that's also.
Bleeves: That's also math. We're going to give up three points most likely. So just give them the three points and let's get the ball back. So. I don't think that people understand what Ben Johnson's mindset is. And I think that his mindset will evolve if we can start to hold people. We get some more three and outs. He builds confidence in his defense.
Bleeves: And the confidence in his defense means he doesn't. have to go for it on fourth down as much as he feels. he'll make a he'll He'll make an adjustment right there. And by the way, if he does and he makes some boneheaded moves or something like that, I don't care. Because it becomes, here's here's what. He's the first guy to tell you that he will mess something up and then he'll be the first person to say, you know, this is my bad. I let you guys down, but now you got to go out and fix it for me.
Bleeves: And that's the kind of team that the Chicago Bears are. If there's a mistake made by coaches, they don't get frustrated. And they're like, yeah, God, this is another Matt Eber. They don't get it. They don't get into that.
Bleeves: sort of mindset they get into we have to go claw this back and we have to go find a way to win so I think that that's what the Chicago Bears are and I think that again he'll make some adjustments and he'll be less aggressive in his play calling.
Bleeves: But if he makes some wild play calls, I don't care. I'm i'm in.
N D: Yeah.
Bleeves: I'm in on it.
angrymike: you know And that's it. And that's just a sign that. he's got confidence in his team you know he's going to come out and kick your kick your ass basically and you know what if we don't get it we'll get the ball back and we'll we'll continue to do what we do right he imposes his will on the other team
Bleeves: Right.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: i'm I'm impressed by that. i You know? Decisions are decisions, right? And it is a math problem. I think Matt LaFleur is kind of the opposite somewhat in some ways. He wants to be conservative, but yet...
angrymike: Sometimes he tries to be aggressive and manufactures aggression and it comes back to blow up in his face like the Vikings game. Pull the points off and then they... call that terrible fourth and one sneak with with jordan love and the game unravels at that point Ben Johnson it just has a full belief in his team that he's...
angrymike: They're going to win.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: You know, and we're going to beat these guys. And and that's impressive from from my standpoint. Um, First of all, injuries, Bears fans, talk to me about injuries. Come on. Come on, guys.
angrymike: Right.
Deck: ah
angrymike: I mean, Caleb Williams is out. i Ben Johnson's offense, I think anybody could go in there and be successful in that offense as long as you take care of the ball.
Bleeves: Yes.
angrymike: because it's it's It's... all about the running game. right you could You could bring Jared Goff in there. you could bring kler I think Kyler Murray could win on that team. you know and be successful.
Bleeves: oh Don't be hasty.
angrymike: It's just. Okay, you know, I'm trying to i'm trying throw a bone here a little bit. But... For me as a Packer fan coming into this game, I'm nervous. Um,
angrymike: because the offensive line couldn't protect. I think that's getting a little bit better. But the way to really take it to that Bears defense, who I i still think they're not as good as what... their ranking is showing.
angrymike: uh thus far but i think they are improved from last year You got to attack them through the run game, and and Green Bay just does not have that run game. it's it's a bad offensive line that's getting a little bit better.
angrymike: But their running backs just haven't been good at all. They don't hit a hole like my nun guy does who just bolts through it. um They dance a little too much. so The way Green Bay has to beat it is through splash plays through the air.
angrymike: And I think that Bears defense, especially with their safeties, have have been much improved. Thienemann has been great as a rookie, a lot better than I thought he would be. And if Green Bay wins this game, it's going to have to be a splash plays with. ah Christian Watson. um Matthew Golden, who the Bear fans like to... to crap on, he's actually having a really good year to start with. And Green Bay's running a lot of 13 personnel that really is starting to to work well.
angrymike: uh with their tight ends so it's gonna have to be through the air i think green bay is gonna have to score early get Bears out of the run game. But that's easier said than done. I think this game is could be...
angrymike: 24 -14 Bears, it could end up being something like that that gets out of hand later in the second half. but um It's free eats. I think bears one and a half points. I think that's free eats.
angrymike: I would make that bet any day of the week coming into this game.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: even without Caleb Williams.
Bleeves: Well, and I'll i'll tell you, when it when it comes to the Bears' defense, I think. You, along with a lot of people, really kind of misread what the Bears were last season. and i mean even us as fans, like we didn't understand.
