The Chicago Bears will face the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football, where Chicago is looking to break a 14-game losing streak that’s approaching a full calendar year.
It’s a battle of NFC teams looking to bounce back after respective losses. The Bears are 6-point road underdogs against the Commanders in Week 5, according to BetMGM. The over/under is set at 44.5.
Buy Bears TicketsCan Chicago finally break that franchise-worst losing streak with a win over Washington? Our Bears Wire staff share their game picks for Thursday night’s matchup.
Alyssa Barbieri (3-1): Commanders 27, Bears 20
Following last year’s not-so-thrilling Thursday Night Football showdown between these two teams, the NFL decided to roll it back for a second time. What a lovely birthday present, really.
The Bears needed this short week coming off their worst loss of the season after they blew a 21-point lead in the third quarter to the Broncos. Now, the focus shifts to the Commanders, where there are some things for Justin Fields and the offense to build on.
Fields is coming off a career game against the Broncos, and it’s the most productive the offense has been all season. They were firing on all cylinders through three quarters — passing game, run game, play calling. While it came against a bad Denver defense, it was the kind of performance the unit needed after struggling through the first three games. If Chicago can establish a balanced attack and get off to a quick start, they might be able to find success against this Washington defense.
Unfortunately, it probably won’t matter as there’s no hope for this Bears defense when it comes to containing the Commanders offense. Chicago will be without its top two defensive backs in Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson, and Jaquan Brisker is also questionable for the game. The defensive line has failed to generate pressure and sacks against opposing quarterbacks this season, which will help Sam Howell shred this Bears secondary.
But let’s be honest, the biggest storyline to monitor will come after the game if the Bears lose their 15th straight game under Matt Eberflus. Chicago has never fired a head coach mid-season. But if this is another brutal loss — and the Bears haven’t let us down so far, in that department, this season — could we see Chicago’s front office make a move? The answer is most likely no, as this organization has shied away from the chance to make a statement and take accountability.
I know a loss is coming tonight. I’ve seen this film before. I’m just waiting for the new, devastating way for the Bears to deliver it to me like a perfectly-wrapped present that I desperately want to return.
Brendan Sugrue (1-3): Commanders 27, Bears 24
The good news for the Bears is that having a quick turnaround after blowing a 21-point lead isn’t the worst thing. Players and coaches don’t have time to dwell on it, and it can be easier to turn the page. Will that end up playing a role in a Bears victory? Absolutely not. This team is still beyond repair, in my opinion, until they can prove otherwise.
Chicago faces a tougher test against the Commanders than they did last week vs. the Broncos. Washington’s defensive front can create problems for opposing offensive lines, and they won’t have the same soft coverage that Denver had for Justin Fields to carve up like a pumpkin. That doesn’t mean he’ll have a bad game, though. Fields may have found something within him following his (mostly) magnificent performance last week. Just like Mitchell Trubisky strung together weeks of excellent football in 2018 following his gaudy output against the Buccaneers, Fields could do the same. It’s the defense that is the biggest worry.
Thanks to injuries on the backend and ineffectiveness on the frontend, the defense cannot stop any opposing offense. Starting quarterbacks are essentially perfect when passing against this group, and there’s a real possibility they only have one starting member of the secondary healthy enough to play. And that would be rookie Tyrique Stevenson, arguably the weakest member of the unit when healthy. Washington has done well enough to move the ball to start the season, minus their game against the Buffalo Bills. Against this defense, we could see a performance similar to the one against the Broncos, where Sam Howell threw for just under 300 yards and two touchdowns. Expect this to at least be close, but the Bears still don’t sniff a victory.
It’s Thursday Night Football, though, so anything (good or bad) can happen. Let’s just hope there are more points scored during this game than in their last matchup a year ago, when two total touchdowns were scored. That’s a game everyone would like to forget.
Lucas Hunt (2-2): Bears 24, Commanders 21
Chicago has a lot riding on tonight’s Thursday night matchup against Washington. Beyond just the tally in the win or loss column on an already doomed season, this contest is a matter of pride. The team is playing to snap a 14-game losing streak dating back to last year, and there’s a real chance head coach Matt Eberflus may see his time in Chicago end if his squad doesn’t get the win.
Changes are coming no matter what, but the Bears’ first victory of the season would get the fanbase to put down their pitchforks going into a mini bye week. So, what do the Bears have to do?
For me, it comes down to three fundamental factors: Fields needs to have another good game, the offense needs to effectively run the ball, and the defense needs to play like it has a heartbeat. Extra emphasis on that last point: the Bears defense has been crumpled up and thrown in the trash can by opposing offenses. The defense is the unit that needs to show some pride playing for the Bears and play at a respectable level, or else the losing streak will devour another game.
In spite of all these issues, I do think the Bears eke out a win 24-21. My argument comes down to something that can’t be measured: a yearning to win. I just think the Bears want to get the monkey off their back, break the streak, and finally have something to hang their hat on. Chicago gets it done with their backs against the wall.
Ryan Fedrau (3-1): Commanders 35, Bears 27
I think the Bears will put up a decent fight, but there’s no chance they beat Washington. If they couldn’t beat Denver last week after having a 21-point lead, I’m not sure they can beat anybody right now. The only positive from that game is it’s a building block for that offense. The negatives: the Bears’ defense can’t hold a lead and Justin Fields still isn’t able to lead a game-winning drive — and don’t forget the 14-game losing streak.
