The Chicago Bears return to the place the place their 2024 season started to unravel after they go to the Washington Commanders on Monday evening.
In final season’s Week 8 matchup, Caleb Williams led a landing drive to offer the Bears a 15-12 lead with 25 seconds remaining. Jayden Daniels accomplished two passes to get simply shy of midfield after which threw a Hail Mary on the ultimate play that Noah Brown caught for the game-winning landing.
Making issues worse, replays confirmed Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting Commanders followers after the snap and arriving late to the motion.
“It was harsh, it harm my emotions,” Stevenson, nonetheless with the Bears, mentioned of the fan response to the play. “However simply use it as gas.”
Chicago, which had gained three straight video games, misplaced 10 in a row and completed 5-12, whereas the Commanders secured a wild-card spot and went to the NFC title sport.
New coach Ben Johnson and his Bears (2-2) are trying forward, not again, specializing in coming off their bye and constructing on a 25-24 Week 4 highway win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Truthfully, there hasn’t been a ton of discuss so far as what occurred final season,” cornerback Kyler Gordon mentioned. “I do not suppose anybody is de facto centered on that apart from like going on the market and successful.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn concurred, saying: “That is final 12 months’s story. It was superior; we cherished it. Nevertheless it would not apply to this week’s sport in any respect until we get into that precise state of affairs and that precise state of affairs.”
Chicago rallied to beat Las Vegas regardless of producing simply 271 yards of offense. The Bears’ offense is ranked seventeenth within the NFL (328 yards per sport), together with twenty fourth in speeding (102.3 yards per sport).
Williams has accomplished 81 of 130 passes (62.3 p.c) for 927 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been sacked seven occasions.
The Commanders are tied for third within the NFL with 15 sacks, whereas Dorance Armstrong is tied for third with 5.
“Offensively, we’re nonetheless a piece in progress,” Johnson mentioned. “Some issues we’re doing properly. Some issues we’re not. The inconsistent nature with the place we’re taking part in, we’re capturing ourselves within the foot.”
Chicago’s protection is giving up 379.5 yards per sport and 29.3 factors per sport, each backside six within the league.
The Commanders (3-2) are trending upward. Daniels returned after lacking two video games with a left knee damage and handed for 231 yards and a landing in Washington’s 27-10 win on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 111 yards and two scores, and Deebo Samuel caught eight passes for 96 yards and a landing. The previous 49er is ninth within the NFL with 30 catches.
“I might simply say clearly as a playmaker, it type of simply spoke for itself once we traded for him,” Daniels mentioned of Samuel. “Every thing he did in San Fran(cisco), he is doing that right here. So, we discover methods to simply get him the ball and let him make performs.”
Washington’s offense is ranked thirteenth within the NFL (349 yards per sport) and will get some assistance on Monday.
Brown (groin/knee), who missed the previous three video games, returned to observe and was restricted Thursday. Huge receiver Terry McLaurin (quad), who has missed two video games, didn’t observe Thursday.
“With the additional day, we’ll simply type of work our means with Terry to see the place we’re at … with he and Noah each,” Quinn mentioned.
The Bears didn’t observe Thursday, so participation was estimated on their damage report. Three starters — defensive again Jaquan Brisker (quad), defensive deal with Grady Jarrett (knee) and proper deal with Darnell Wright (elbow) — have been listed as DNP (didn’t observe).
–Area Degree Media