Justin Fields-led Bears blow out Commanders for first win

 

[October 06, 2023]  Justin Fields passed for four touchdowns, three to D.J. Moore, and the Chicago Bears halted the worst losing streak in franchise history with a 40-20 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night in Landover, Md.

Moore caught eight passes for a career-best 230 yards, the second-most yardage in Chicago history behind Alshon Jeffery (249 vs. the Minnesota Vikings in 2013).

Fields completed 15 of 29 passes for 282 yards and also rushed for 57 yards as Chicago (1-4) snapped a 14-game losing streak. Chicago prevailed for the first time since beating the New England Patriots on Oct. 24, 2022.

The Bears broke their long skid on the same day that franchise legend Dick Butkus died at age 80.

Sam Howell connected on 37 of 51 passes for a career-high 388 yards along with two touchdowns and one interception for the Commanders (2-3). Curtis Samuel and Logan Thomas caught touchdown passes for Washington, which has dropped three straight games and allowed 111 points during that span.

The Commanders trailed by 24 at halftime but moved within 30-20 on Howell's 3-yard touchdown throw to Samuel with 10:51 remaining. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and their next chance to make it a one-score game was unsuccessful when Joey Slye was wide right on a 46-yard field-goal attempt.

Three plays later, Moore caught a short pass at midfield and turned it into a 56-yard touchdown to give Chicago a 37-20 lead with 4:09 left. Cairo Santos hit his fourth field goal of the game, a 37-yarder, with 1:56 to play.

Chicago outgained Washington 307 yards to 84 in the first half while taking a 27-3 lead.

Fields and Moore teamed up for a 20-yard touchdown pass on the game's initial drive, and Santos booted a 22-yard field goal with 4:18 left in the first quarter.

Fields tossed an 11-yard scoring pass to Moore to make it 17-0 just 45 seconds into the second period.

Slye kicked a 51-yard field goal to get the Commanders on the board with 8:33 left in the half. Chicago responded with a 36-yard field goal by Santos with 2:24 left and a 4-yard touchdown throw from Fields to Cole Kmet with 24 seconds left to account for the 24-point margin.

Washington displayed life on the first drive of the third quarter as Howell threw a 2-yard scoring pass to Thomas and then ran in the two-point conversion. Slye booted a 32-yard field goal to bring the Commanders within 27-14 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.

Santos made a 43-yard field goal 51 seconds into the final quarter.

--Field Level Media

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