The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Ep. 285: The Bears are still searching for an identity after loss to the Packers

Laurence Holmes and the Football Aftershow crew of Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, and Alex Brown discuss the 21-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers.(5:21) - Expectations have significantly dropped for Mitch Trubisky this season.(9:36) - Ryan Pace needs to build a better roster for his coach.(15:19) - Bears need to draft another quarterback immediately!(22:53) - How should the Bears prepare with little to no chance of playoffsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 284: Will Packers force Mitch to ”play quarterback again”?

Host Laurence Holmes is joined by the Journal Sentinel's Jim Owczarski from Milwaukee as they discuss have the Packers over achieved in head coach Matt LaFleur's first season (3:45), is Aaron Rodgers already looking toward the end of his career (9:50), and will the Packers use the same game plan they used against Mitch Trubisky and let him "play quarterback" (12:35). All that and more on this episode of the Under Center Podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 283: Can the Bears get the win they need over the Packers?

Laurence Holmes is joined by Cam Ellis to discuss the impact Akiem Hicks will make in his return (3:49). They go on to debate the differences between the Bears and Packers the second go around this season (6:58) and they talk about the resurgence of Bears WR Anthony Miller (10:42).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 282: Trubisky shines in big win over Cowboys

Laurence Holmes is joined by the Football Aftershow crew of Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, Alex Brown, and Olin Kreutz to break down the Bears' huge win over the Cowboys. The guys give their initial thoughts on the victory (1:05) before discussing what impressed them most about Mitch Trubisky's performance (5:00), what the possible return of Akiem Hicks and his leadership could mean (15:30), and how the team stays focused heading into Green Bay for Week 15 and beyond (25:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 281: Hicks’ Return Imminent & a Path to the Playoffs?

Laurence Holmes is joined by JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis from Halas Hall to discuss Akiem Hicks' return to practice and much more. The trio debates whether Hicks is the most important member of the Bears' defense (5:15) before discussing the team's mindset going into Thursday's game against Dallas (9:15) and how important it is for the team to finish the season strong (12:15). Finally, the guys map out a potential path to the playoffs, however unlikely it may be (15:15) and wonder whether we've seen the last of Adam Shaheen as a Bear (18:15). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 280: Bears Classics - 1980 Thanksgiving walk-off

In this Thanksgiving Week special edition, we flash back to the Bears/Lions game on Nov. 27, 1980. A furious 4th-quarter rally led to overtime, where Dave Williams returned the opening kickoff for the fastest-ever OT win at the time. A huge cast of characters takes you through the game and everything that led up to it, including QB Vince Evans, LB Otis Wilson, Lions RB Billy Sims, and many more. Topics include the history of the NFL playing on Thanksgiving (1:50), the winding roads to the NFL for Evans and Sims (12:30), the first half of the game where everything went wrong for the Bears (23:00), the furious 4th-quarter rally (34:30), and the epic OT heroics from Williams (41:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 279: Aftershow Thanksgiving reactions

The Football Aftershow crew reacts to the Bears comeback win over the Lions on Thanksgiving. They talk playoffs? Playoffs? Trubisky's big game, why did Blough do so well and what they took away from Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky's press conferences. 0:30 - Instant game reax....At 6-6, do the Bears have a chance at the playoffs?5:40 - Trubisky performance reax - ball placement, late drives, leveling up his play9:50 - Forte and the crew talk about run game and there still not being enough in that area16:45 - Defensive performance evaluation - what can they do better? why did Blough do so well?22:40 - Nagy calls Trubisky's performance 'special' after the game - is Nagy publicly saying things different than what he privately?24:45 - Crew reacts to Trubisky's press conference and liked what he saidSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 278: Thanksgiving in Detroit with Jeff Riger

Laurence Holmes is joined by Jeff Riger from 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit to preview the holiday clash between the Bears and Lions. Topics include the Lions' tenuous QB situation (2:45), a Matt Stafford update and a comparison to Jay Cutler (5:00), the Lions' inability to win big games in recent years (9:00), and the struggles of head coach Matt Patricia that have the Lions fan base so upset (13:45).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 277: Breaking down the Bears with Dave Wannstedt

Laurence Holmes is joined by former Bears head coach Dave Wannstedt to discuss what he liked in the team's win over the Giants (:15), how the offense can be tailored a little more toward Mitch Trubisky's strengths (2:30), the lack of a run game so far this season for the Bears (5:00), and how a team gets ready on a very short week for a familiar opponent (9:00). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 276: Are the Bears building false hope or taking steps forward?

Once again, the Bears come out with an uneven performance but earn a win against the New York Giants. Laurence Holmes is joined by Lance Briggs, Matt Forte and Alex Brown to debate whether or not the Bears offense took an actual step forward, whether Mitchell Trubisky actually had a decent game and whether they are actually a poorly coached team that makes the same mistakes week in and week out.1:30 - Did the Bears take a step forward in the win vs New York?8:45 - Mitchell Trubisky with another uneven game 12:15 - Bears continue to make blunders deep into the season14:15 - The confidence in Eddy Pineiro is disappearing quickly20:30 - A quick turnaround for Thanksgiving vs the Lions See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.