Game: Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
Time: 8:15 p.m.
Odds: Bears +6, Commanders -6
Total: 44.5
The Chicago Bears (0-4, 0-3-1) and the Washington Commanders (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) both want to put agonizing losses from last week behind them. Last week against Denver, Chicago blew a 21-point lead en route to its 14th straight loss. The Commanders let a 10-point lead slip in an overtime loss to the Eagles. Tonight, they meet on NFL Thursday Night Football. The Bears are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 primetime appearances, while Washington has won eight of its last nine games against Chicago and covered six of the last seven in the series.
Chicago doesn’t have much time this week to recover from what might have been the most heartbreaking defeat of its current 14-game losing streak. The streak began with 10 straight losses to close out the 2022 season. Last week against the winless Broncos, the Bears were up 28-7 in the second half. They passed up a field goal opportunity only to get stopped on downs late in the game. Then, the Bears allowed a game-winning kick by Denver with less than two minutes remaining.
The good news is that Justin Fields may have had his best performance as a pro after throwing for a career-high 335 yards and four touchdowns. Tight end Cole Kmetcaught two of those touchdown passes, and Fields finally displayed some chemistry with offseason acquisition D.J. Moore (eight catches for 131 yards).
The fact that Chicago is playing on Thursday night will probably not make a difference to its week’s results. In their last 10 primetime appearances, the Bears are only 1-9 SU. As mentioned earlier, they are 2-8 ATS in those 10 games. The Bears have also won just five of their previous 19 midweek games.
The Commanders lost to the Eagles 34-31 in overtime last week after blowing a double-digit lead of their own. The Commanders could, like Chicago, find some comfort in their quarterback’s performance. Sam Howell overcame a four-interception performance in Week 3 to throw for 290 yards and no picks last week. He also forced overtime by throwing a touchdown pass on the final play of regulation.
Last week’s game against Philadelphia was just the fifth time in Washington’s last 19 games that the total went OVER. There is now cause for concern regarding the Commanders’ defense after having given up 34 points. In its last three games, Washington has given up at least 30 points, and against the Eagles, the Commanders defense allowed six plays of 20 yards or more. The Bears defense limited Chicago to just 21 points until the final second of the game (one of Denver’s touchdowns came on a fumble return). The Bears have given up at least 25 points in 14 straight games.
Despite recent defensive struggles for Washington, the Commanders have historically been able to defeat weaker opponents at home. The Under has cashed in each of Washington’s previous seven games at FedExField and seven straight when the Commanders are playing as the favorite.
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