

The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast
Chicago Sports Network
The Charter Podcast is where you can find everything you need to know about the Chicago Bears. Our team of Ruthie Polinsky & Clay Harbor bring you postgame reaction, interviews, and game previews. We’ll provide you with latest and have some fun along the way. New episodes available every Thursday throughout the season.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 7, 2019 • 24min
Ep. 177: And just like that, the season is over
Matt Forte, Lance Briggs, Alex Brown and host Laurence Holmes were in disbelief as Cody Parkey’s field goal hit off the uprights and the crossbar, ending the Bears season early. The guys break down what the team is feeling after a heartbreaking loss in the Wild Card round, whether or not Cody Parkey will still be on the Bears next season, and look ahead to the expectations for the team next season.
0:30 – What is the feeling in the Bears locker room after the loss?
4:45 – Can you believe that is how the Bears season ended?
7:15 – Does Cody Parkey have a job with the Bears next season?
9:00 –Bears need more accountability for lack of performance
12:00 – Evaluating what was a really good season for the Bears
13:00 – What to expect from Mitchell Trubisky next year
14:00 – Is there a way to keep Vic Fangio?
15:00 – What do Bears need to clean up for next season?
16:00 – Does sour end to this season dull optimism for next year?
17:15 – The Nagy/Trubisky tandem going forward
19:15 – Evaluating Trubisky’s game and season as a whole
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Jan 4, 2019 • 20min
Ep. 176: A Philly Special with Dave Zangaro
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro joins JJ Stankevitz to get a full scouting report on the Eagles, and what Bears fans should expect on Sunday from a team that seems to be peaking at the right time.
0:50: Is Nick Foles going to do it again?
2:40: How much does Foles elevate the play of everyone around him?
4:45: What to expect from an improving Eagles O-line against the Bears’ front seven
6:30: We know Golden Tate and Alshon Jeffery well here, how strong is the Eagles’ group of pass-catchers?
8:15: How quickly will Doug Pederson abandon the run if it’s not successful early?
10:25: Just how good is Fletcher Cox?
12:20: Is this defense as beatable as some people think with downfield throws?
14:15: Quick anecdotes about former Bears and current Eagles DB Cre’von LeBlanc
15:15: How have the Eagles handled going on the road defensively?
16:45: So…are the Eagles peaking at the right time?
18:00: How’s local product and kicker Jake Elliott getting on?
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Jan 2, 2019 • 29min
Ep. 175: Breaking down Bears-Eagles
JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis preview Sunday’s Bears-Eagles playoff tilt, complete with these questions: Will the moment be too big for Mitch Trubisky? And can the Bears’ defense counter Nick Foles’ pixie dust?
0:45: Is Mitch Trubisky ready for the playoff spotlight?
5:00: A blueprint for success for Trubisky against the Eagles’ defense
7:30: How big an impact can Jordan Howard make?
10:15: The biggest player vs. player matchup of the Bears’ offense vs. Philly’s defense
14:40: How good have the Eagles been since Nick Foles started playing again?
17:00: Is the Bears’ defense good enough to just play its game and stop Foles Magic?
23:10: Picks to click for Bears-Eagles
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Dec 31, 2018 • 22min
Ep. 174: It’s official: Bears vs Eagles in the playoffs
The Bears finish the season 12-4 and now they know who they will face in the playoffs. Laurence Holmes, Matt Forte, Lance Briggs and Alex Brown break down the win over the Minnesota Vikings and when they really knew this Bears team was a legit contender. The guys also debate what the most intriguing part of the matchup is as the Bears will have to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the playoffs. Plus, Lance shares a story about how the Bears celebrated a bye week with a group outing in Las Vegas courtesy of a private jet provided by Brian Urlacher.
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Dec 27, 2018 • 26min
Ep. 173: Joint podcast with Eagles Insider Reuben Frank
On this special edition of Under Center, J.J. Stankevitz welcomes in Reuben Frank from NBC Sports Philadelphia. How are the Bears approaching their game at the Vikings? How aggressive will Matt Nagy be with his starters and playcalling? Would the Bears rather play the Vikings or the Eagles in the playoffs?
Reuben explains why the Redskins game isn't a guaranteed win for the Eagles. Also, if the Eagles did sneak into the playoffs, how dangerous a team are they?
1:00 - How Philadelphia fans are viewing the Bears/Vikings game?
6:00 - How will the Bears approach Sunday's game in Minnesota?
9:00 - J.J. Stankevitz believes the Bears will help out the Eagles.
11:30 - Matt Nagy's sudden impact with the Bears.
15:00 - Bears should be worried about the Eagles in a potential playoff game.