Bleeves: A lot of my off season was spent arguing. that this defensive line is actually decent. just didn't have an opportunity.
angrymike: Mhm.
Bleeves: and that the problem and by the way i got into it with lance briggs ah Because of this, because I said. you know The problem with this defense is not the defensive line. It's the secondary, and that offended him.
Bleeves: And I explained why and he disagreed with me and it was fine. But guess what? Turns out I was 100 % right and he was 100 % wrong, Lance, if you're listening.
Deck: you
N D: yeah
Deck: yeah
Bleeves: Because.
angrymike: yeah
N D: Yeah.
Deck: Yeah. Well...
Bleeves: the
angrymike: I hope he listens.
Deck: He did though. He wanted to be on here, but we wouldn't let him, so, you know.
N D: yeah there you go
angrymike: yeah
Bleeves: the The biggest problem with the Bears defense last season. was Nashawn Wright. is not a good cover guy He had a lot of interceptions. He had a lot of opportunity.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: Tremaine Edmonds is not a good cover guy, but he's he's an interception machine.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Bleeves: you know They had a lot of turnovers. Kevin Bayard, he was that guy. But Kevin Byard is not a strong safety.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: He doesn't fit the Dennis Allen scheme. So there were a lot of mismatches. for this team And then you couple that with Tyreek Stevenson, who really just hasn't gotten it at cornerback as well as we had hoped. and Jalen Johnson being injured for basically the entire season.
Bleeves: And then Kyler Gordon being out for basically the entire season.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: We did not see. the Chicago bear secondary that would have made a difference. And that meant the defensive line. was not able to do it. And by the way, the average time to throw in the NFL I think last season was like 3 .2, 3 .3 seconds total. It was 2 .7 seconds.
Bleeves: for the average quarterback against the Chicago Bears. And I started running timers, which is, this is where. Lance Briggs got mad. Because I started doing timers. I'm like, you couldn't even get to the quarterback in three seconds. What are you talking about?
angrymike: so
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: You know?
angrymike: Well, you you you can if you play it you you can if you play against the Packers offensive line because the time to throw it to him is like 2 .3 seconds against Atlanta.
Bleeves: you If you can't... Get there.
Bleeves: Hmm.
angrymike: So I'll let to i let you go on.
Bleeves: But generally speaking, that was the problem. So what did they do? They addressed the secondary instead of the defensive line, and it infuriated Bears fans all all summer long all all winter long.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: I heard all about it the whole time. And you know the reality was, and I kept saying this, and I kept saying, you know look, Dylan Thienemann is the guy that we want in this draft. like He is the change that we need to have.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: We need to go out.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Bleeves: We need to get us a safety. And by the way, Kevin Byard would be just fine if we had him because even though he's not. good in the box. He is a great guy. So if we have to take him, I'll take him.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: But I wanted somebody different. I wanted somebody different at almost every position and i so especially wanted jervon dexter gone and i wanted uh tremaine edmonds gone And guess what happened?
Bleeves: All of it. I got everything that I wanted. And... I was not expecting. I was i wasn't expecting Dylan Thienemann to be as good as he is so far. And I certainly was not expecting Malik Muhammad to be as good as he is so far.
Bleeves: But the fact that they have been. and that Cam Lewis and x Xavier Woods have been. serviceable let's not let's not call them excellent but they've been serviceable and they've been better coverage guys than our secondary in last last season guess what all of a sudden the bears in three games gave up 12 points Seven points. Nine points. This is now looking like the defense that I said it was going to be at the end of last season, and now we're actually seeing it play out.
angrymike: yeah And I think, you know... It's kind of like Green Bay last year. you know, when they had Parsons Healthy. No one was complaining about Keyshawn Nixon and Carrington Valentine.
Bleeves: Right.
angrymike: Because the pass rush was getting home, right? If your defensive line can get to the quarterback. you don't have to cover as long right but on the flip side of that if you have decent cover guys it gives your defensive line more time to get to the quarterback.
angrymike: So you saw, you know, Odeyengbo sack, a coverage sack last last week.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: You wouldn't have saw that last year, you know, because your coverage guys are actually covering guys.
Bleeves: Exactly. Yep.
angrymike: So they they really do feed off of each other.
Bleeves: And that's what people don't.
