Coaches Show: Nagy, Helfrich talk Playoffs

the Village of Bedford Park. No From Hellis Hall. Here's the Voice of the Bears w BBMS Jeff joni yac and a pleasant, good even to everybody, and welcome at a panc Studios here at Hollis All and welcome to the Bears Coaches Show with Head Coach Matt Nagge Jeff joniak with you until eight o'clock tonight. Happy New Year every one as you head out for the evening, Stay safe out there on New Year's Eve. And what a magical time it has been for the Chicago Bears, A

magical time for you, Matt. You finished the season with four straight wins, nine out of the last ten. You finished twelve and four, and that part of the stories closing. A new one about to begin. But we're gonna we're gonna break down all that, but first and foremost from every Bear fan out there and everybody in this building, congratulations,

thank you. Yeah, it was a great, great day yesterday, and just super proud of the team, the players, the coaches, everybody, all the support to fans to put us in this position that we're in. And like you just said, now it's time the role and our guys will be excited to get after it. And there's only twelve teams right now, so we want to keep going. Yeah, do you mind talking about the game in a little detail before we start with a prob a little bit. We're brought to

you by Whippley Financial Advisors. There's so much to get into with every game because of how you guys play the game and how you call the game, how you design the game, how Vic calls the game, how he designs the game. There's really never enough time. There's so much to it, and it's so much fun to watch you guys play. You guys talk about how much fun you have, period, but it is also fun to watch

how you guys play. You never know what's coming next, and you're never out of anything on any down or any game. There's something too that I don't I don't know how to explain it. Can you, No, I can't, other than the fact that I think just as a coaching staff in general, I feel like our coaches do

a really good job of communicating situational football. And no you know, whether it's an assistant coach's idea, a coordinator's idea, it's somebody that has a thought, and or maybe sometimes it's a player that has a thought in these type of situations, and you always want to be able to use that to your advantage. And there's been times this year where we've done that. You saw yesterday with the

punt situation. You just never know what can happen. But overall situationally red zone, third down, backed up four minute, I really like where our teams at. Situational football is really the difference between winning and losing. You know, Bill talking about Bill Belichick's success, They spend a ton of time on situational football, and I assume you do the same we do. And I think what's unique for us is is we were so consumed in OTAs and in training camp at just trying to get the foundation of

this team together. There whether it's offense, defense, special teams that some of the situational stuff. Unfortunately this first year can can fall by the wayside. But we've done a pretty good job throughout the year at picking and choosing certain instances that we feel like we can take advantage of certain situations. And we've done that and so I think,

I think it can only get better. I can't promise that, but I do feel like that is one of our strange does it take longer to work on situational football? Get it right? It does, just because there's so many different Like for example, if it's at the end of the half, there could be a major difference in a play call for both the offense and the defense based off of six seconds and based off of nine seconds, that's a three second difference, but the play becomes different

based off of those extra three seconds. So that's just an example. So there's just so many areas that cover and then you throw all the rules into into everything that goes on, and it can become it can become at times a headache, but we want to make sure we teach it the right way. How do youaluate what's happened and how do you evaluate you know, you go

back to week one. You know, you guys are twelve and three since that game, and you you you know, I write down everything you say because there is a is a catalog brewing for me from my perspective and just talking with you each and every week as I do with you, that something was going to be positively learned from that Green Bay game no matter what it was. And they played like at the rest of the season, what was it? It was a and ultimately I think it was a trust um with the players, UH and

all of their coaches, all of us together. The biggest part of our success, I feel is um. Probably accountability, honesty, understanding the why I think can be sometimes neglected in coaching and in life lessons. UH all the time. You know, people find out what you did this wrong, you did that wrong, you did this right, you did that right? Well, why did you do right? Why did you do it wrong?

