Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Kevin Harlan previews Bears-Rams & we share our predictions (Hour 4)
16 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Happy New Year, everyone, along with former NFL MVP Rich Gannon and Kevin Harlan. Somebody has run out on the field. Some goofball in a hat and a red shirt. Now he takes off the shirt. He's running down the middle by the 50. He's at the 30. He's bare-chested and banging his chest. Now he runs the opposite way. He runs at the 50. He runs at the 40. The guy is drunk, but there he goes.
That was a thick pick.
third and seven ram 43 shotgun snap pocket crumbles allen's running from the 40 to the far side stiff on his way into a defender and got the first down he took that defender with his right arm a stiff arm and threw him down like he was a ragdoll the nba on tmt is brought to you by the new crispy tenders at carmex wait a minute hold on i'm holding hold on are they serving tenders with cars
with Rahimi Harrison-Groney on the score.
Come on, Marshall. Bring it home, baby. We're ready for you.
He is one of my favorite voices in all of play-by-play, so much so that he is on our show every day encouraging Marshall Harris thanks to his last interview. We love talking to Kevin Harlan when we get the chance. He is on the call for Westwood One's coverage of the divisional round game between the Bears and the Rams, and he joins us through the Circus Sports Illinois hotline.
Download the Circus Sports app today. Hi, Kevin.
Hey, Layla, Mark, Marshall, good to be on with you guys on a playoff weekend in Chicago. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?
No, absolutely. And for us, you know the first time that the Bears have won a playoff game in 15 years. I can't imagine what it's like for you also to be able to observe this and call their divisional round game.
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Chapter 2: What insights does Kevin Harlan share about the Bears-Rams game?
He's got unique arm talent. His mind will continue to dig into that book of Ben. And there's just so much to like about what's there. But I also point to what they've done to the line. And I know the left tackle is going to be out this weekend, and that's going to be something to watch.
But the way they maneuvered through this past offseason, the table that was set by Johnson and their response, and I think a very difficult division, was exemplary. And I'm just thrilled that a team, a franchise like that, a flagship NFL franchise, has got this kind of opportunity in front of them on Sunday.
Kevin, you know we compliment not just your play-by-play of the game, your play-by-play of life as well. And I can't imagine what it must have been like being a part of any comeback as a play-by-play announcer.
Is there a particular Bears comeback now, one of the seven that they've had this season, where you're thinking about painting a picture, even if you're not a part of it, of what you would have liked to have called?
Well, last week for CBS, I was in Ann Arbor and saw... Wisconsin, the basketball version of the Badgers, beat the number two and previously unbeaten Wolverines and got on a plane as quickly as I could back home and joined my family and watched the second half. Now, coming from the airport to home, I heard the end of the first half go, my God, what has happened to the Bears, 21-3?
Like, what is going on? And then, like most of us, sat there in disbelief, as the second half unfolded and the fourth quarter became a circus. And that was so ā and you know I've got backer roots, but just as a football fan, I don't know how you couldn't appreciate that comeback. And then I was with a group of people, mainly my family, but we all commented on just the emotion in that stadium.
And it may not come as a surprise to you because you're in the business ā But, you know, broadcasters are triggered by a lot. And when a stadium has that kind of roar and volume and full-throat excitement, it's contagious to all of us. And I think it was contagious to the players. That was a fourth quarter I wish I could have been a part of and called.
And maybe we'll get a piece of that if we're not freezing our you-know-what's-offs on Sunday night, but man, that comeback against Green Bay, that was one for the ages. And the other game that was on prime not too long ago, that was a great game. That was incredible. The touchdown receptions by Caleb were just like, how in the world did he do it? How did he pull that off?
And if I'm a Bears fan... and where quarterbacking has not been the leader of headlines for the history of this franchise, to see what this kid has done in less than two years, man, that gives me hope. And hope is a very valuable commodity.
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Chapter 3: How does Kevin Harlan describe the atmosphere for the playoff game?
Well, you know, I'm not sure what it is with Ben and LaFleur. I don't know that I've looked at that story close enough. Just from what I hear, like LaFleur says, I don't know, there's nothing there. But clearly there has to be something.
Now, whether it's just, you know, sight unseen, young coaches trying to climb the ladder and all that, you know, I'm sure there's just the competitive rivalry that exists when someone your own age is climbing kind of, parallel with you and gaining that reputation. But Ben Johnson has nothing to prove. What he did at Detroit was phenomenal. And we saw when he leaves what happens with the Lions.
And we see, as a first-year head coach, what happens with the Bears. Like, he's got nothing to prove. LaFleur's not been to a Super Bowl. And LaFleur's had two terrific quarterbacks. So if I'm Ben Johnson, I'm saying, hey, you know what? This is the greatest rivalry in the national football league. It's got more history than any rivalry in the league.
And it may have been one-sided for a long time, but now how great to be a part of what will be a new chapter of this great story that the Bears now are right up there and competitive and there's no end in sight. And even if they lose on Sunday night, and I don't know that that's going to happen, but even if they would, It's only a comma. It's not a period. So, like, the best is yet to come.
And I guess I'd tell Caleb Williams in the locker room, I don't care what happens today. Let's go out and play. All I know is we're on page four of a 900-page story. Like, this thing is going to be a long, enjoyable ride. So let's just enjoy this. Let's learn from this. And if we win, terrific. And if we don't, man, look how far we've come in one year.
And I would like to think that's the message. But with him on the floor, I don't know. You know, I love rivalries. I love a little bit of tension. I think creative tension is good. And if that's the way he kind of, you know, gets up, then good for him. And maybe that'll catch on, and maybe LeFleur will reciprocate. And he'll be a little frosty next time. Who knows?
But it's sure great theater for two incredibly historic franchises. That is the iconic voice of Kevin Harlan, who will be on the call for Westwood One's coverage of the divisional round game between the Bears and the Rams coming up this Sunday. And Kevin, I think it's funny listening to you talk about how you're saying you haven't paid that much attention to it.
What I love about that is it feels like we are in uncharted territory because, hey, you call NBA games. This seems like more of an NBA storyline than an NFL storyline, and maybe we're tapping into some WWE energy here when we're talking about, because it is the oldest rivalry, there's a certain tradition to it as opposed to maybe the New Age social medianess of it all. We need more of this.
I'm not saying dirty tactics. I'm not saying stuff below the belt. I'm just saying good-natured highly competitive situations, and listen, I get to the stadium before our game is about three and a half hours before kickoff. I love to watch stadiums ignite and open up and begin, and the players warming up.
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