Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Patrick Mannelly on Bears-Packers wild-card game: 'Anything can happen' (Hour 2)
06 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What are the key matchups to watch in the Bears-Packers wild-card game?
We talk to Patrick Manley every Tuesday during the football season. At this time, he joins us via the Circus Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circus Sports app today. Patrick Manley, the longest tenured bear. He is also a part of our pre- and post-game coverage on our football Sundays, and he watches every game that we care about because he's good like that.
Patrick, thanks for joining us today.
It's good to talk to you guys and it's actually fun to talk about a game this week and not talk about coaching searches and a draft pick and all that kind of crap.
It absolutely is fun to not talk about that crap because I don't care about it right now either. We had a heated debate earlier on the show talking about Ben Johnson's comments saying that he's simply focused right now on his defense not giving up the points. Where do you stand on this?
I just feel like he needs – he feels like he has to outscore his opponent. And I think that 49ers game kind of summed it up. I think he knows what he has defensively right now. You know, they show they cannot get after the quarterback. They're struggling with man-to-man.
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Chapter 2: How does Ben Johnson's coaching impact the Bears' playoff chances?
And if they don't get the turnovers, they struggle. And I'm just hoping that turnover machine, whatever they had, that magic stuff they had going on in the middle of the season, comes back. Because if they do, I think they can go on a run. But I just think he realistically looks at this team and understands that this defense – It's not good.
They've had a lot of injuries, and they haven't performed up to the level. Montez Sweat is not performing up to a $100 million contract. They've had a lot of injuries, of course, and Kyler Gordon, hopefully he comes back and helps. But again, I just think he's trying to say, hey, I've got to outscore him. I've brought here to score points, and let's go.
This segment with Patrick Manley is sponsored by Packy Webb Ford. Patrick, let's be honest. If we wanted to load up all the good players on defense into that El Camino of yours, you'd have plenty of room left over. Listen, can we all just accept it is what it is? I don't understand how we're here to the playoffs.
Chapter 3: What are the implications of Jordan Love's performance for the Packers?
I mean, 17 games have been played, and we aren't all on the same page. It does have to be the offense if they're going to advance in the playoffs. No doubt. I mean, that's what it is. I mean, it just... The NFL has changed, and what's interesting now is we are talking about this top-notch offense in the NFL. It's exciting to say that about the Chicago Bears. Dennis Allen has a tough job.
He has a real tough job with a lot of injuries, but they're just not the strength of this team. Again, it just has to be the takeaway machine, the turnovers, whatever you want to call it. If they can get those things going again, we'll be okay, but that's not a given. I think it's kind of shown that that was a nice little streak they were on. Al Harris talks about it.
We should get them every week. Sure, but it's not happening the last few weeks.
Chapter 4: How do injuries affect the Bears' strategy against the Packers?
And I'm nervous about that. I'm very nervous about that. Just because this, guys, you go into that last week and you expect the Bears to kind of take care of business against the depleted Lions team, and they didn't. They didn't show up offensively. They obviously didn't show up defensively. They did in the red zone, I will say that. They didn't allow them to score points offensively.
But it didn't look good in between the 20. So this makes you nervous going in to the playoffs where you thought a game against the Lions. You know, like, all right, let's build our confidence. Let's get going. Let's execute, not make mistakes, step up our game on defense and be ready for this run. And I just finished that game being a little more nervous than I thought I would be.
All right, this is driving me crazy. First of all, Pat, we're watching Pat on Twitch, and you can join in on Twitch, too, if you like twitch.tv slash Chicago670, the score.
Chapter 5: What are the fans' expectations for the Bears in the playoffs?
Are you wearing a Pat Foley t-shirt, like as in the Blackhawks broadcaster? What does it say? That's my guy, man. Pat Foley is a legend. He is a legend. What is your shirt? He is a legend. Oh, it says Pat Foley is a legend. Okay. Yes, I had it made for him when he had his big retirement thing for the Blackhawks. Oh, wow.