And our coaches have done a phenomenal job at teaching that to these players so they understand it, so they either do it again or they don't do it again. And then that you get you get it, and you get in a situation in the game and they use that later on for instance, the Green Bay game, and fast forward down to later in the season and it's just you become stronger. That's the callous thing part that we talked about in situations adversity, and that's what makes

you a good team. Now you just did all of that for this right now. So now you get into the playoffs and you get an opportunity where you're one and done or you keep going, and all that stuff that we just went through for those you know whatever it was those sixteen seventeen weeks, you now have a stretch of five weeks where you got to use it all. Mattneggie here on the Bears Coaches Show, brought to you by Whipfley Financial Advisors here at P ANDC Studios at

how to Saw. To me, it's it's been fun to watch these guys live in the moment almost day to day. They talk about practice the way they do talk about games and times you do win games on Wednesday and Thursday, but you can talk about it about hey, stay in the moment, put the blinders on, put the earmuffs on. But the guys have to be those type of people to want to listen to that and to understand that, well, you never worry about yesterday or never worry about tomorrow.

So is this just a little bit of a fortunate type of character in that room in addition to the coaching and the mix without it that? But but what I what I think is this. I know you've heard

me say this throughout the year. When Ryan started putting this team together and then included me almost a year ago, we both were an agreeance that in order to do this thing the right way, we need to do it with good, solid people because in the end, there's gonna be bad times and there's gonna be good times, and

how do you handle yourself? And I think when the season ends and I reflect back on this season, I think, I really truly believe that one of the things that we're going to be most appreciative as we build this thing is the fact that we're doing with great people. And you just said that, And now you take the athletics side of it and the football side of it, and they're all great players. So when you have great players combined with great people, you get magical seasons. And

we're not we're not downe We're just getting started. And by no means is this a magical season. But it's been a fun season and that's what's so exciting about where we could go. Oh, there's some magic in There's definitely some magic in it. There's no doubt about it. When we come back, we're gonna talk about third down. What a killer day it was on third down on

both sides of the ball. With the Bears Coaches Show with head coach Matt Maggie and w bbm's Jeff joni Ad continues Bella me Gabriel on White to the right White outside the Dombers back to the left of Tribisky is Howard tight end, left side of the line. Shahi snapped Trubisky giving to Jordan Howard. Howard searching for the

goal line and putre's the end zone. He's in for the touchdown, his hand rushing touch touchdown Bears a run up six kind of six nothing Bears lead here in Minnesota, tone setting opening drive with Jordan Howard starting out that drive. You know, in the O six Super Bowl season or On Turner was the offensive coordinator here and almost every every time, every series, almost in the game started with

a power roll. And so you started with a power roll. Uh, Kyle long obviously a big part of the starting out the game, but that picked your six six yards up to start the day's festivities, and I was like, all right, here we go. We're gonna get physical with these guys and not gonna back down from that great defense. And then it included a forty two yard run and finished off of that touchdown round we just heard from in the yesterday's game with Jordan Howard in from the six.

So was that kind of the idea, Hey, we're gonna we're gonna attack, We're not gonna be attacked. Yeah, it was. And you get into a situation like that where you have a loud crowd and you got a defensive line that can get after you in the past game, and it was a challenge to our guys up front to be able to come out there and establish the run

and to Jordan as well. So you saw that first couple of plays, you get fifty yards and two plays and when you could kind of feel like, Okay, here we go, and that's a credit to those guys for just completing their assignments the right way. Jordan made a nice run and that was a for sure, that was definitely a part of the game plan. Scoring first on the road, How critical is it. It's it's big because you know it's it's first of all against that defense

is hard to score, it really is. And you kind of knew what kind of game you're getting into yesterday, but you always like to kind of get that lead, stay ahead, give yourself a chance. And that's what we did,

all right. So third down Mitch nine of eleven, one twenty four and one thirteen quarter rating on third down yesterday, And we cannot emphasize enough, and you throw in, you guys are fifty percent in the week eleven game against the Vikings on third down, but in the previous three games they allowed in just nine third down conversions previous four games, sixteen fifty for the season. So you guys are eight to fourteen yesterday when you're throwing fourth down

