Windy City Gridiron: for Chicago Bears fans

Cover 1 and The Athletic Buffalo's Erik Turner joins the show to preview the 2018 Bills.    Entering the second year of the Sean McDermott era: changed expectations and the aftermath of ending a playoff droughtDrafting Josh Allen: a controversial move. Initial thoughts and how that thought process has grownWhat Allen has to do to have a successful rookie season. When does he start?How Tremaine Edmunds projects in Buffalo's defenseOne underrated area people don’t talk enough about on the Bills roster (secondary for days!)One area that could be the team's Achilles Heel (the quarterback has to stay upright)Staying competitive amidst the end of the Patriots run: you don't, you wait it outFree agency review (Star Lotulelei paid handsomely)Draft review (Harrison Phillips' impact)Bears-Bills preview: Chicago should have complete advantage ... on paperFInding a breather in the last weekend free of pro football

SB Nation and Niners Nation's David Fucillo previews the 2018 49ers.  Second year of the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan era: changed expectationsAppreciated aspects of the approach so far San Francisco perspective on the Mitchell Trubisky trade (it's fine!)Jimmy Garoppolo second season in the Bay Area: too much hype?The next step in Garoppolo's progressOne underrated area people don’t talk enough about on the 49ers roster (hello, weapons!)One area that could be the team’s Achilles heel Staying competitive in a growing NFC West with the Rams: is LA now the 49ers' rival?Free agency review (Richard Sherman's revenge!) Draft review (Notre Dame anchors)Bears-49ers preview: what Chicago has to do for an upsetHow to spend the last weekend without pro football  

Windy City Gridiron Editor-in-Chief Lester Wiltfong Jr. hops on to discuss Bears injuries, pass rush woes, and other fun.  Adam Shaheen and Leonard Floyd injuries: how can Chicago weather the storm?Matt Nagy's response to injuries is keyJames Daniels on a positional carousel: ending the madnessTin foil hat time: Does Mitch Trubisky or Cody Whitehair have more influence over center than originally believed?Breaking down Ryan Pace's poor planning on the edge: how the Bears got here, and options (trade for Mack!!!)What to watch for against the Chiefs: no one get injured. No one. And, Nagy "Revenge Game"!End-of-summer plans: Catch Em' All!  

Aaron Leming joins the program to talk Roquan Smith, Von Miller and Mitch Trubisky, and Khalil Mack. Roquan Smith finally joins the Bears, and the end of the Nick Kwiatkoski hypeReasonable expectations for Smith as a rookieCody Whitehair and James Daniels center bonanza: what gives?Does Daniels start in Week 1?Allen Robinson being eased into debut: concern levelVon Miller loves Mitch Trubisky (you should care!)John Elway also loves Trubisky (but you shouldn't care!)Bears-Broncos preview (the edge rush situation is BAD)Khalil Mack: what a responsible trade would takeThrowing out scenarios for Mack (Floyd?)

NBC Sports Chicago's JJ Stankevitz joins the show. Trubisky finally mastering Matt Nagy's scheme: what's the difference?Trey Burton being used as a well of knowledgeA comfortable camp defense going against a new offenseRoquan Smith holdout Day 22: how frustrated are Nagy and the Bears getting? When it's time to really worry?Envisioning a scenario of how the Bears miss Smith's impact if he misses regular season games (it could happen!)What to watch for in Cincinnati (don't get too high or too low)Standouts to watch (a certain No. 17, perhaps?)How Trubisky has to play in his first official game under NagyThe "John Franklin Episode" of WCG Radio!

NBC Sports Chicago's JJ Stankevitz talks Roquan Smith holdout, helmet rule frenzy, and the impact of Brian Urlacher on the Bears and city of Chicago.  Congratulating JJ on his return before SmithSmith's holdout now the second-longest since 2011: who's to blame?Examining both Smith and the Bears' side objectivelyHow much will missed time hurt Smith in the long run, if at all?Helmet rule adjustments and a league of "I don't know".Matt Nagy and Vic Fangio have the right stance on the ruleIt's okay if we don't know what a tackle is if player safety does improve, right?Hall of Fame Game points to watch: special teams has never been more excitingThe legacy of Brian Urlacher from face of the franchise to inspiration: what the first-ballot Hall of Famer represents

Seth Toupal helps break down Bears-Vikings 2018 and the impact of newcomer Kirk Cousins.  Kirk Cousins in town. What are reasonable expectations?Vikings new platform for the team, where they stand in the NFCNew contract situations: Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs What are the weaknesses on Minnesota's roster? (are there any?)Overcoming past demons and wasted Vikings teamsCousins’ alien slash bison slash mystery grill meatHow the Vikings view their North rivalsFree agency review (Sheldon Richardson, how!)Draft review (Mike Hughes steps in)Bears-Vikings preview (trying to poke holes)Wasted all-time great Vikings/BearsStar Wars cannot get over it's nostalgia

Mansur Shaheen of Bird Breakdowns and The Lions Wire joins the program.  Matt Patricia: His approach and concernsMatthew Stafford has been one of the NFL’s best QB’s for years now, but the Lions haven’t given him the same support. Where do they have to change? What does Stafford need to do to get respect (if it matters)?How big of an Achilles heel is the Lions' pass rush? Other areas of concern on Detroit's roster?The next step for Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, and Kenny "BabyTron" Golladay as a receiving trio NFC North more competitive than ever: how the Lions stay afloat in the NFL's likely best divisionFree agency review (The DeShawn Shead Redemption)Draft review (Frank Ragnow and a running back by committee)Bears-Lions 2018 preview (have the Bears done enough to turn the tide?)World Cup knockout predictions (heavy on the Liverpool bias)  

