Week 5 recap: Chicago Bears snap a 14-game skid, beating the Washington Commanders 40-20 for 1st win of the season
After 346 days, the Chicago Bears losing streak finally has ended.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields and wide receiver DJ Moore connected again and again in front of a national TV audience Thursday night at FedEx Field to lift the Bears to a 40-20 victory over the Washington Commanders.
Fields threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns, and Moore had eight catches for a career-high 230 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears halted their franchise-record losing streak at 14 games. It was their first win since Oct. 24, 2022 against the Patriots in New England.
The win didn’t come without a little drama, however.
After the Bears shot to a 27-3 halftime lead behind three Fields touchdown passes, the offense dried up and the Commanders clawed back to within 30-20, in part due to multiple Bears injuries.
The Commanders had a chance to pull within a touchdown, but kicker Joey Slye missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt wide right with 5 minutes, 14 seconds to play.
On the ensuing drive, Moore caught a closely contested pass against Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller and raced to the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown catch to seal the victory. Moore’s output was the second-most by a receiver in Bears history behind Alshon Jeffery’s 249 in 2013.
Three Bears running backs suffered injuries in the game.
Roschon Johnson was ruled out in the first half with a concussion. Khalil Herbert landed awkwardly on his right leg in the third quarter and walked off the field on his own. He sat out a series with an ankle injury, returned later in the third quarter and then left the game again. Later in the third quarter, the Bears announced Travis Homer was questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
The Bears had running back D’Onta Foreman inactive before the game, so fullback Khari Blasingame got carries in the fourth quarter.
Smith, Bears center Lucas Patrick (concussion) and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) were among other players to suffer injuries.
A Bears defense that has been short on sacks and takeaways this season sacked Commanders quarterback Sam Howell five times and got two takeaways — a Greg Stroman Jr. interception and a Terell Smith forced fumble and recovery.
After the 24-point Bears lead in the first half, the Commanders came out in the third quarter with a quick touchdown drive. Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was called for pass interference against Terry McLaurin in the end zone, a penalty that cost the Bears defense 25 yards and brought the Commanders to the 2-yard line. Howell’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Logan Thomas and Howell’s two-point conversion run cut the Bears’ lead to 27-11.
Smith got the Bears’ second takeaway of the game in the third quarter when he ripped the ball from Thomas and recovered it. The Bears took over at the Commanders 46-yard line but lost 10 yards on the drive and punted.
The Commanders and Bears traded field goals, with Slye making a 32-yarder and Bears kicker Cairo Santos making a 43-yarder to make the score 30-14.
The Commanders then cut it to 30-20 on Howell’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel on third down. But Howell’s two-point conversion run failed.
Santos made four field goals, including a 37-yard late in the game.
Here’s how the game unfolded.
Teven Jenkins activated from IR
The Bears brought back left guard Teven Jenkins from injured reserve Thursday, and he is active, potentially clearing the way for him to make his first start of the season.
Jenkins had been on IR since August after injuring his calf while the Bears were in Indianapolis for joint practices and a preseason game with the Colts. He had only three days of practice since being designated to return from IR.
Safety Eddie Jackson was ruled out for the third consecutive game with a foot injury, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson is out with a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Chase Claypool, running back D’Onta Foreman, defensive back Duron Harmon and offensive lineman Aviante Collins are also inactive.
Safety Jaquan Brisker, who was questionable with a hamstring injury, is active. The Bears also elevated safety A.J. Thomas from the practice squad, and he is active.
The Bears released quarterback Nathan Peterman to make room on the roster for the Jenkins and Thomas moves. Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will back up Justin Fields for the second straight week.
For the Commanders, running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., defensive end K.J. Henry, offensive linemen Trent Scott and Chris Paul, tight end Curtis Hodges and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley are inactive.
Halftime: Justin Fields’ 3 TD passes fuel 27-3 lead
The Justin Fields-DJ Moore connection fueled a 27-3 Bears halftime lead Thursday night at FedEx Field.
Fields completed 12 of 20 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns as the Bears came within one point of their season high in the first half alone. Moore had five catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Fields and Moore found their spark three plays into the game, when they connected for a 58-yard pass on third-and-9. Later in the drive on third-and-11, Fields hit Moore for a 20-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Fields found Moore in the end zone again early in the second quarter for an 11-yard touchdown pass to cap a drive that started with a 39-yard pass to Moore.
Bears cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. intercepted Commanders quarterback Sam Howell on a pass intended for Curtis Samuel late in the second quarter. The Bears capitalized with a six-play, 36-yard touchdown drive, capped by Fields’ 4-yard touchdown strike to Cole Kmet for a 27-3 lead.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos also made field goals from 22 and 36 yards. Running back Khalil Herbert rushed for 76 yards on nine carries.
The Commanders netted just 12 yards on their first two drives. On the second drive, T.J. Edwards took down Howell for the unit’s third sack of the season.
The Commanders cut the Bears’ lead to 17-3 on their third drive on Joey Slye’s 51-yard field goal.
The Bears lost center Lucas Patrick and running back Roschon Johnson to concussions in the first half. Cody Whitehair, who started at left guard, moved to center, and Teven Jenkins played at left guard.
Catch up on the rest of our coverage.
The Chase Claypool saga
During a news conference Monday that was at times tense and awkward, coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears asked wide receiver Chase Claypool to stay away from the team this week — and perhaps permanently — as they prepared for tonight’s game.
After the Bears informed Claypool he would be inactive for the Week 4 game against the Broncos, he was not in attendance at Soldier Field for the Bears’ 31-28 loss. Confusion lingered about whether he opted to stay away or was told to by the team.
Now, it seems, the Bears are weighing more significant separation scenarios, hoping to either trade the fourth-year wide receiver or possibly waive him to cut their losses.
Breakthrough for Bears offense?
The Bears started Sunday’s game against the Broncos how they always want to. Straightforward concept. Crisp execution. Positive momentum. Stack the completions from there.
Two in a row for Justin Fields. Three in a row. Four.
Five in a row, six.
By the end of three quarters, Fields had misfired only once in 24 attempts — on a Hail Mary to end the first half — and had thrown for 285 yards and four touchdowns.
Yes, the Bears frittered away a 28-7 lead in a gut-wrenching 31-28 loss. And, yes, Fields’ two fourth-quarter turnovers were a huge part of that story.
But for the first time in forever, the passing offense seemed alive.
“I do think we took a step closer in finding our identity as an offense,” Fields said.
‘He’s like a football relic’
Tonight’s game will be the 256th in Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis’ 18-year NFL career. Jason Witten (271) and Tony Gonzalez (270) are the only tight ends with more games — and if the 39-year-old Lewis remains healthy and finds a job next season, he could surpass both.
It’s not the money at this point that drives Lewis, who reinvented himself as an elite blocker after starting his career as a pass-catching threat. He goes through a meticulous daily workout and recovery regimen to prepare his body to be ready every Sunday — or, in this case, Thursday.
“I love the game,” he said. “I’m just trying to take advantage of everything that I have mentally and physically while I have it. I don’t ever want to be at home watching ball and wishing that I could be out there.”