as well. Just an incredible performance on third down? Was that an area of emphasis throughout the course of the week to absolutely give yourself's third and manageable third downs. And on the other side of the ball, you guys completely wipe them out on third down with the best third down receiver in the league in Adam Thieland yeah, it was. It was an emphasis all week long. It was it's it always is, but you really emphasize it against the team. Uh, like Minnesota. On defense, he's doing

so well, you're along with that. So for for Mitch to go nine for eleven on third down with a one thirteen rating, uh, you know, he's he's playing at a level right now. That's that's really doing wonderful things for this offense. And he's he's helping everybody out. He's getting guys lined up in the right spot. It's loud, their signals involved, and then you got guys breathing down your throat while you're making a throw. And and he's

doing all that on the other side on defense. For for them to not get their first first down until six minutes to go in the second quarter and to go one for eleven on third down, as you said, against some of the better receivers in this league, it

just shows where our defense is at right now. And when you get into situations where you make a team fight for third down and you make them punt the ball as much as they did, you're always going to be in the game and turning the crowd on him too, raining booze down there and once again that defense was playing fast and I don't care who it was. Adrian Amos had himself. He's had a physical year to begin with. He was popping people. Kyle, you know, catch it. We're

bringing you down. Kevin Tolliver comes in there, boom, you catch it, We're putting you down to the ground. I don't know that there was one misstackle yesterday. I mean, I don't know. I watched tape, but you watch it differently than I do. But it was just really sound fundamentals and they're in the right place at the right time. They're confidence right now in each other is sky high. You love that going into into the into the playoffs.

And then the other part of that, when you play fast, that's because you understand where you're supposed to be, so you can play fast. These guys understand and that's a credit to Vic for putting him in a situation and to where they can go ahead and just let their play just go. And so if there's a crossing route across the middle and the guy knows he's gonna get hit, he might pull back a little bit because there's a

guy in the right spot. That's what they're doing and not just on third down, but they're doing on a first and second as well. And all those guys that got into the game, you know this This goes best really the preseason when you did rest your starters and got those guys some snaps. Do you think even back then, seeds of confidence were planted in who they are and what you expect from them. Yeah, it was. I don't know if they knew that they were going to be

at this point that they are right now. But you never know that going into a year where you're gonna be at in any any phase, whether it's offense or defense. But you know, you look at earlier in the season and you saw a couple of game you start out the first two quarters in Green Bay, and you say, well, man, I've never seen anything like this. But then all of a sudden, you get into six games into the year, and four of the six games were like that. And

now it stretches out. Now it's eight out of ten, and now it's ten out of and you start saying, well, this is kind of normal, and that that that's a that's just a fun thing to have. I know, I'm super pumped that they're on our They're on our side, and it's it's comforting. But now like now we go and now it's now it's a time for them to uh to step up here in the playoffs. What don't it say you let every game this season? Yeah, that's a that's all sixteen. That's a great stat You never

trailed in eight of them, is that right? Well, let's let's keep that going. I mean those are eye openers when you talk about a twelve team tournament. Man, Bears are dangerous. I said that, you didn't, but I know you think it. White whims In Bellamy scattered to the left side, calling to the right of Mitch Drobiskie. Five of the play clock, Bears moving right till left takes the snap. Give it a Cohen's got the goal. I

pe barrels into the den zone for the touchdown. Cohen's in from the three Bears up nineteen ten seven forty six left of the game. Trek Cohen capping off the long drive. In terms of snaps, the sixteen play the longest of the season. Matt Nagge, How defining is it in the big picture of every drive you had this year? Yeah, it's without a doubt one of the better ones that

we had. And you go six team plays, you end it with a touchdown, you convert, you know, four third downs on the road in that situation after they had just scored. It's I just love where our guys are. I love their focus, I love their their ability to handle adversity. They're in a great spot. And when you have that that happened, it's just such a confidence booster for the rest of the game. Mitch didn't run much,

but he did run on back to back plays. They were I mean those happy at how and when he decided to do it, Yeah, because he's not looking to run right away, but he understands that when he does pull the ball down and become a ball carrier, now you know. And I was on the sidline a few times yelling get down or get out of bounds, and he did both of those on both those carries. But he's a weapon. When you're able to run the football,

