Game Overview ::
By MIKE JOHNSON >>
- Chicago enters this game off its bye and is in the thick of the most competitive division in the NFL, the NFC North.
- The planned matchup between the top two picks from April’s NFL Draft may be in jeopardy due to the rib injury Jayden Daniels is dealing with. Marcus Mariota will start if Daniels is unable to go.
- The Commanders’ defense under Dan Quinn has improved greatly as the season has progressed and is complementing their dynamic offense perfectly as they emerge as an NFC contender.
- Caleb Williams has been playing outstanding football in recent weeks as he and the Bears’ offense have found their rhythm.
- Chicago has an elite pass defense and has been one of the bigger “run funnels” in the NFL this year.
How CHICAGO Will Try To Win ::
The Bears’ offense got off to an abysmal start to 2024 before straightening things out. As such, the overall season numbers for this unit may be a bit misleading, because through three weeks, they were struggling in almost every category. A relaxed schedule has helped, however, as the Bears have averaged 32.0 points per game against the Rams, Panthers, and Jaguars since Week 4. This week, they face a Commanders defense that is in a similar situation, as they started the year off horribly but have rounded into form a bit recently – albeit against weaker competition. This will be a revealing week for both units, as we may be able to tell afterwards which of them was “for real” and which of them was just picking on weak opponents.
Prized free-agent addition RB D’Andre Swift was a laughingstock of the league early in the season as the Bears were completely unable to establish a running game. There was talk of Swift being benched or replaced, but the bigger issue was the run blocking and play calling for Chicago. They had also been missing veteran slot WR Keenan Allen and had been limiting the playing time and usage of tight end Cole Kmet. The Bears have improved their running game the last three weeks and Swift has been on a tear with 120+ yards from scrimmage in three consecutive games, while the return of Allen and increased involvement of Kmet has given the Bears threats in the middle of the field while DJ Moore and Rome Odunze threaten opponents on the perimeter. Honestly, this Bears offense is shaping up exactly as they saw it in the offseason, and now they need to come out of their bye and continue playing at a high level against the current leaders of the NFC East.
Williams has been surgical recently, as he has seven touchdowns passes and only one interception during their recent three-game winning streak despite throwing the ball under 30 times in every game. He has also shown an ability to make plays with his legs, as he has three games with 30+ rushing yards already this year. The balance of Chicago’s weapons makes the Bears more difficult to plan for and slow down, and they are willing to mix it up and punish opponents whenever it makes the most sense. Swift and Moore are the clear “top dogs” in terms of weapons, but Kmet and Allen are coming off two-TD games and Odunze is bound to pop for a big game before long. Washington’s defense has picked on the weak, but the Bears have some explosive players and a balanced lineup that will be tough for the Commanders to slow down. The question on this side of the ball really comes down to the line of scrimmage. Chicago has shown it needs to be able to run the ball to have offensive success, and the Commanders are slightly below average against the run. Also, Williams has been extremely pressure-sensitive as a passer, ranking 28th in PFF passing grade when under pressure. The Commanders blitz at the ninth-highest rate in the league, and whether or not they are able to consistently apply pressure will have a massive impact on how this game plays out.
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