For the second game in a row, the Chicago Bears (3-2) earned a hard-fought road 25-24 victory on a last-second special teams play, putting through a 38-yard walk-off field goal to upset the Washington Commanders (3-3) on Monday Night Football.
It was an up-and-down and back-and-forth game between two teams who will be forever linked by decisions made at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft, but the Chicago Bears got the last -- or at least most recent -- laugh. To learn how the road team was ultimately able to get it done, here are four key stats that tell the game's full story:
3
The Bears' defense had their work cut out for them against an offense that featured the best rushing attack in the NFL and one of the league's best young quarterbacks. Still, the Monsters of the Midway made big plays when it mattered, including forcing three total turnovers that helped to turn the game's tide.
The first two takeaways, a Jaquan Brisker interception of Jayden Daniels and a fumble recovery against Bill Croskey-Merritt, came on Washington's first two drives of the game, and the offense was able to turn those extra possessions into 10 points early. Washington eventually settled down and in and were able to move up and down the field and protect the ball, but their early miscues were ultimately too much to overcome.
The most back-breaking turnover for the Commanders, however, came on their final possession of the game, where Daniels and Croskey-Merritt were unable to squeeze a wet ball on a handoff. Nashon Wright jumped on the ball and gave the offenes good starting field position to eventually set up the game-winning field goal. That was not the first time in the game that Daniels struggled to hold onto the ball, as the young quarterback was ultimately able to recover a fumble that he put on the ground despite not being touched. Caleb Williams and the Bears offense did their job to protect the ball, finishing with zero turnovers. Despite playing just five games so far, the Bears' 10 total turnovers are the second most in the NFL, and their +8 turnover different is tied for the best mark in the league.
9
The referees ended up being key figures in a game that was already sloppy due to the weather conditions, but the Bears seemed to walk away with the short end of the stick and nine total penalties.
Some of these calls were more than okay, but a good handful of the referee's interferences came on more than questionable calls. Early on, a ticky tacky offensive pass interference from Colston Loveland negated a first down completion, while an errant hand -- and nothing else -- from Montez Sweat connected with Daniels' helmet, resulting in a drive-extending roughing the passer call.
The worst call came shortly after Rome Odunze came down with a potential touchdown that would have put the Bears up 10. An illegal formation call against Theo Benedet, who was making his first career start at left tackle, brought the touchdown back, but upon closer examination, it is hard to tell how, if at all, the youngster messed up. The Bears have done well to improve in limiting their penalties and self-inflicted mistakes over the first part of the season, and it is definitely lame to blame referees for a team's struggles, but the Bears will likely feel like they beat the Commanders and the zebras when they return to Chicago.
174
Jake Moody is, at least, the special teams MVP from Monday night as the recently signed and elevated place kicker knocked in four of his five field goal attempts, totaling 174 yards of made three-pointers.
In his first game since his release from the San Francisco 49ers, Moody was called upon early and often, and none of his kicks were gimmes. His first three made kicks, which accounted for the Bears' first two scores of the game, all came from beyond 40 yards, with his eventual game winner serving as the "easiest" at 38 yards, although the pressure certainly made it the most important.
Moody's lone miss, which came on the attempt just before his final boot, was blocked at the line, partly due to a low angle, but also partly because Washington and defensive tackle Daron Payne were able to generate great pressure up the middle. Nonetheless, Moody, who was starting in lieu of an injured Cairo Santos, came up clutch for the Bears and was almost certainly able to regain some of the confidence that he may have lost in San Francisco. Whether he sticks around in Chicago or gets a spot somewhere else, Monday's performance was a potent resume booster for the former third-round pick.
175
Not to be outdone by the new kicker, D'Andre Swift, who finished as the Bears' clear-cut offensive MVP, racked up an impressive 175 all-purpose yards.
His scrimmage total was the highest of his Bears career and the second-best mark of his entire professional career. A consistent force on the ground and through the air, Swift's dominant showing was headlined by a 55-yard catch and run on third down in the fourth quarter that cut the Commander's lead to one possession.
Read more: D'Andre Swift said what every Bears fan thought about the Jayden Daniels fumble
Entering the game, Swift had eclipsed half of his eventual Monday night total just once in four games, but the Bears' offense seems to have found the reliable threat on the ground that the team has desperately needed to fully implement Ben Johnson's offense. The Bears should look to build off of Swift's success in the coming weeks.