20:00 - No one should assume an Eagles win in Washington.
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Dec 26, 2018 • 23min
Ep. 172: How much should the Bears rest players against Minnesota?
JJ Stankevitz and John “Moon” Mullin discuss what Matt Nagy’s rest strategy could look like this week against Minnesota (1:10), and if it’s better to face the Vikings for the second time in a week than a red-hot Philadelphia Eagles team (7:35). Plus, JJ and Moon debate whether or not it’s fair to still feel like 2019 is going to be the year this team really becomes a Super Bowl contender (12:10). Finally, Minnesota's really a 6.5-point favorite this Sunday (19:35)?
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Dec 24, 2018 • 22min
Ep. 171: Bears win ugly and improve to 11-4
Once again, the Bears won ugly and improved to 11-4 following their win against the San Francisco 49ers. Laurence Holmes chats with Matt Forte, Lance Briggs and Alex Brown about the mixed bag for the Bears offense, as well as their concern level following the sloppy performance. Plus, the guys weigh in on the fight that broke out after a late hit to Mitchell Trubisky and who is the team they LEAST wish to play in the first round of the playoffs.
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Dec 19, 2018 • 30min
Ep. 170: The Bears aren’t taking their foot off the gas
JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis look at why the Bears’ culture won’t let them ease up after winning the NFC North, plus the guys look back at the 2017 draft day trade with the 49ers that got the Bears Mitch Trubisky. Also, Bay Area News Group columnist Dieter Kurtenbach joins the pod to talk about how Oakland is handling the Khalil Mack trade now that the Bears are good, and why San Francisco still has something to play for this weekend.
0:55: Moon’s covered playoff teams before, so what is he looking for out of the Bears over these next two games?
3:25: We get the impression winning the NFC North didn’t actually matter much to the Bears, which is a good thing
6:00: Re-visiting the trade that got the Bears Mitch Trubisky: Why revisionist history is useless when this team’s going to the playoffs
13:50: Welcoming Dieter Kurtenbach of the Bay Area News Group with this question: What do people think of Jon Gruden?
15:35: With the Bears’ first-round pick in 2019 will at least be in the 20s, how is the Bay Area viewing the Khalil Mack trade now?
18:05: Dieter says it’s “patently hilarious” that Mack has more sacks and forced fumbled than the entire Raiders team
19:50: So where will next year’s Bears-Raiders game take place? Oakland? Santa Clara? San Antonio? London?
22:50: Why the 49ers still have something to play for this weekend
26:50: What’s gone wrong with Solomon Thomas?
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Dec 17, 2018 • 21min
Ep. 169: The Bears are NFC North Champions!
Sunday was a glorious day at Soldier Field as the Bears beat the rival Packers to clinch their first NFC North championship since 2010! Matt Forte, Lance Briggs and Alex Brown join host Laurence Holmes to break down the victory and look ahead to the playoffs. How far can this Bears team go? And what is their ceiling in the long term?
0:22 – 2-for-1! Bears win NFC North and knock out the Packers
4:30 – Breakout game for Leonard Floyd?
6:15 – What worked offensively vs Green Bay?
7:05 – Charles Leno proposes to his girlfriend after the game
9:40 – Where do the Bears need to improve most heading into playoffs?
11:20 – How can Bears avoid complacency?
15:00 – Are the Bears a year ahead of schedule?
16:10 – What’s the ceiling of this Bears team?
19:20 – Where can Trubisky continue to improve?
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Dec 12, 2018 • 29min
Ep. 168: Talking through the Bears’ playoff scenarios
JJ Stankevitz, John “Moon” Mullin and Cam Ellis look at the best and worst-case scenarios for the Bears in the first round of the playoffs, and wonder if Mitchell Trubisky will be up to the task of putting the final nail in the Packers’ playoff coffin.
1:25: On the surface, who’s the Bears’ best and worst matchup in the wild card round?
2:45: Playoff odds time! Who has the highest chance of playing the Bears in the first round?
5:10: Ranking the quarterbacks of the Bears’ potential playoff opponents
9:00: If the Vikings have the ideal quarterback matchup for the Bears, they also have the best defense
12:00: Don’t count out the Packers just yet
15:35: The next step for the Bears? Be a “finisher” when it comes to Green Bay’s playoff hopes
17:15: Why Mitchell Trubisky sounds up for the task of eliminating the Packers
21:35: The moment hasn’t been too big for Trubisky and that’s a good thing
22:15: Jordan Howard’s game vs. LA is encouraging for the Bears down the stretch
25:55: The rest of the Bears’ offense actually showed signs of improvement vs. LA…except for the QB
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