Deck: Okay.
Bleeves: I don't think that I don't think they understood it. I don't think people got that.
angrymike: No.
Bleeves: And that's why they argue.
angrymike: Mm -mm.
Bleeves: We need a guy who, I mean, look, unless you have Harry Keogh who can like. work through time. and get to a quarterback in under two seconds, you still have to be able to cover.
angrymike: Yeah.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: And it was the slant routes. It was the flat routes. It was those easy plays.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: By the way, that Jordan Love is not good at. It's those easy plays right there.
angrymike: Mm hmm.
Bleeves: that. That makes the difference for the Chicago Bears defense. And that's what we didn't have last season that we have this season. And now you're seeing it turn.
angrymike: Yeah, one one thing I'm encouraged. coming in this Sunday for for Green Bay. is Granted, it was against Tampa Bay. but yeah They were relatively healthy on the defense, and you still got to go against Vita Vea.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: green bay's offensive line was actually they brought in lake and tomlinson they got kevin zeitler coming in this week it kind of stabilized the line a little bit even though it was bad
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: It wasn't as bad. It wasn't historically bad. Jordan Love had his best game of the year because... Jordan Love. If you pressure him. He's gonna wilt like a flower, right?
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: But the thing is, if you don't get to him. he can pick you apart. And I think if you go back to the wildcard game last year, and that could be a key to the key to win for Green Bay. if they can protect Jordan Love can pick you apart. he's ah He's an accurate quarterback when he has a clean pocket. He's number one against against defenses with a clean pocket.
angrymike: Packers got a huge lead both those games. and then faltered in the second half because what happened? They started having pass protection issues and they started getting to love, got him rattled, makes bad th throws. He's offline.
angrymike: If Green Bay can keep a clean pocket, I think they could get up early and kind of change. the narrative a little bit about this game. But that's a big if. And I think that's kind of the key to the game's agreement. Can they protect?
angrymike: Jordan Love, can they keep him from getting hit and rattled? And if so, I think that Christian Watson, Tucker Craft, in and ah Matthew Golden can get to these guys a little bit. But that's a big if.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: You know, I think even with Beijing at quarterback, I think the Bears with their running game still has. you know, they should be the odds -on favorite, which they are for this. But some Packer fans can't agree with that. Oh, it's you know, it's Baygent. We should be able to beat them.
angrymike: Yeah, we should, but... Losing Cooper last week, I mean, that was pretty much the last cog of elite athletic players we had on defense outside of maybe Evan Williams. It's going to be a tough battle to keep.
angrymike: you know, the type of possession somewhat even. I think... Ben Johnson's going to be able to run. and And it's going to be Green Bay is going to have to throw to win. And I think that's not a very good recipe for success.
Deck: So that's that's what I was going to ask you, Mike. yeah Are they going to come out? Remember you said like when Keenum was going against the Eagles that they were going to come out and throw and that's what they did. So do you think that's what Green Bay is going to do? Come out and start throwing right away and hopefully... Catch fire?
angrymike: To be honest with you, I think if Matt LeFleur. He's a great play caller. I think he he sets his people up for success. Sometimes they don't. do what he wants them to do.
angrymike: If I was Matt LaFleur, I'd come out trying to run this throw on the ball. Because I think the Bears aren't going to respect the run.
Bleeves: Yep.
angrymike: I think they're going to play their safeties deep. They're going to try to keep. Christian Watson under control. And. I think the Bears will let let... the Packers have those, you know, short routes. But I think... they should come out running.
angrymike: And with Caleb Johnson, hopefully he doesn't fumble, but. He had a couple explosive runs last week. And the Bears are not. If there was a weakness on that defense, it's the run D. Um, And I think that's where they should expose it. And like the opposite for the Bears.
angrymike: I think... the Packers are going to come in, try to stop the run. I think they're going to sneak the safeties down. I wouldn't be surprised if they come out throwing with Bajan and seeing if they can get free eats there and then turn around and and hammer the ball the other three quarters.
angrymike: a Ben Johnson usually does the opposite of what you think he's going to do.
Deck: Right. Right. so Well, Nolan, you've been kind of quiet back in there. What's going on?
N D: Well, no, I've been enjoying the visit.
Deck: This has been good.
