The Chicago Bears (2-3, 2-0 home) welcome the Washington Commanders (1-4, 0-2 away) in a NFC showdown to kick off Week 6 of the NFL slate. Both teams will try to break out a losing slump, each team sporting below .500 records five weeks into the season.
Thursday night’s kickoff is at 8:15 p.m. EST at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The game is currently a pick ’em, while the over/under total is 38.0 points.
What to Know – Washington Commanders
Washington knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars to begin the season but have failed to pick up a win since, carrying a four-game losing skid into the short week. The Commanders sit in last place in the NFC North and are the only team with a losing record in the division.
After throwing seven touchdowns through the first two games of the season, starting quarterback Carson Wentz has thrown just three TDs while also turning the ball over three times in that span. Wentz is completing 62.9% of his passes for 1,390 yards with ten touchdowns and six interceptions.
Washington can’t get any traction in the rushing game, averaging just 3.9 yards per touch. Antonio Gibson leads the team, carrying the ball 56 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Brian Robinson, who was expected to have a big role in the offense, returned to action last week after missing the first month due to gunshot wounds suffered in a botched robbery.
Wentz uses all his pass-catchers at his disposal, spreading the ball around to a handful of players. Curtis Samuel leads the team in receptions with 32, Terry McLaurin paces the Commanders’ win yards at 326, and Jahan Dotson has four touchdown receptions.
What to Know – Chicago Bears
The Bears opened up the season with a 2-1 record, but tough losses back-to-back have pushed Chicago to a losing record. Chicago finds themselves in third place in the NFC North.
Justin Fields continues to be a work in progress at quarterback for the Bears. Fields has thrown only 88 passes this season, completing 49 of them for 679 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. He is second on the team in rushing with 194 yards and a score.
Backup rusher Kahlil Herbert leads Chicago in rushing with 328 yards and three touchdowns. Starter David Montgomery, who missed some time with an injury already, returned last week to rush for 20 yards and haul in four receptions for 62 yards.
It has been tough for Chicago’s wide receivers through the first five weeks as the Bears have utilized the run game more than anyone in the league. When Fields does drop back to pass, wideout Darnell Mooney has been his favorite target, snagging ten of 21 targets for 173 yards.
The Pick is In
Last week’s Thursday night game was hard to watch, and on paper, this week looks no different. Two teams on the wrong side of the win/loss column with no hope in sight take the field in primetime.
Fields gets it done on the ground in one of his best games to date to lead the hosts to a late field goal victory.
The Pick: Chicago Bears ML
