Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

The Bears' bye week brought us a perfect opportunity to answer questions from our listeners, so Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote open up the mailbag in this episode! The guys take on a wide range of questions. Should the Bears make a change at center? How many wins do the Bears need to get over the next four games? Is the matchup against the Saints a trap game? But before we get into the questions, Wiederer and Grote do need to address the latest story surrounding the Bears' stadium pursuit.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote examine quarterback Caleb Williams' overall play this season as the Bears have hit their bye week.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the NFL trade deadline. The Bears decided that their acquisition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was all they wanted to do, and we think that's perfectly fine.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote take a gander around the NFC North, which is once again packed with really good teams.

The Bears didn't make another addition at the NFL trade deadline Tuesday, but Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote aren't complaining. The addition of defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is already paying huge dividends for them, and the Bears find themselves in first place in the division as they go into their bye week. Meanwhile, the Vikings traded for quarterback Kirk Cousins. How much better does he make their offense? And how do we evaluate Bears quarterback Caleb Williams right now? Did any feels about him change after his clunker against the Buccaneers?

Dan Wiederer joined Mark Grote and Leila Rahimi on 104.3 The Score in Chicago the day after the Bears' ugly win over the Buccaneers. What does it say about this team that it can win a game despite five turnovers? And what was up with cornerback Jaylon Johnson during his postgame media session?

After speaking with Bears players in the locker room, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote caught up with each other to share what they learned about Chicago's 27-24 win over Tampa Bay.

Phew. The Bears beat the Buccaneers, 27-24, on a walk-off field goal Sunday at Soldier Field, but it was an ugly game. Mark Grote, Dan Wiederer and producer Adam Studzinski all chime in on what we saw. Quarterback Caleb Williams was uncharacteristic with four interceptions, and the offense in general was sluggish after the first quarter. But in the end, the Bears did enough to move to 7-2 as they head into their bye week.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons seems to be making a massive impact on everyone at Halas Hall.

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote get to the bottom of what's making quarterback Caleb Williams so successful since his return from injury. Both he and his coaches are pointing to his decisiveness on the field.