N D: it's just ah
Deck: yeah
N D: Yeah, no, it's a lot of knowledge, ill obviously, with... ah A guy sitting in Chicago in... Wisconsin. um No, I think it's just going to be a fun game. It's been a fun week. x X is one of those I keep waking up in the morning going, don't turn it on, don't turn it on, don't turn it on.
N D: And I turn it on, and right away, its you know it it kind of gets to blood boiling. but I've kind of stayed off it today. It's it's. ah Just watching fans heckle back and forth. There's some people that.
N D: are arguing about. The wrong things. This is a rivalry. I mean... Let's go.
angrymike: Absolutely.
N D: Fans are supposed to, you know, teams are supposed to hate each other. They're like going, why isn't Matt LaFleur talking trash? Why is Ben Johnson talking trash? And I mean, it's a rivalry. I mean.
N D: Packer fans were upset. After last week's game when. Ben Johnson says, hey, guys, you know what and next week is? That's all he said. And guys just ripped him like that disrespectful.
angrymike: yeah
N D: POS, that's just like. Hey, we all know what it is. It's it's Packers -Bears. it's It's a little different than Packers -Vikings, Bears -Vikings. Detroit, we're not even going to talk about them. those These three teams that...
N D: Tussle on the field. It's enjoyable. And when you lose. When we lost to Minnesota. Yeah. up. Piece of me died that day, you know?
Deck: I know. I know.
N D: You know?
Deck: why and I didn't hear from him yet.
N D: Edit.
Deck: You were just like...
N D: Yeah, and it's just...
Deck: i was like
N D: And it's just like. This weekend, okay. We lose to Green Bay. Not the end of the season. I get that. But man, when... We can't go two and four in the division. every year and expect to win the division every year.
N D: You want to get that division championship and say, you know what? We were four and two in the division or we were five and one and we dominated our division. and Right now, the Bears haven't got to that point yet, but...
N D: It could start. It could start hopefully on Sunday.
angrymike: And you know, you can win the division. by not being good in the division. The Bears proved that, right?
Bleeves: a fifteen year now being a on of party making
N D: Yes, yeah
angrymike: I think they were the only team with not a winning record last year.
N D: Yeah.
Bleeves: over
N D: One in five, wasn't it, or something like that?
angrymike: That's all I have to hold on to.
Bleeves: you go It is hard. I'll show the real time.
angrymike: two Two and four, but believes that's all I can talk about is the fact that they didn't have a winning record because they were so good last year.
N D: Two and four.
Bleeves: no
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: but weren't good in division. but You know. I can not like the Bears, but still not be delusional and recognize that they're a good team and they're foundationally solid. They're built right.
angrymike: Ben Johnson, I love the fact he's digging into this rivalry. I wish Matt LaFleur would do more of it. You know, when you're ah it's the players that play. That's not what fans want to hear. You know, Ben Johnson's trying to steal your chain and punk you. You punk him back.
N D: Yeah.
Deck: You want him to come out and say F the Bears?
angrymike: Right?
Deck: Do you want him to say that?
angrymike: Yes.
Deck: Do you?
angrymike: No, i don't think I don't think he needs to say that, but I need to say, you know what?
Deck: Okay.
angrymike: They don't like us and we don't like them. And you know what? We'll we'll show it on this weekend. you know it doesn't have to be distasteful but
Deck: good
angrymike: at least show that you care because us fans care.
Deck: Right, right. So do you believe, do you believe...
angrymike: Yeah.
Deck: The Packer players don't care that this is Bears Packer week. i don't buy that
angrymike: Oh, I think No, I think they care. Even Evan Williams came out and said, you know what? We don't, we dislike him. You know what? They just like you. So what are you going to do about it?
Deck: Yeah.
angrymike: Right?
Deck: Right, right
angrymike: You're going to get punched in the face and just sit back and cry and go, oh, they said bad stuff about us.
Deck: but
angrymike: No, you're going to go out there and and take care of it.
N D: ah
angrymike: but I think what fans need to realize is you can actually respect the other team and not like that team, right? um And that's that's kind of what I've came around to with the Bears. It's like, you know what?
angrymike: They're good. And we're going to have to deal with it. You know what's excited about it? we don't want to lose, you know, and they don't want to, they don't want to lose to us and and we can actually talk about it and have a really good time.