MacGregor Wells of SB Nation's Gang Green Nation joins the show to talk Darnold, Jamal Adams, and a potential battle of young quarterbacks with the Bears.  Coming off a last place finish, the Jets are in prime position to develop a contender the right way with Sam Darnold in the fold. How far away is New York from contending?Todd Bowles' coaching last year earned him an extension. Pros and cons of the moveTeddy Bridgewater hype duing minicamp. Setting expectations for the formerly injured QBDarnold the future: are the Jets equipped to build around him? Does he start Day 1?Do the Jets really have the worst receiving corps in the NFL?Free agency review (A rebound for Terrelle Pryor)Draft review: was the Darnold trade worth it?Bears-Jets preview: finding room to operate for Mitch TrubiskyMaking our case for the best Pixar movie (hard to top Toy Story)

Pats Pulpit's Brian Phillips joins the show to break down Brady vs. Trubisky, Belichick vs. Nagy, and more.  - Drama in Foxborough: is there anything to a Tom Brady-Bill Belichick-Bob Kraft schism? (Is it boredom?) - Guidelines of a Rob Gronkowski possible contract extension - Are the Patriots "okay" at receiver? Can they survive without Brandin Cooks? - Ranting about Chris Hogan, Adrian Amos, and Twitter - Fresh off the heels of a loss in Super Bowl LII, what do the Patriots need to do return and finish the job? - Georgia against Georgia: Patriots' draft recap - Jordan Matthews and free agency - Where can the Bears attack the Patriots (Tarik Cohen's time to shine)? What should Chicago be concerned about (late-game Brady heroics)? - Success and expectations for the young Bears against the NFL's upper crust - What we're unapologetically pedantic about in writing ("just" please "personally" stop)  

The Phinsider's Kevin Nogle hops on the show to preview Bears-Dolphins in October, and break down Miami's off-season.  Ryan Tannehill's progress from a knee injuryMusing fondly about Jay Cutler and of course: Dowell LoggainsShould the Dolphins have taken a quarterback high in this year's draft?A make-or-break season for Adam Gase: discussing his expectations thus farA weird off-season of spending defines the Dolphins in 2018: what's the plan?Albert Wilson and slot receiver galore in free agencyMike Gesicki and an abundance of weapons for Tannehill in the draftBears-Dolphins preview: where can Chicago exploit Miami (Allen Robinson, hello again) and vice-versa (Florida weather being unkind)?A debate about the greatest summer movie of all time (it's Independence Day, okay?)

Bucs Nation's Alex Salvarezza joins the show to preview the 2018 Buccaneers and determine how they match up with the Bears. Tampa Bay's defense had minimal pass rush success in 2017, and alarmingly, James Winston regressed. All of this after major expectations. What happened last year?Winston antics. How many games can the Bucs withstand without their QB?Evaluating a Winston contract extension given his play and off-field issuesDeSean Jackson disappointed last year as well. Any trade value or rebound in play?Where Tampa Bay fits in a tough NFC SouthFrom Jason Pierre-Paul to Vinny Curry, a productive free agency for the BucsVita Vea and a look at Tampa Bay's draftBears-Buccaneers preview: meeting for the fifth straight season, a potential shootout?Where can the Bears exploit Tampa Bay (hello, Allen Robinson)?What shoud Chicago be concerned about (hello, Mike Evans)?All things "LeBron Watch"

Blake Murphy of SB Nation's Revenge of the Birds hops on the latest WCG Radio to break down the 2018 Cardinals.  What's went wrong for Arizona since playing in the 2015 NFC Championship Game?How much will the Cardinals miss Bruce Arians, and do you have any regrets from his tenure?Steve Wilks takes over, with Josh Rosen as the future at QB (or Mike Glennon!). How long before Rosen actually plays?Christian Kirk's March arrest: what's the lowdown (Honey Badger comparisons)The Cardinals are still hanging their hats on their defense: getting a sense of whyWhether the Cardinals are in a full-fledged rebuild, or retoolingArizona's plan and timeline to get back to relevancy (similar framework of the Bears)Free agency recap in one word: "stopgap"Draft recap in one word: "hopeful"How the Cardinals now match up with the Bears (hint: Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman can have a field day)Least impressive athletic thing you’ve ever done that you’re proud of  

The Ringer's Danny Kelly breaks down recent developments with the Seahawks and helps preview Week 2's matchup with the Bears. The end of the “Legion of Boom”: the next step after a dominant defensive eraRichard Sherman with the 49ers: Are you worried? Are you rooting for Sherman?Is 2018 inching towards a hot seat year for the Seahawks' regime? Are there still rose-colored glasses for Pete Carroll?Focus of the franchise shifting more towards Russell Wilson, but Seattle still has no one to block Aaron Donald (offensive line): why?A journeyman's haul of the Seahawks' 2018 free agencyDrafts haven't been kind to Seattle lately. Can 2018 reverse the trend? (Brothers reunited!)How Seattle matches up with Chicago on "Monday Night Football." Can the Bears stop Russell Wilson? Do the Seahawks have an answer for Akiem Hicks?