it's a weapon. And the defensive coordinators know that it eliminates a couple of coverages that they can run because if they want to run those coverages, he can beat you with his legs and he's been doing that. Kyle Long twenty nine snaps. How'd he great out? How did he feel? I don't know if you've spoken him today at all or are you happy with what you saw? Yeah? I talked to him last night on the plane and everything was good, really, no setbacks at all. He was

well conditioned. Twenty nine plays was a good number for him. More than anything, just the mentality of knowing that he did it. Whether it's the mentality of your injury or whether it's the mentality of just getting back into you know, hearing play calls and running your assignments the right way. But he did everything we asked for him yesterday. I gotta bring up James Daniels. While this kid is so young and he played like a veteran yesterday clearing out guys.

His strength and lower body power must be so significant at his age. It just seems like he's fighting guys out of the out of the way and terrific job that. And Jordan Howard continues to be an outstanding blitz pick up artist. He's attacking, he's not waiting. His cut block was big on the Quikowski two pointer. Is that something that you have learned and appreciated now from him? And where is James Daniels headed here. James Is, He's at a point right now where the game is finally slowing

down to him. He is so young, he's a pup. And what's scary is to think of what you just got done saying is how well he's playing on the offensive line, whether it's past protection or in run blocking. You put a couple of years of strength to him in that lower body, and it's only going to get better. And so to see where he's at now and know where he can be is exciting. Jordan Jordan's been Jordan are year long. I mean, he's he's done some things under the radar that not a lot of people see,

and we just appreciate that so much. Yesterday, I think he ended up with twenty one carries over one hundred yards, a couple of touchdowns. And when you're able to get that run game going with him and that offensive line, it just helps you out in the past game. And uh, you know, we started out early with some runs, got away from it for a little bit, and then went back to it, and that's just too Jordan Is, So you played the Eagles, So I actually didn't grow up

an Eagles fan, but being around him. I had a bunch of friends that were and I still did this day, have a ton of ton of family and friends back in Pennsylvania that obviously are big Eagles fans. But my first coaching job in the NFL was with Philly and and they gave me the opportunity. That's where coach Reid was and so I spent three three good years there and had a great time learning how to be a coach. So I still know we drafted a couple of guy

we actually draft when I was there. We drafted uh Brandon Graham their defensive end and Fletcher Cox, so they're still there on defense, and uh Jason Jason Kelsey was at center and so and Peters was there at tackle. So there's some guys there that that was there when I was there. And of course there's coaches and how he rose mean to GM. The a lot of history there, so a lot of respect and then Doug and I being together for so many years. But it'll it'll be

a fun one. So much respect between the two of you, guys. Boom, Now your guys are in the same game. It's it's it's wild, it's it's it's but you know that when you're both in the NFC, and UH, I know I know Doug really well. I know his family and our wives know each other really well. Our kids. Um, you know when you're when you're in the trenches like we were for six years. Um, both hip by hip H. Watching so much tape together, UH, going through game plans together,

sitting down with coach read the three of us. I mean we have story after story, so we know each other really well. And now being removed from for him getting his you know, this is his third year away from Kansas City, UH, and us being together, things change offensively for for him and what they do. But uh so there will be some chess match to it and and but in the end, UH win loser draw for both of us, there's that friendship and their appreciation for

how we do things well. We wish anohing but the best. In the preparation, this week should be fun. It'll feel just like a regular seat. You know, you got a three forty start. Are you happy with that? I like that? Yeah, Monday, I like our spot on Sunday for sure, it's good. But I'm really thankful for a home game in front of all those fans. The Soldier field. They're going to be rocking and rolling and I can't wait. Ask them every day. They'll pay you back. Matt Maggie, Congratulations, Happy