Deck: Bye.
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: and And talk ball, you know? and
Deck: Yeah, no, this has been great.
angrymike: Victors comes and spoils. Yeah, the victors come to spoils, right?
Deck: This has been great.
N D: So on.
Deck: Well, damn.
N D: On every Sunday. We wake up. or on a Thursday. um I've got. I've got Packer and Viking fans around here that I've got one Packer fan that calls me before the game and he goes hey good luck to the Bears today and I'm like What?
N D: He goes, I'm just saying good luck. I'm like. You know. I don't wanna hear it. Um... Because I'm never going to cheer for your Packers.
Deck: yeah
N D: And I, and, and look, looking at you too, I think believes and, and even probably Chad's the same Mike. Um, Thursday night when the Packers were playing, I wasn't cheering for the Packers.
N D: I will never cheer for the Packers, Vikings, or Detroit to win a ball game.
angrymike: No.
N D: And. when it's And Chad said it the other day when when we were playing. He goes, I just hope they both tie. That would just be great for the for the opposing team.
Deck: Yeah.
angrymike: i've been to i've been to a tie I've been to a tie before the Viking game in 18.
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: It was terrible.
N D: Yes.
Bleeves: The weight.
N D: Yeah.
Bleeves: The way I consider it online is this. I'm not really Negan. I just carry the bat around.
N D: There you go.
angrymike: ah That's a good one.
Deck: I love that one.
N D: Heh.
Deck: That's good.
angrymike: Yeah, it's a good.
Bleeves: I want to.
N D: Yeah.
Bleeves: I want to see everybody succeed. And by the way, I think it's better for the the entire and NFC North and for every team if that happens.
Deck: Yeah.
Bleeves: And I wanted to say something about Mike.
angrymike: Yep.
Bleeves: Mike. The game. As I was getting ready to a few minutes ago, just. Just say. the if if The... If Green Bay does.
Bleeves: what Mike said they should do. that's going to be their recipe for falling into Ben Johnson's trap. And I'll explain why. in the first nine games of 2025 the bears were giving up 150 i want to say it's 151 yards per game 153 yards per game in the second half of the season they gave up 127 yards per game on the ground this is on the ground specifically
angrymike: Mhm.
Bleeves: Now, the Bears are in the upper echelon. In the first four games, they've only given up 400 yards rushing. That's 100 yards per game. Their defense. stopping the rush.
Bleeves: has gotten so much better. That. even if it were somebody like Josh Jacobs. it wouldn't matter the chicago bears are going to give up maybe a hundred yards but they're not going to give up 200, 250 yards. They're not going to give up ball control.
Bleeves: because of this defense, because Dylan Thienemann is a run stopper. Devin Bush is a run stopper. TJ Edwards, who was the only run stopper last year, is a is now part of a team of run stoppers.
Bleeves: on this defense. so If you start to try to run the ball, you are absolutely playing into Ben Johnson's hands right now. So I hope they come out trying to run the ball because that is a quick three and out. maybe seven and out eight and out something like that, but that doesn't give. the the Green Bay Packers a chance to move down the field.
Bleeves: So.
angrymike: Yeah.
Bleeves: That would be that would be exactly what. that That would be the wrong play, in my opinion. I think they should come out firing on all cylinders and trying to get the ball downfield.
angrymike: Yeah, and and mine was more like... the start of the game. like they're going to come out and i I think they're going to play, you know, at least one or two deep safeties and and they're going to try to keep explosive plays down. I think Green Bay has to run them out of that.
angrymike: But Green Bay hasn't had a 100 -yard rusher, I think I put on my ex account, in almost just like 300 days. I mean, I think their last 100 -yard rusher was November of last year. You know, they haven't had 100. 100 yards as a team.
angrymike: in a long, long time. I think Green Bay just needs to do enough to show the run to make the Bears respect it.
Bleeves: Well...
angrymike: I don't think there's free eats all day. There's no way this Packer offense can function.
Bleeves: Counter argument.
angrymike: being a run only team. Yeah.
Bleeves: Counter argument here. The Bears don't run a 4 -3, they run a 4 -2 -5 right now. So. They don't have those people in that backfield. That five, ah one of those five sits in the box, and that's Dylan Thienemann.
