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.
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.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
