After 346 days, the Chicago Bears dropping streak lastly has ended.
Bears quarterback Justin Fields and huge receiver DJ Moore related repeatedly in entrance of a nationwide TV viewers Thursday night time at FedEx Field to raise the Bears to a 40-20 victory over the Washington Commanders.
Fields threw for 282 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Moore had eight catches for a career-high 230 yards and three touchdowns because the Bears halted their franchise-record dropping streak at 14 video games. It was their first win since Oct. 24, 2022 in opposition to the Patriots in New England.
The win didn’t come and not using a little drama, nonetheless.
After the Bears shot to a 27-3 halftime lead behind three Fields landing passes, the offense dried up and the Commanders clawed again to inside 30-20, partly attributable to a number of Bears accidents.
The Commanders had an opportunity to drag inside a landing, however kicker Joey Slye missed a 46-yard field-goal try huge proper with 5 minutes, 14 seconds to play.
On the following drive, Moore caught a carefully contested go in opposition to Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller and raced to the top zone for a 56-yard landing catch to seal the victory. Moore’s output was the second-most by a receiver in Bears historical past behind Alshon Jeffery’s 249 in 2013.
Three Bears working backs suffered accidents within the sport.
Roschon Johnson was dominated out within the first half with a concussion. Khalil Herbert landed awkwardly on his proper leg within the third quarter and walked off the sphere on his personal. He sat out a sequence with an ankle harm, returned later within the third quarter after which left the sport once more. Later within the third quarter, the Bears introduced Travis Homer was questionable to return with a hamstring harm.
The Bears had working again D’Onta Foreman inactive earlier than the sport, so fullback Khari Blasingame bought carries within the fourth quarter.
Smith, Bears middle Lucas Patrick (concussion) and huge receiver Equanimeous St. Brown (hamstring) had been amongst different gamers to endure accidents.
A Bears protection that has been quick on sacks and takeaways this season sacked Commanders quarterback Sam Howell 5 instances and bought two takeaways — a Greg Stroman Jr. interception and a Terell Smith compelled fumble and restoration.
After the 24-point Bears lead within the first half, the Commanders got here out within the third quarter with a fast landing drive. Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was known as for go interference in opposition to Terry McLaurin in the long run zone, a penalty that value the Bears protection 25 yards and introduced the Commanders to the 2-yard line. Howell’s 2-yard landing go to Logan Thomas and Howell’s two-point conversion run lower the Bears’ result in 27-11.
Smith bought the Bears’ second takeaway of the sport within the third quarter when he ripped the ball from Thomas and recovered it. The Bears took over on the Commanders 46-yard line however misplaced 10 yards on the drive and punted.
The Commanders and Bears traded discipline objectives, with Slye making a 32-yarder and Bears kicker Cairo Santos making a 43-yarder to make the rating 30-14.
The Commanders then lower it to 30-20 on Howell’s 3-yard landing go to Curtis Samuel on third down. But Howell’s two-point conversion run failed.
Santos made 4 discipline objectives, together with a 37-yard late within the sport.
Here’s how the sport unfolded.
Teven Jenkins activated from IR
The Bears introduced again left guard Teven Jenkins from injured reserve Thursday, and he’s energetic, probably clearing the way in which for him to make his first begin of the season.
Jenkins had been on IR since August after injuring his calf whereas the Bears had been in Indianapolis for joint practices and a preseason sport with the Colts. He had solely three days of apply since being designated to return from IR.
Safety Eddie Jackson was dominated out for the third consecutive sport with a foot harm, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson is out with a hamstring harm. Wide receiver Chase Claypool, working again D’Onta Foreman, defensive again Duron Harmon and offensive lineman Aviante Collins are additionally inactive.
Safety Jaquan Brisker, who was questionable with a hamstring harm, is energetic. The Bears additionally elevated security A.J. Thomas from the apply squad, and he’s energetic.
The Bears launched quarterback Nathan Peterman to make room on the roster for the Jenkins and Thomas strikes. Undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will again up Justin Fields for the second straight week.
For the Commanders, working again Chris Rodriguez Jr., defensive finish Okay.J. Henry, offensive linemen Trent Scott and Chris Paul, tight finish Curtis Hodges and huge receiver Mitchell Tinsley are inactive.
Halftime: Justin Fields’ 3 TD passes gasoline 27-3 lead
The Justin Fields-DJ Moore connection fueled a 27-3 Bears halftime lead Thursday night time at FedEx Field.
Fields accomplished 12 of 20 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns because the Bears got here inside one level of their season excessive within the first half alone. Moore had 5 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Fields and Moore discovered their spark three performs into the sport, once they related for a 58-yard go on third-and-9. Later within the drive on third-and-11, Fields hit Moore for a 20-yard landing and a 7-0 lead.
Fields discovered Moore in the long run zone once more early within the second quarter for an 11-yard landing go to cap a drive that began with a 39-yard go to Moore.
Bears cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. intercepted Commanders quarterback Sam Howell on a go meant for Curtis Samuel late within the second quarter. The Bears capitalized with a six-play, 36-yard landing drive, capped by Fields’ 4-yard landing strike to Cole Kmet for a 27-3 lead.
Bears kicker Cairo Santos additionally made discipline objectives from 22 and 36 yards. Running again Khalil Herbert rushed for 76 yards on 9 carries.
The Commanders netted simply 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 lower the Bears’ result in 17-3 on their third drive on Joey Slye’s 51-yard discipline objective.
The Bears misplaced middle Lucas Patrick and working again Roschon Johnson to concussions within the first half. Cody Whitehair, who began at left guard, moved to middle, and Teven Jenkins performed at left guard.
The Chase Claypool saga
During a information convention Monday that was at instances tense and awkward, coach Matt Eberflus stated the Bears requested huge receiver Chase Claypool to avoid the workforce this week — and maybe completely — as they ready for tonight’s sport.
After the Bears knowledgeable Claypool he could be inactive for the Week 4 sport in opposition to the Broncos, he was not in attendance at Soldier Field for the Bears’ 31-28 loss. Confusion lingered about whether or not he opted to remain away or was instructed to by the workforce.
Now, it appears, the Bears are weighing extra vital separation situations, hoping to both commerce the fourth-year huge receiver or probably waive him to chop their losses.
Read extra right here.
Breakthrough for Bears offense?
The Bears began Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Broncos how they all the time need to. Straightforward idea. 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 top of three quarters, Fields had misfired solely as soon as in 24 makes an attempt — on a Hail Mary to finish the primary half — and had thrown for 285 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Yes, the Bears frittered away a 28-7 lead in a gut-wrenching 31-28 loss. And, sure, Fields’ two fourth-quarter turnovers had been an enormous a part of that story.
But for the primary time in eternally, the passing offense appeared alive.
“I do think we took a step closer in finding our identity as an offense,” Fields stated.
Read extra right here.
‘He’s like a soccer relic’
Tonight’s sport would be the 256th in Bears tight finish Marcedes Lewis’ 18-year NFL profession. Jason Witten (271) and Tony Gonzalez (270) are the one tight ends with extra video games — and if the 39-year-old Lewis stays wholesome and finds a job subsequent season, he might surpass each.
It’s not the cash at this level that drives Lewis, who reinvented himself as an elite blocker after beginning his profession as a pass-catching risk. He goes by a meticulous each day exercise and restoration routine to arrange his physique to be prepared each Sunday — or, on this case, Thursday.
“I love the game,” he stated. “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.”
Read extra right here.
Miss something this week? Catch up earlier than kickoff.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com