Bleeves: So. The Bears are already programmed the way that their lineup is to stop the run because they have. willing participants at the safety position at stopping the run.
Bleeves: So in order to protect against the pass, they don't run too deep safeties. They run a nickel package and they keep that safety up on the line in order to stop the run just in case. I think they have the perfect scheme right now.
Bleeves: and they have the perfect players. to combat what Green Bay likes to do. So I don't think it matters whether they run or pass early on.
angrymike: mm -hmm
Bleeves: If the Bears get bears get off to a hot start, the game's over quick. you know I mean, that's really what it comes down to.
angrymike: Yeah, well, the the the run's going to get...
Bleeves: That's the question I suppose.
angrymike: I mean, the the run's gonna get abandoned immediately. if If the Bears get the ball first and they take it down the field.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: I mean, you could throw your game gra game script out the freaking window. right it's All of a sudden, it's now we need a score.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: And I think that's that's the recipe, too. If the Bears can bounce score right away. It totally changes everything
Bleeves: Agreed.
Deck: It's going to be exciting.
angrymike: So. So one one final thing. This game means I think I think the Bears are playing him with house money right now. I think if Green Bay comes out and loses this game.
angrymike: Matt LaFleur is already on a hot seat. I think they if they get embarrassed at home. Or even lose at home to to Tyson Bajent. I think he doesn't make it.
angrymike: this will be his last year as coach. I think he'll be gone. And I think this season will spiral out of control because you remember the first four games was kind of catered for Micah Parsons.
angrymike: He's not going to be back, you know, so let's give Green Bay these early games. and and put the primetime games later in the year when he comes back. parsons can't save this team and i think if If Green Bay loses this game, I think. Things can spiral pretty quick.
angrymike: ah just because of what the what the schedule is going forward. I think the Bears, if the Bears win this, I think they win the North. I think they may do that anyway, but I think this propels them there.
angrymike: Um, If the Bears lose, I think... You can chalk it up to Tyson Bajan or toss it up to other things. And I don't think this game means as much to them. But I think they're going to, they're I think.
angrymike: you know they get an excellent shot of winning i think green bay will be and upset almost in this game.
Bleeves: Yeah.
Deck: right So...
N D: Yeah, the Bears have tough games coming up. I mean, we go to Atlanta. New England at Seattle. So this is kind of a start of the. the second quarter of the season that.
angrymike: Yep.
N D: Got to start on a positive note in Lambeau. That would be the perfect time to chalk up a win. and Get your mojo on.
Deck: Oh absolutely.
angrymike: Absolutely. So believes.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: Let's hear your final prediction for the game. Um. You're obviously feeling confident, which I would too, if I was in your position. um
Deck: You can say pain if you want.
angrymike: o
Deck: Bye.
angrymike: what's what's your What's your prediction for this one?
Bleeves: 31 -13. Chicago.
angrymike: Okay.
Bleeves: And by the way, I don't think it's going to feel that close. Like that's that's the way I feel about it right now is.
angrymike: Okay.
Bleeves: I think we're going to look at it, and we're going to say that the Chicago Bears should have scored 45 points. But they only scored 31. I think that we have a problem with that offense a little bit still um with Tyson Bajan. But again, he's going to be a little bit better this week than he was last week.
Bleeves: And I think that we're going to see, I think we're going to see they're going to put their foot on the gas and that defense is finally going to have its moment. The last three games have been really good, but this is the rivalry. And to to close that out.
Bleeves: Matt LaFleur doesn't respect the rivalry the same way that Ben Johnson does. So Ben has this team amped up and ready for war. And Matt LaFleur is just saying, hey, it's the next game. And I've been watching college football enough to know when the rivalry matters, you play at a different level. And the rivalry matters to the Chicago Bears so much more than it does to the entire team in Green Bay right now.
angrymike: yep i think I think Green Bay has become numb to it just for the fact the last 30 years took place. and really Matt LaFleur, his first four years, I don't think he lost to the Bears.
Bleeves: Right.
angrymike: So, you know, it
Bleeves: Yeah, it's not a rivalry for them anymore
angrymike: exactly it's going to turn into one really quick especially if they lose this one I honestly, I think this game. is going to be closer than that. It may not feel closer than that.
angrymike: I think it's going to end up being like a 31 -21 type game. I think Green Bay may keep it close to start and then... you know as the time of possession wilts away. I think Green Bay breaks down a little bit.
angrymike: To be honest with you, Green Bay is not a healthy team right now. I think they're losing like five of their top six players. So. Right now, I think they're... They're very thin. on talented players and i it's going to be tough for them to hold up.
