Hello Chicago Bears fans! No one could have predicted the outcome of the game between the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders last season, when the 4-2 Bears were on the cusp of going to 5-2, and a potential playoff berth, as Caleb Williams led a last-minute Bears touchdown drive to go ahead of the Commanders with only seconds to go. What would follow would define the coaching tenure of Matt Eberflus, doom the Bears’ season in 2024, and ultimately lead to a new coaching regime, led by Ben Johnson. Tyrique Stevenson’s ill-fated taunting led to the “Fail Mary,” and both propelled the Commanders forward into an NFC championship appearance while at the same time producing an utter collapse of the Chicago Bears. It was the most decisive early season game, in terms of the fate of the two teams, as any we have seen in a decade.
And now, the rematch.
Our WCG writers are split in making their predictions for this Monday night’s game. Some of us see a redemption arc in the making – both for Tyrique Stevenson and the Chicago Bears. Others see a tight game, much like the game from last season, that will ultimately go the way of the Commanders. See below for which of our writers sees a ball half-inflated, or a ball half-deflated, for this Monday night rematch between the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders:
The WCG Predictions
Gooch: 34-24, Bears. All the stats say that Washington will be able to run all over the Bears. Coming out of the bye, Dennis Allen’s defense rallies and limits the Commander run game to 2.5 yards per carry. They box in Daniels, who does throw for a TD and runs for one. Caleb continues the Rome connection. Sweat gets sack #2. Booker matches him with two sacks. And my riskiest prediction, coming off a week where I correctly predicted a Tyrique Stevenson pick - this week I predict he picks Daniels for six and is a major factor in the difference of the game.
Lester: Ugh… Bears struggle vs the run, and the Commanders slow the game down and chew up the clock. Caleb Williams and the Chicago offense has some decent moments, but they press a bit trying to catch up. Washington wins 24 to 17, and I really hope I’m wrong, because a win here would really put this franchise on track and put the NFC on notice that Ben Johnson’s team is on the upswing.
Bryan Orenchuk: Bears 27-24. RoJo and Caleb with a rushing TD and Loveland with his first career TD catch. Spidey returns and gets a sack fumble recovered by Sweat, but the Bears struggle to stop the run again and it almost bites them. Again.
Mongo Peanut: I really want to believe that the Bears beat the Commanders, but it’s hard for me to see the Bears winning a primetime game in D.C. after a bye after they came out flat in the same scenario last season.
With that said, given the returns of Wright, Gordon, Edwards, and Booker and the injuries to McLaurin and Noah Brown, I think this is going to be a tight, low-scoring contest. 20-17 Commanders. I think Bill Croskey-Merritt runs all over the Bears and gets them into position for a GW field goal.
(I am preparing for heartbreak so that I cannot be hurt again)
Ryan Droste: I’m nervous about the Bears’ bad run defense, which ranks second-to-last in the league in YPG, against one of the best rushing attacks in the league. I’m hopeful that the return of Kyler Gordon, as well as hopefully TJ Edwards, will help the run game improve enough to win the game. I think Caleb has a good game, including a rushing TD, and the Bears do everything they can to get revenge for last year’s game. Bears, 27-24.
Jack R Salo: 26-20 Commanders. Both offenses can move the ball, but only one team has a running game. The Commanders control the time of possession, the Bears struggle to take Jayden Daniels out of rhythm, and Caleb Williams only really gets going when the Commanders go up two scores.
Superfans: Chicago’s defense has four sacks, running back Roschon Johnson throws a TD pass to Caleb Williams, and the Bears win 45 to 10 as an ode to the greatest team in sports history. We’d love to see the Football Gods bless Washington with a one-yard punt, but that might be asking a bit much.
Check out this quick segment from 2nd City Gridiron with former Washington QB Joe Theismann talking about playing the Bears in 1985.
Give us your pick for the game in the comments section.