New Year to you and your family too. The Bears Coaches Show with head coach Matt Maggie and this hour featuring offensive coordinator Mark Helfridge, brought to you by Whippley CBA's and Consultants and sponsored by Athletico Physical Therapy Forison and Miller Litte. Once again the Voice of the Bears w BBMS Jeff Joniac fellow me out to the outside of right. Snapper is back. Here comes pressure picked up by Howard throwing deep, going for Gabriel, divid catch. It

is in the end zone. Gabriel the grab. What a play from start I finished during playing catch the ball. However, he was down by contact at the one yard line. The Chicago's ball there first and goal. A tremendous throw and a tremendous catch by Taylor. Gabriel falls one yard chieve a touchdown. It would have been something to see if it counted as a six pointer, but the Bears did punch it in. Welcome back to the Bears Coaching Show. Here at p ANDC Studios in Hatle Saw with Bears

offensive coordinator Mark klf Ritch. Happy New Year, my friend, Happy New Year. What a what a road performance that that forty one yard throw when Taylor goes airborne to catch it. What what a precise throw and a great catch, two beds in, knee down. You want to have a guy reward for that kind of effort. You're greedy, Jordan appreciate it. But no, big time play, big time throw,

great protection. That's something that that when you look back all night, no turnovers and no sacks against that defense is a tribute to everybody, you know, everybody involved. Uh And and it was good to see tg make a big play. Would have loved him for him to score, and and going down getting banged up was too bad.

But yeah, big time win. Yeah, he's been to talking about you know that he'd liked to be a part of that, you know, deep ball, but the way teams have been playing have been taking it away a little bit. We'd like, we'd like him to be part of that,

to be a part of that too. But yeah, people people are playing off of them, people are playing over the top of them with two guys and and so then hopefully that that opens up somebody else, and Mitch recognizes it challenging on a day when you know you didn't have Alan Robinson, Taylor has to go out with some sore ribs and Anthony Miller with the shoulder popping out or whatever happened there on that fly sweep. But boy, Kevin White and Javon Wims, it just proves again what

you guys as a coaching staff have done. And Tom there and myself, we've talked about it almost every game, and it goes for every coach on this team. You have got your guys prepared for just about anything and any game. No moment has been too big for any player. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong. No, I think that the guy kind of the unsung here the last couple weeks has been Mike Furry, our receiver coach. He's done a phenomenal job. We had some weird things happened,

not only in the games, but uh in practices. But but those guys have been ready and we haven't skipped a beat. Uh. You know, you just go to your other your your weapons. He gets seventy nine in there, and get your backup linebacker in there, and creates some some more offense. But now those guys, and you said to Kevin Whimsy, they made some plays, made some big time plays with the ball without the ball. Uh, And so that's a good sign. Could have very easily been

zoned out at this point in the season. Absolutely, they're not going to play me. You know, we're a roll and we're a playoff team. We're winning everything solid. You're says a lot about who those guys are, you know, and and how much this team means to them, and that that's that's that's neat to see. So for those folks who only got a glimpse of seeing in Javan in the preseason, Um, what did you get yesterday? What are you getting from his skill set even though it's

raw at the moment. Uh, Yeah, that's a great description. We think he has a huge ceiling. He's a guy that that is big. He's strong. Uh, he's got a great feel for for space, for route running. Uh. He made had had that that kind of a fifteen yard stop route which was a big third down conversion, a couple of other big, big time kind of rhythm throws that that you know, he normally takes a little bit longer to build that chemistry. So he's kind of a guy that that is. Ah, he's an easy target to

throw too as a quarterback. You know where he's gonna be when he's gonna be there, and and uh, we're very excited about his future. And Kevin White, we know what his skill set is. Star crossed career obviously because of injuries and whatnot, and worked himself back into a healthy situation. But you know, you know, with a guy that size, he's going to So some of those throws or trust throws, weren't they even though Mitch hasn't had a lot of time with both of those guys, Yeah,

they were. We had a couple really one other chance that that you know, could have would have should have had a had a had a big time game or would have been a big time game. Kevin run a great route, and then we had a couple other ones. Uh, right there at the end of the game that last third down would have liked to convert, which is just the top of the route and an easy fix. But now Kevin has battled through a lot and proud of him and his effort. The Bears coaches show with offensive