Bleeves: Yeah.
angrymike: I hope. Of course, you know, Beijing.
N D: You mentioned being... oh go ahead
angrymike: Go ahead. Paget throws a couple picks. It could be a little bit different, you know, because we know those splash plays can happen. Fluky stuff can happen. But I think right now a smart person would. would see these two teams and and go that way.
angrymike: I just went.
Bleeves: Yeah.
N D: You mentioned the word numb. And I got to say a quick little story here. um Watch in the last two years, my my oldest son is 26 and he's been a Bears fan since I brainwashed him early in yeah in life.
N D: So he's been a Bears fan. And just like every year, I'm like, I compliment him like, hey. You're sticking with the Bears. Good job. And I think we got. Numb to losing? because it was halfway through the season last year. I don't remember what game it was. and yeah He sends me a text. He goes.
N D: This is the most fun I've ever watched football. and like Yeah, I know. It's it's fun. And even this year, he even said. God, we look good. And I'm like, I know it's like, I was so numb to losing. I got to a point in, we talked about this a couple of podcasts ago. I was good, bad. uh bad dad for uh for a lot of weekends and Um,
N D: Man, when they're winning, it''s it's fun to watch. But when they were losing, it's just like. two o 'clock rolled around we shut the tv off and went you did yard work and it It didn't bother us. But now a loss really like a loss on Sunday. That one could hurt a little bit.
N D: But. you know Hopefully I stay in good dad mode and and and not worry about it. But I'm going to say it's going to be a high -scoring game. i' I'm going to predict 34 -27. In a high scoring game, I think Green Bay scores a lot of their points in the second half playing catch up ball. And that's where Jordan Love.
N D: Pads the stats of... Watson and Golden, and and they stay in the top 10, both of them in receiving.
Deck: Well, I'm going to have to go with the 6 -6 tie because I think that'd be funny as hell if that happened.
N D: ah
Deck: but if i had to pick i think the bears obviously i would pick the bears to win this one Um,
N D: Seven to six, you're going to say then?
Deck: i Well, maybe seven to six, but...
N D: Okay.
Deck: I, you know, it's a rivalry game and hopefully the Packers come out.
angrymike: yes
Deck: I just, I hope both teams have a super great time. And you want to talk about numb.
angrymike: yep
Deck: I'm a Vikings fan, Nolan.
N D: I know.
Deck: I've been dumb for 55 years, so...
N D: I know.
Deck: That's better.
N D: There's always a next year, right?
Deck: There's always next year when you're a Vikings fan. so but uh
N D: Yeah.
angrymike: Yep. so So either I'm going to be extremely happy because I'm going to the game on Sunday. So I'm a. we We have in our family ah the gold. package for for Green Bay. So I get the second and fifth home game.
angrymike: When I saw this on the schedule, I was extremely excited. Because I thought Parsons was going to be back week five. but um after like lost a few players now it's it's like i'm gonna go there i'm gonna enjoy it You know, if if if the Bears win there, I'm still going to enjoy the game.
angrymike: But it's it's going to suck. But excited for this weekend and excited for where the rivalry is headed. And.
N D: And you're going to have nice weather.
angrymike: Beautiful weather.
N D: it's It's not going to be December where you're going to go, all right, what how many layers am I going to put on to go watch this game?
angrymike: Yeah.
Deck: there you go
angrymike: Yep.
angrymike: I want to thank you for coming on the show. I think you exceeded our expectations.
N D: Yeah, thanks.
angrymike: so Thank you for for coming on and and giving your thoughts. and Good luck on Sunday.
Bleeves: yeah man thanks for having me
Deck: All right, guys. Well, tune in tomorrow. We're going to have a...
angrymike: Easton Butler.
Deck: Yeah, there you go. Thanks, Mike. I lost my train of thought there. so And Beliebs, thank you, man. That was ah that was a great. Great. analysis for the Bears. So I would just say. Bear down.
N D: Bear down. There you go.
Bleeves: yeah down
