Bears vs. Commanders: What to Look Out for

When the Bears have the ball

The Bears will look to pick up where they left off before the bye – with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams gaining more control of the offense with each passing week. Williams has had over 100 passing yards in the last three games (all wins) and will try to become the first Bears quarterback since the 1970 merger with four consecutive games with a 100-plus passing rating.

The Commanders rank 12th in passing yards but 23rd in yards allowed per attempt – a difference that indicates weakness. They rank 30th in the NFL in terms of passer rating – 107.4 (12 touchdowns, three interceptions).

During our bye week self-assessment, we focused on getting off to a faster start, with an emphasis on third-half conversions. The Bears are 30th in the NFL in yards (17.9 average) and points (10) on their first two drives. They converted three of 14 third-down opportunities, earning three sacks. So far, the Bears have successfully attacked weaknesses under first-year coordinator Shane Waldron.

The key matchup is the Bears offensive line against the Commanders’ pass rush, which ranks eighth in the NFL in sacks (19) and sixth in sacks per pass rush. The Bears’ lineup improved in three straight games, but they faced three bottom-10 teams that were passing quickly. The Commanders will be the best offensive team the Bears have faced since Week 2 against the Texans, who sacked Williams seven times.

When the Commanders have the ball

The Bears’ defense, which ranks fourth in points allowed and has not allowed more than 21 points in any game this season, could be put to a stern test against a Commanders offense that leads the NFL in scoring (31.1 points per game) and scored 34 or more points in four of the last five games.

That threat would appear to be less of a threat if backup Marcus Mariota was playing for injured rookie Jayden Daniels (bruised ribs). But the Bears know better. Mariota is one of the NFL’s most talented veteran backups. He had a passer rating of 121.2 in place of Daniels last week against the Panthers when he came off the bench and completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

However, that happened against a Panthers defense that ranks 32nd and last in the NFL in scoring and 30th in yards allowed. The Bears’ defense ranks in the top 10 in several key categories, including total yards (fifth), sacks per pass (seventh) and third-down conversion percentage (seventh).

A key matchup will be Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin against Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson. McLaurin has 35 receptions (24 on first downs) for 454 yards and four touchdowns. However, he had four receptions for 49 yards in the Bears’ 40-20 victory at FedEx Field last year (when Terell Smith was playing for the injured Johnson) and three receptions for 41 yards in a 12-7 victory at Soldier Field in 2022. .