Bears visit the Commanders looking
to extend their winning streak to 4 games
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[October 25, 2024]
Chicago (4-2) at Washington (5-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Bears by 2 1/2
Against the spread: Bears 4-1-1; Commanders 5-2
Series record: Washington leads 27-26-1
Last meeting: Bears beat Commanders 40-20 on Oct. 5, 2023, at
Washington.
Last week: Bears had bye, before that beat Jaguars 35-16 on Oct. 16;
Commanders beat Panthers 40-7.
Bears offense: overall (24), rush (24), pass (20), scoring (12)
Bears defense: overall (5), rush (11), pass (7), scoring (4)
Commanders offense: overall (4), rush (3), pass (13), scoring (T-1)
Commanders defense: overall (16), rush (18), pass (12), scoring (15)
Turnover differential: Bears plus-6; Commanders plus-3
Bears player to watch
QB Caleb Williams. Williams, who grew up in Maryland and Washington,
was starting to look the part of a franchise quarterback prior to
the bye. The No. 1 draft pick and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner was a
combined 60 of 81 for 687 yards in wins over the Rams, Panthers and
Jaguars. He has seven touchdown passes and one interception in that
span, after throwing for two TDs and four INTs through his first
three games.
Commanders player to watch
LB Bobby Wagner runs the defense in charge of slowing down Williams.
The six-time All-Pro selection might be a half-step slower at 34
than in his prime, but his experience against Williams' potential
should be fun to witness.
Key matchup
Whoever starts at QB for Washington against the Chicago secondary.
It will either be offensive rookie of the year favorite Jayden
Daniels or journeyman Marcus Mariota. No matter who it is will need
to be careful against Bears cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Josh
Blackwell and Tyrique Stevenson, who have combined for four
interceptions this season.
Key injuries
Bears S Jaquan Brisker remains in concussion protocol after missing
the Jacksonville game and did not practice Wednesday. ... CB Kyler
Gordon (hamstring) left the win over the Jaguars. ... The Bears
opened 21-day practice windows this week on OL Larry Borom (ankle)
and RB Travis Homer (finger) to return from injured reserve. ...
Daniels is considered week to week with a rib injury and did not
practice Wednesday, though coach Dan Quinn has said the team hopes
the No. 2 pick can play. ... Rookie LT Brandon Coleman was concussed
against Carolina and is in danger of not playing.
[to top of second column] |
Chicago Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell (39) celebrates with
teammates after making an interception during an NFL football game
at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium between the Jacksonville Jaguars
and Chicago Bears in London, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP
Photo/Alastair Grant)
Series notes
This was originally a 1 p.m. start until it was flexed onto national
TV in anticipation of Williams vs. Daniels. ... This would be the
sixth time rookie QBs taken with the top two picks faced off. ...
The road team has won six of the past seven meetings.
Stats and stuff
The Bears have their best record through six games since 5-1 in 2020
on the way to an 8-8 finish. ... Chicago has won three in a row, its
best run since Weeks 14 through 16 of that season. ... The Bears
have not won four in a row since the 2018 NFC North championship
season. ... Their wins are against teams — including Tennessee in
the season opener — that are a combined 6-20. The losses were in
Weeks 2 and 3 at Houston (5-2) and Indianapolis (4-3). ... The Bears
have gotten five touchdowns from their offense in each of their past
two games, the first time they’ve done that since 1956. ... Chicago
has held opponents to 21 points or fewer in 12 consecutive games —
the longest active streak in the NFL. ... WR DJ Moore had a big game
at Washington last year, when he caught eight passes and set career
highs with 230 yards and three touchdowns to help Chicago stop a
14-game losing streak. In five games against Washington, Moore has
28 receptions for 451 yards and five TDs. ... Washington is 3-0 at
home for the first time since 2005. The team has not opened a season
4-0 at home since 1978. ... Daniels has thrown for 1,410 yards, ran
for 372 and been responsible for 10 total touchdowns. He's second
among NFL QBs in rushing yards with 372, trailing only Lamar
Jackson. ... Mariota was 18 of 23 for 205 yards and two TD passes in
relief of Daniels last week. ... RB Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 71
yards and a TD against Carolina in his return after missing a game
with a knee injury. ... WR Terry McLaurin led the team with six
catches for 98 yards last week. ... Veteran TE Zach Ertz had his
first TD catch of the season and rookie TE Ben Sinnott the first of
his career in the Panthers game. ... Wagner has made five or more
tackles in 19 consecutive games. ... LB Dante Fowler got his first
interception last week, returning a pass by Andy Dalton 67 yards for
a touchdown.
Fantasy tip
Williams, Moore and Bears TE Cole Kmet could feast against
Washington's secondary, which has struggled to defend against the
pass most of the season.
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