Last year's Chicago Bears-Washington Commanders game is one that everyone would like to forget.
Bears had a three-point lead leading up to the final play of the game. Then, the nightmare happened. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with Noah Brown on an improbable Hail Mary touchdown catch to steal the game from the Bears.
All fans from Chicago can remember is cornerback Tyrique Stevenson not paying any attention to the beginning of the game and waving at them before getting to the Hail Mary play late. Who knew that this signature moment would impact the rest of the season?
The Bears would go on to lose 10 straight games and finish the season with a record of 5-12. At least the silver lining was that former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus earned that "former" title by getting fired, and the pain of 2024 was over.
Entering 2025 game, Ben Johnson wants nothing to do with that 2024 Bears team
Many Bears fans are looking at this Bears-Commanders game as a revenge match for the Windy City. It's an opportunity for them to write the wrongs of last year and be able to sleep at night, forgetting about that horrible 2024 memory.
The media asked Bears head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday about seeing this game as a "revenge game" for the team. Johnson wasn't a part of that team from last year, so he's not attached to that.
“We’re a new team and we’re just focused on winning this game this week.”
It's the right response from Johnson to try to separate himself from the mess Eberflus had last year. That Bears team struggled with so many elements of the team. Johnson's unit is different.
Granted, there are many players from last year's team still in Chicago, and this year's squad has faced its share of struggles, but the confidence remains high within the team. From Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze to Stevenson, everyone has elevated their game from last year.
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This Bears team is the one fans feel can change the whole future of the franchise. Picking up a win in the "revenge game" against the Commanders would certainly give Johnson and Williams the signature win they need.