Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Bears report: Ben Johnson details what needs to improve against Packers
08 Jan 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What insights does Mark Grody provide about the Bears' upcoming game against the Packers?
Bears. Mark Grody, covering the Bears for 670, the score. Can I get a couple minutes with you here, man? I ain't talking today, man. I'm sorry. Okay. Go next to Mark Grody. Are you from the score? How gratifying is it when you win that battle and get the football thrown to you? What? Host of the Take the North podcast. I'm sorry, guys. What was I talking about?
Kind of shaking your head at God for a second, though. Mark Grody. My hair does look good today. With Rahimi Harrison-Grody on the score. He's an apartment complex, this guy.
Oh, we changed it up. Mark Grody is the co-host of Rahimi Harrison Grody, as in Ann Grody. He joins us on the Circa Resort and Casino Hotline, CircaLasVegas.com. Appropriate that the Wayne Larravee impression makes a comeback this week as the Bears are yet again playing the Packers. And he joins us from the Hall, Hallis Hall. Mark, how are you?
I am doing well, guys. Yes, I am coming at you guys from the PNC Center, the atrium, the room in which everybody walks to get into the building. Well, it is one of them on the other side of the building right now on Field 1 out here at Bears headquarters. The Bears are practicing, getting ready for the Green Bay Packers, obviously, on Saturday night.
All eyes in that practice, and they're out there. Kyler Gordon and Roma Dunze, Ben Johnson guys sharing with us these specific words about those two guys and their chances. Quote, we'll see what it looks like. They're moving around well. We'll see if they can help us out this weekend. So we know everybody wants to know about that. Injury report will come out a little bit later.
We'll also get into the locker room. a little bit later on. But as you guys know, the bears did beat green bay on December 20th, but it certainly wasn't perfect. I thought there was a lot that the bears could clean up in that game. Um, and I asked Ben Johnson specifically that question on what you need to do to get better. And he kind of gave me the old two for one because
He also tells us what needed to be better in the first game against Green Bay. So I want you guys to hear this. It's fairly lengthy, just a little bit over a minute. I guess it's not that long. And then I will fill in some blanks on some of the things that you will hear from Ben Johnson.
But I just think this is a really good synopsis from Ben Johnson of what needs to be better to win this game on Saturday night. Here's Ben Johnson.
I think we're having problems with our system.
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Chapter 2: What specific improvements does Ben Johnson suggest the Bears need to make?
I get it on both sides of the ball, but Green Bay on third down against the Bears, and the Bears win over Green Bay. The pack was 6-for-12 on third down. In that first game that the Bears lost, obviously, the Packers were 8-of-12 offensively on third down in that game. And we know all the issues that went down in that game. Green Bay, time of possession against the Bears this year.
And the Bears win. The Packers had the ball 38-57 to the Bears, 26 minutes and 13 seconds in the first game. A little bit better. Green Bay 33-29 to the Bears, 26 minutes and 31 seconds. And in general, the Green Bay Packers, back to the third down thing, their offense, that is, their offense. In general, they are second in the league on third down.
So I thought that was really interesting how specific Ben Johnson got. It's specific and it's very obvious, too. Those areas need to be cleaned up as tight as both of these games were. Even though the Bears won their last game, they got away with some stuff, and that stuff needs to be tightened up to win this game on Saturday.
I find it pretty curious, Mark, that Ben Johnson gave the Packers credit for time of possession, but for some reason didn't give the Lions credit for it last week.
Did he never mention that?
Well, the way he put it was that the offense needed to be on the field more to limit it.
Yeah. Yeah, man. He was, I got to tell you, I mean, he was furious after that. I don't think that Ben Johnson has been more furious this year. than he was after that Detroit game, and it seems to have carried over this week. Now, this is the first day that I've been out here, but obviously I've paid attention to all the stuff that's been going on, and I've talked to my colleagues and all that.
He's been as focused of a man as he is. He seems to be even more focused, and he joked around a little bit with us today, but you can still feel that laser focus, maybe a little bit of an anger, maybe a chip on his shoulder has grown a little bit after that Detroit loss. I mean, this...
The Detroit loss, really, I mean, it may have been the most productive loss for the Bears this year in terms of straightening them out and opening their eyes a little bit and incurring the wrath is what I feel like has been going on out here from Ben Johnson.
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Chapter 3: How do injuries impact the Bears' performance ahead of the Packers game?
Which team can get the running game revved up? The Bears in the December 20th game did rush for 150 yards. The Packers were well over 100 yards as well. Emmanuel Wilson...
as a guy that i have circled i get it it's josh jacobs but emmanuel wilson was a problem against the bears in that december 20th game every run seemed to 14 carries for 82 yards in that game um so both teams can get this running game going the bears uh in the the first game the december 7th game the bears outrushed the pack 138 to 117 so you can see where it it might it's
Obviously, the quarterbacks are huge in this game and the most important part of it. But low key, which team gets the running game revved up early and the most often could very well win this game. And it's been pretty even in that regard. Both teams have been capable of running against the other.
We know that the Bears have had heavy-duty issues this year stopping explosive runs, stopping other teams running backs, and we know that Josh Jacobs had that explosive in one of the games. I think it was the first game against the Bears on December 7th. All that stuff has to be taken seriously.
Mark, what are you most excited to inquire about when the locker room opens after practice? What are you after besides getting me an explanation of how the Bears are going to actually beat the Packers on Saturday night?
Well, I think that the number one person is DJ Moore has not talked this week. He also did not talk after, at least not while I was in there. And I don't know that anybody talked to DJ Moore after the Detroit game. So he is certainly subject number one. for all of us to talk to. And look, he has been of heavy consequence in these games.
Obviously, the 46-yard magical overtime win on December 20th. But the whole Keyshawn Nixon saga is interesting because he was in the picture on both plays.
Keyshawn Nixon had the the interception obviously in the first game and we know that we all thought was DJ Moore open was he good for that and it was Keyshawn Nixon in coverage on the play on December 20th and I know he's been talking out I heard you guys playing a little bit of what he was saying um coming in here to Hallis Hall today so I think that's a person that I definitely will ask uh DJ Moore about when we get a chance to to talk to him because he's obviously I don't have to say it one of the most important parts going into this game on offense
Well, and the other thing is, I wonder if he'll admit to the late hit over the middle now. Like, didn't DJ try to move past that a little bit in postgame comments last time?
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Chapter 4: What has been the Bears' offensive strategy in previous games against the Packers?
I see what looks to be a 33 Charles Tillman next to number 26, Tim Jennings. That's why sometimes you'll hear me call Tim Jenkins. Tim Jennings because the Bears had a guy named Tim Jennings, number 26, who had a bunch of interceptions one year. But I don't think I have time to go through every person on this mural unless you guys would like me to do that. I concur.
I concur.
Maybe next week. Who knows? March 6th again. We'll look forward to the hit of four.
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.
Studio, big guy! Yeah, yeah, yeah. Be ready with your picks, guys. Be ready. This is going to be a close one.
Indeed. That's Mark Grody, live from Halasol, joining us on the Circa Resort and Casino Hotline, CircaLasVegas.com. And coming up next, availability continues to be the name of the game with this matchup. And unfortunately, that also means in the receiving core. We got to break out the Roma Dunes A Confidence Index because I don't know how healthy he is. That's next.
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