I was fortunate enough to be part of his crew that day, and I had a bunch of guys over. to the condo before and we went over to celebrate that last night for him. It's one of my favorite t-shirts. I love wearing it around because you can tell a true Blackhawks fan.
Chapter 6: What was the outcome of the Illinois State-Montana State FCS championship game?
They'll be like, yep, you're right. They'll just say, yep, you're right. But it is. I forgot I had this on. Pat Foley is a legend. The voice of success with the Chicago Blackhawks, and hopefully it'll get back on track. But, all right, let's do this, Pat. Let's start to look at Bears and the Green Bay Packers for a third time this season.
What's the first thing you're looking at in breaking this game down and getting the Bears to win a playoff game? Jordan Love has not taken a snap since December 20th. You know, is there rust there? I'm curious about that because it has been a while since the last time he's played was against the Bears. So was there rust there? And you're hoping for that.
But then the other part is, guys, that last week, both teams...
Chapter 7: What lessons can be learned from Illinois State's heartbreaking loss?
took week 18 and prepared like it's the preseason. The Packers rested their starters, but the Bears played like it was the preseason. So I'm nervous about the rest that they have and that they are a lot of veteran players on that team that that rest might be. I think Matt LaFleur made the right decision with that team and resting those guys. They've been there before.
they understand what this playoff run is like. So that scares me as well. But the biggest thing, Grody, is Jordan Love. So does he have rust? Does it take time to knock that rust off? And can the Bears take advantage of that early on and get some of those takeaways? So we'll see what he looks like when he comes back from his injury.
Well, and additionally, Patrick, I feel like when Jordan Love was at his best this season against the Bears, it was recognizing the blitz looks that he was seeing out of the defense. He didn't seem to find it confusing. He had a check down answer practically every time.
Chapter 8: How do the Bears plan to build confidence going into the playoffs?
And that's how they were able to pick apart the defense so well, especially in that first game.
Yeah, and I think Dennis Allen has a... I'm excited to see what he draws up. I think he's seen some of the deficiencies with this defense playing as much man-to-man and blitzing as much as he has. The second game against the Packers, he didn't bring as much. And they were a little better. Obviously, they were really good in the red zone. I think 0-5 in the red zone for the Packers.
It will be interesting to see what he dials up and kind of figures out if C.J. Gardner-Johnson can't go, who fills in for him. Can Kyler Gordon come in and play as much as we hope and be as healthy as we hope? But I just want to see his game plan going against Matt LaFleur and what he does against Jordan Love just because he's shown what he did against Kyle Shanahan didn't work.
You know, they targeted Nashawn Wright, which is scaring me right now late in the season that Teams have all this film on a player who had a great year and caused all those takeaways, but is really struggling one-on-one. And we saw that last week as well against the Lions.
So Dennis Allen has a lot on his plate this week to figure out what he can do with this defense and how he can combat Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love. former Bears long snapper Patrick Manley joining us as he does every week here on Rahimi Harrison-Grody.
And Patrick, I like what you did when you talked about the rust because I've been convincing my compadre here, Mark Grody, to tell me how exactly the Bears are going to win. You're doing the work for him, basically, by giving me a reason why I can believe in the Bears. The problem, though, is you look at the last five games that the Bears have played.
Outside of that Cleveland game, who are the Browns, they haven't forced more than one turnover when they play good teams. No. And so unless it's that rust that you're talking about, tell me how they're going to create havoc for a quarterback. Last time I looked, looked pretty comfortable throwing little quickies where guys were outrunning everybody to the end zone.
It's true, but Jordan Love will throw the ball up. We know that. We've seen that. You have to take advantage of that. There was a play two weeks ago, December 20th up in Green Bay where he threw it up and Nashawn Wright, there was a pass interference penalty on him because Nashawn Wright would have basically come down with it, but I forgot who the receiver was, tackled him so he wouldn't get it.
So there are situations and opportunities that Jordan Love will throw the ball up. You just have to be able to capitalize on that as a defense, and that's the difference I want to see that they can do. Like I said, Jordan Love will throw you the ball. He's going to throw it up and give his guys a chance, but the Bears have to take advantage of that, and we'll see if they do.
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