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Week 5 - Washington Commanders (2-2) vs. Chicago Bears (0-4)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: October 5, 2023
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Venue: FedEx Field, Landover, MD
How to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Matchup History: Commanders lead all-time series 27-24-1
Last Meeting: Washington def. Chicago 12-7 on 10/13/22
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Washington -6.5
Over/Under: 44.5
Prediction: Washington 31, Chicago 17
Official Game Notes: HERE
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Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season, 24-29-1 record in Washington)
Record: 2-2 (0-1, T-3rd in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost @ Philadelphia 34-31 in OT on 10/1
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Sam Howell
The Commanders fought hard in a very tough 34-31 overtime loss in Philadelphia this past Sunday, just one week after losing 37-3 to Buffalo.
This week, Washington welcomes in one of the two remaining teams that has yet to win a game in 2023, the Chicago Bears.
Quarterback Sam Howell and the offense should be able to keep their groove against a defense that ranks 28th in the NFL.
I’d expect to see the Commanders defensive front get after Bears QB Justin Fields and make life difficult while Howell and the offense rely heavily on Brian Robinson in the run game and move on to play-action in the passing game.
Washington is the heavy favorite, and should be. Can they play like the team that went to Philly last weekend and not like the team that hosted the Bills two weeks ago?
Head Coach: Matt Eberflus (2nd season, 3-18 record in Chicago)
Record: 0-4 (0-0, 4th in NFC North)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. Denver 31-28 on 10/1
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Justin Fields
It’s been the month from hell for the Chicago Bears.
What was a summer filled with optimism has been quickly turned to hopelessness and despair, with the latest disappointment coming in the form of a 21 point second half lead evaporating against the previously winless Denver Broncos.
Over the past two weeks, the Bears have parted ways with Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams amid suspicious circumstances, have explicitly told Wide Receiver Chase Claypool to stay away from the team facility, and have a head coach in Matt Eberflus who lost yet another game, leaving his win total with the Bears at 3 in 21 games.
Chicago has lost 14 games in a row, dating back to last season. They last won a game on Monday Night Football in Week 7 of the 2022 season over New England, 33-14.
Of the 14 straight losses since, 9 have been by double-digits. Perhaps no loss was more gut-wrenching than the most recent one.
This past Sunday, Chicago led fellow winless opponent Denver 28-7 with under a minute to go in the third quarter. Over the final 15:30 of the game, the Broncos outscored the Bears 24-0 and won it 31-28.
For the first time in his career, Quarterback Justin Fields threw for over 300 yards and newly acquired receiver DJ Moore had his best game as a Bear, putting up 131 yards and a touchdown on 8 catches.
It still wasn’t enough.
The Bears are among the worst teams in the league against the pass. Once Denver fell behind and had to throw to get back into the game, it did so with ease.
Of all the teams in the NFL, there may not be a more bleak outlook than there is with Chicago right now.
It’s a tall order, but the Bears still have a chance to rewrite the narrative and get back into the season.
However, with the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft currently under their ownership, do they even want to?
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