Bears vs. Commanders Prediction

Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Sat Oct 26 17:00:02 GMT-04:00 2024

Now that the Bears bye week has come and gone, it is time for them to return to the field as they got back to practice this week. With that comes a rejuvenated group of players eager to build off their three-game winning streak as they continue to make a case for being taken seriously in the NFC.

What better way to do that than facing a challenging task this weekend as the Bears will travel to Landover, Maryland, to take on the upstart Washington Commanders, who are also off to a great start at 5-2. In what is supposed to be a matchup of the top two picks in this year's draft, the health of Jayden Daniels comes into play as he may be unavailable for this game. If that is the case, the starting role will fall on Marcus Mariota, who played well in relief last week.

Both of these teams have been the division's bottom feeders for several years but have turned their seasons around quickly. All it took was a fresh mindset in the front office and the ability to draft a QB and develop him properly finally. Here are three things to look for in week 8.

Battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2

As mentioned, as long as Daniels is healthy enough to play, this is going to be a battle of the top two draft picks from this year's draft, and both happen to be quarterbacks. Both are expected to be in the running for Rookie of the Year this season, and both will play a massive role in their teams' long-term success.

Given what we know about Daniels right now, and his status is questionable at best for Sunday, not having him play would take a lot of the hype away from this game. These are the types of matchups that every NFL fan dreams of, as both quarterbacks have a chance to be the faces of the league in the not-too-distant future.

While this may be just one game on the schedule, it could be the start of a friendly rivalry over the next decade, given their play and how both teams are constructed. The Bears hope they can give Williams his first win against his draft mate.

Keep pace in the NFC North

By now, it's no secret that the NFC North is the best division in football, as all teams are above .500. Not only that, but the four teams in this division have the top four point differentials in the league, which shows their dominance overall from start to finish.

With the Bears having their bye week last week, Chicago lost ground in the standings despite not playing, as they are now in last place at 4-2. That shows how tough this division is and how tough it will be this season. If the Bears want to keep pace with the rest of the North, they need to win this game and continue to take things one game at a time. Looking at how their schedule is shaping up, the Bears are in a great position to make some noise in the coming months, as this could be a fun end to the season.

Time to secure a big win

Although a 4-2 record is better than many people thought this team would be, there are still some questions about whether or not this team is for real. Their two losses came on the road against a very good Houston Texans team and an up-and-down Colts squad, while their four wins have come against teams that all have two wins or less.

In other words, the Bears have beaten who they should beat while they are still struggling to beat some of the better teams in this league. You can get away with that for a little while, but at some point, you need to figure out how to beat playoff-caliber teams to be taken seriously. Given that the Lions, Packers, and Vikings all linger on the back end of their schedule, securing a win against a good team will go a long way in building up their confidence.

Prediction: Commanders win 24-23

If Mariota starts, the Bears have a shot at winning this game by multiple scores, as they will make life miserable for the veteran. However, if Daniels plays, you have to like the Commanders' chances of picking up a victory, as his dynamic playmaking ability with both his arms and legs will be an issue.

While Chicago may be the favorites in the game, Washington has played a tougher schedule. Just a few weeks ago, they held their own against a dominating Baltimore squad. This team is a bit more proven against tough competition, and because of that, look for Washington to pick up a 24-23 win.