14-game losing streak over for Bears at last as they prevail over Washington Commanders
LANDOVER, Md. (CBS/AP) -- Justin Fields said his prayers Thursday night as the Bears tried to end a 14-game losing streak that went all the way back to last season.
At least, the Bears succeeded. They beat the Washington Commanders, who were booed by their own fans.
Fields, DJ Moore, and the Bears knocked the Commanders down to a 24-point halftime hole, and went on to win 40-20.
This game was lopsided, but in the opposite way from what Bears fans are used to. In the first quarter alone, The Bears produced three plays longer than any they'd had all season: throws of 58 and 39 yards from Fields to Moore, and a 34-yard run by Khalil Herbert. Washington, in contrast, had two three-and-outs in that period.
Fields also connected with Moore for a 56-yard TD toss in the fourth quarter, sending spectators to the exits.
And how did Washington's offense do? By the time Sam Howell led the hosts to their initial first down, nearly 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, the Bears (1-4) were already ahead 17-0.
At halftime, the tally was 27-3, and the Bears had outgained the Commanders 307-84 in total yards.
As the two-minute warning approached in the second quarter, a message reading "Make some noise" on the scoreboard went mostly unheeded.
Soon after, a chant of "Let's go, Bears!" could be heard. And as the Commanders headed to the locker room for the half, full-throated boos came from the stands, along with some middle fingers and thumb's-down gestures.
By game's end, Fields was 15 for 29 for 282 yards and four TD passes, while Moore had eight catches for 230 yards with three scores. Howell, meanwhile, had two touchdown passes and one interception, while getting sacked five times to raise his total this season to a league-high 29.
Washington finally showed a hint of competence by opening the third quarter with a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by Howell's 2-yard throw to tight end Logan Thomas. Howell ran in the 2-point conversion to get within 27-11.
Afterward, the Commanders forced the Bears to punt for the first time all evening. A comeback in the works? Not out of the question, especially given that the Bears blew a 21-point lead in what became a 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, the 14th defeat in a row under coach Matt Eberflus.
But Washington's ensuing possession ended on a fumble by Thomas. The next one closed with a 32-yard field goal by Joey Slye to make it 27-14 — and even that drew jeers, likely because fans would have preferred to see the man known as "Riverboat Ron" risk it on fourth-and-2 from the Bears' 13.
Later, with a chance to cut the deficit to seven with under 5 1/2 minutes left, Slye missed a 46-yard attempt.