coordinator Mark Hilpridge and w bbm's Jeff Joniac continues. Snapped back glitches on picked up by Howard, throwing right passes caught by Whims. Had a first down catch, very tight coverage. You heard the yell. That's the Georgia rookie screaming on a throw to the right side. It's a big third down catch by Javon Wims. I had a couple of conversations win throughout the season, and sometimes you get to know these guys. They you know, are in the locker

room every day. They're not a part of the throng of media. So you talk to him and you get to know him, and you know, I say, just hang in there, your time will come one day. And you know, he does have that kind of mindset. You know, he didn't have great success at Georgie really into his final season, so he's learned how to be patient a little bit,

I think. So I think that's a great analogy. You know, he kind of just kept plugging and kept plugging, and he's done that, and he's done everything we've asked him to do. He's been ready every week. There was no let's just say no, you know, no hesitat by any member of the offense when he was in there, you know, and and starting at the quarterback and through the coaching staff, we have a lot of a lot of trust in him. And and uh, like you said, I think that just

says a lot about who he is. And and staying ready, staying prepared when you know you're not getting you know, catching, you know, catching eight times every week. Now, you mentioned seventy nine playing the fullback position. Now you know you're always on high alert for everything in the book. But he played fullback yesterday. That let's call that what. He played fullback and he ran a deep route and he looked good doing it. I mean, two guys bracketing him,

he did he did. Hey, they they saw the scouting report, they knew where the weapons weapons were. But no, he did a great job. That was something that we kind of wanted to, you know, get into and dictate the physicality the game a little bit. And and uh uh you know they had a couple guys out up front that that may have contributed to a little bit of help there. But uh, you know, Bradley's to get another guy. That just's He's earned a lot of trust in a

variety of of role. Yeah, that's Bradley Soul for those who don't know the numbers by heart at this late stage in the season. But he's a big guy who's a terrific athlete, was an outstanding pitcher and in high school as well, could have easily played college baseball. He was telling me as a repertoire of pitches that could arrival. You know, Kyle longs oh fastball. He'll He'll make you aware of everything. He'll make you aware of a lot. He's a big personality though, and you know there's a

nasty to him throughout that game. Going back and watching the tape, there was a lot of post play ear hustling, as I like to college guys were taking exception to a couple of things. Yeah, he's got he's got a good little edge to him. Yeah, and we love that if it's at the right time, you know, we would love it to be between the whistles, you know, and and and have him do his thing, uh and run back to the huddle and do it again, you know, take care of business between the snap and the whistle.

So you went in there basically sending a message on that opening drive that you're here to play some physical football today because I assumed Minnesota was going to be that way just because of their head coach from Mike Zammer. He's that type of guy, right, Yeah, the defensive minded you know, pound it pounded and convert on third down. And and we kind of flipped the script little, but that was what what what we kind of talked about

going into it is is. Uh, you know, as Naggs did a great job ball week long emphasizing we were showing up to win the game and they had to take it from us. And the biggest thing of all is just being turnover free and yeah and sack free. Well now that's three straight games, I believe from Mitch and quarterback ratings over one hundred and three straight games. So as he hit his groove right now, Uh, he's

done good things, you know. And again I think we're just always scratching and clawing and striving for better and and there's things that that every single one of us can do better, and him included. And uh, you know, now Philly presents a completely different challenge, uh, and and you know, a different different preparation than really anybody we've we've played this year. We'll tell me why in a second.

You can help deserving families by donating a winner coat for the Chicago Bears Jewel Asco Coach Drive at participating Jewel Asco locations now through February. First donation benefit the Salvation Army here with Mark Helfrich. So why is that but preparation make it a little different aside from the obvious. It's the playoffs, right, Yeah, it's the playoffs. You know they're they're the champs, and you know you have to

knock out the champ type of mentality going into it. Um, I think you can start and by Hellodi Nada is listed as a backup, right, I mean that that's that kind of just says to their depth and talent upfront is is how how good that guy is, how physical they are, athletic they are. They just present a ton of problems upfront. The back end they have, you know, they have had a couple of injuries and and guys have been in and out. But up front they're they're

unbelievably talented and just tremendously deep. And that wide nine of Jim Schwartz, Michael Bennett, Tim Jerning, and Fletcher Cox who's an outstanding All Pro, Brandon Graham. And then you know you mentioned held Nada, So it's Chris long a backup exactly exactly. You know, Chris Longos comes in and rushes the passer and unbelievable feel for how how to defeat However he's being blocked. You know, he's he's doubled, and he slips inside or spends you know, he's got

just an elusiveness that is impressive. And Graham is just playing at another level. The fronts that you guys have played this year, from Buffalo to New York Giants, to the Detroit Lions to the Vikings Miami. I mean they've had you based Rams really good fronts this year, would you agree? No question? And yeah, unfortunately we're gonna be well prepared. Um, it's just it's just deeper, you know,

is what it appears to me. And as as I've you know, gotten into whatever five or six games at this point, and um, the you know, the Rams just think you know, as our fan, the Rams upfront is a is a is a good analogy of of that that kind of speed power, uh. And then schematically they do a lot more uh from a coverage standpoint than than the Rams did in that combination is just recognizing upfront,

communicating it, and then then executing. The Bears Coaches Show with head coach Matt Maggie continues exclusively on the Home of the Bears News Radio seven eighty and one oh five point nine FM w BBM. Back on The Bears Coaches Show, brought to you by a whipfully Financial Advisers Here at Hallis Hall at PNC Studios with Mark Helfrich. One more segment our remaining moments as the Bears get ready to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild

Card weekend at Soldier Field. Our prem will get started at twelve thirty kickoff at three forty against the Eagles, and join me Tom There and Luke Adallas for Bears Game Night Live, brought to you by IGS Energy, will recap every Bears game Sunday nights at ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago. Scratching the service a

little bit on the Philadelphia Eagles. Want to go back to a couple of things offensively though that has transpired and a touched on it with Matt about the performance at James Daniels Every young man who's just scratching the surface as well of his career. But he doing a heck of a job in there, man, he really is. He's improving, he's battling, and that's a hard thing to do.

And you're a twenty one year old young buck rookie against some of these vets that are you know, he's played against ten year vets's, he's played against all pros, multiple multiple all pros, and he's gotten with a couple of times. But but he hasn't skipped a beat from a confident standpoint, and that's that's impressive. Uh, Harry, he stand is you know, constantly harpen on on everything with him because we know, we know what's in there, and you know, we want to squeeze every every drop out

of him. But getting getting him, Cody Kyle back together and and and getting shorn up kind of that guard center guard uh area, it's going to be. As we discussed vital uh getting ready for Philadelphia, and you know Kyle Long as well as anybody, what did it mean to him yesterday and what would it mean to him actually playing a playoff game first time in his career? Yeah, big deal, you know, big deal. He's a he's a

big teddy Barrett Hart. And uh to see him, you know, just just the joy not only not only in the game, but to be able to practice again and to to get out there and and lift and run, you know, do those things totally, you know, ingrained with the team. Not that he was like some you know, removed guy, but you are right physically removed a little bit in terms of being on only to do a little bit,

you know. And that's the way he did say. He was at it every meeting, took notes, copious notes, planned, prepared as if he was going to play the game. That allowed him, in his mind to get ready to play a Viking team he mentally prepared for in week eleven. Um, was that something organic? Was that something you ask your

injured players to do? Well, you you ask him, but that's another thing to ask him, and it's another thing to do it and just go through the motions, and there's another thing to to, you know, sincerely prepare And I really think he did. He he did ask questions a ton in whether it was a protection meeting or an install meeting or or whatever. And again that that says, you know, this, this means a lot to that, to

to that guy and to get back healthy. And I think going back to when he was injured, we charted a course for Hey, we're you know, we're gonna needs you in the postseason. We're gonna needs you to finish, you know, finish this deal out. And he took that seriously years ago. I don't know if it was his rookie year and not, it may have been, or maybe a second year that Bears played the Saint Louis Rams and he had to go up against and he did not like the idea of that, and I'm sure deep

down he still doesn't. I mean, they're super close. Obviously it's a unique family, but maybe the maturation of being a thirty plus year old now has has curb that and the appetite of playoff football will we'll forget about that. But it is a unique situation. I had somebody asked me what someone that less informed about the game say, Now, do they play on opposite? Yeah, they're playing on He's a defender and he can kill your quarterback. Right, So

that's going to be the interesting sidebar story to this. No, it's it's unbelievably you know, cool in a lot of ways and weird, you know, in a lot of ways. I think probably even more so for their parents of being out there and watching the game. But you know, hopefully they you know, we come out on top and everybody plays great and stays healthy and all that stuff.

But he'll be playing. He'll be playing his tail off regardless of you know, what last name was on the opponent this week, and you know, throughout the season as it happens. So it's Bears Eagles and Matt Naggie's first coaching stop in Philadelphia, that whole tree. You know, even in quiet moments, did you guys even think that this was something that could happen? And what do you think?

Maybe it's been unspoken because you guys live in the moment and don't talk about tomorrow or yesterday for that matter. But with Matt, just how it must feel for him, I mean, he touched on it a little bit, just as coaches, as you guys discuss any of these types of things. Uh, you know, yes, I know, I mean, I mean yeah, I mean you're you're kind of playing the what if game just as much as as as the average fan would be to to a certain extent, But then we have to go and you know, do

something about it. So like last week, you know, there's there's different thought process of how we game plan, why we game plan, what we want to do again, not not looking forward in any way, but just of you know, fighting the battle that's in front of us and then being prepared for you know, whatever happens. Uh. And and it just so happened that probably the lowest percentage thing happened. And and now we're ready to play, you know, play Philly and it is a huge challenge. And Doug and

Matt's background together is is that that's cool too? You know again that's probably another one of those Uh it's not quite playing against your brother, but but close. Yeah. And you have had a ton of success, You've been in big games your whole life. Um, but for a first time NFL coach to be in this scenario as it feel well lucky, you know, lucky in a lot of ways. And our guys earned it in a lot

of ways. And I think when you sit here on on you know black Mondays, as it's obviously known in the coaching profession, and you see, however many openings now in our quarter, you know, a quarter of the of the franchise is changing up, you know, head coaches and all that stuff. That that's reality, you know, to be to be where we are and to to do what what our guys have done and what Matt has done is special and we have to we have to savor that then at the same time not savor it and

and just prepare for the next thing. What have you learned? Oh? A ton, I mean, and yeah, a lot. You know, I think the we don't have enough time to go through everything. Certainly the game management type of scenarios. It's just way different in the NFL. Number of plays, all those things we've talked about before, h you know. And then I turned around and watched the Dallas game this morning. Think they had one hundred and eleven place or something

like that, one hundred and something plays against Philadelphia. So a couple of those pop up every every now and then. But yeah, learned a ton and excited to compete in the next one. The powerful noise canceling technology that helps the NFL coaches blackout eighty thousand screaming fans can get you closer to the music you love. Learn more at www dot bows dot com. Slash Bears Bows the official headphones of the Chicago Bears. Well, hopefully the Eagles will

need headphones Sunday. And we're real loud ye. Our fans have been awesome and we appreciate it and keep it up. And I also have to wish our son a happy birthday January first baby. So oh, how you going to Max? Howld Max? Max is gonna be twelve twelve, He's just starting, he's just starting out. Were happy birthday to Max and good luck with your preparation this week. Appreciate it. Mark Helfrich, the Bears offensive coordinador. That's going to wrap us up

for Matt Naggie. Mark Helfrich, Dan Breally, Jordan tread Up, Andy Grisher, and I'm Jeff Joniakins. Bears Eagles Wildcard playoffs Sunday, twelve thirty, free game kickoff at three fourty. Thanks for listening. Everybody, have a great new year and a healthy one. This is News Radio seven eighty one on five point at FM WBBM