After being the laughing stock of the NFL by blowing a 21 point lead to the Denver Broncos last Sunday, Bears fans will wake up Friday morning with Chicago headlines covered in D.J. Moore. Moore had a career night Thursday as he torched the Commanders defense hauling in 8 receptions for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns. Justin Fields fueled Moore’s big night going 15/29, 282 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Justin Fields targeted D.J. Moore 10 times in this 20 point blowout win, notioning the quick chemistry that has been built between these two in just four games. Chicago’s front office will be sleeping tight tonight after knowing that trading away the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft for two first round picks and Moore was a great investment.
That Justin Fields-DJ Moore connection is different.#TNFonPrime | #CHIvsWAS | @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/mhkdUnmhYH
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 6, 2023
To accompany the stellar offensive showing from Fields and company, the Bears defense’s commitment to stopping the run early tonight was a major catalyst towards controlling this game from the start. The Commanders ended the contest with 29 total rushing yards, split between Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. Chicago throughout the game stayed committed to forcing rookie Commanders QB to beat them through the air, which resulted in Sam Howell going 37/51, 388 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 interception. All of the blame cannot be put solely on Howell due to the Bears taking a commanding 17-3 lead in the first quarter, causing the Commanders to force the envelope early. Washington made a late second half push, which ultimately led to a missed field goal allowing the Bears to capitalize on a quick 3 play 65 yard touchdown drive by way of D.J. Moore brilliance for the third and final time to cap off his career night.
Bears’ WR D.J. Moore had five catches for 137 yards and two TDs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2023
In the first 15+ minutes.
After finally putting the pieces together in their 40-20 primetime win, the Chicago Bears might now be wondering why they could not perform at this level in the first three weeks of the season. Justin Fields finally broke out of his slump and showed fans in Chicago that maybe he can be their quarterback moving forward. I truly believed the Bears might be fully committed to trying to acquire USC quarterback Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft after their first four weeks, but Chicago has shown they are not willing to give up on this season yet. They will need this hungry attitude as they get a visit from Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday.
The Washington Commanders have had a wild first five games of the season after starting the season 2-0 and now end week 5 at 2-3. Washington will have to continue working through growing pains with their rookie quarterback but will also need to address the regression in their defense in order to right the ship. The Commanders had given up 120 points entering tonight's matchup, now sitting at 160. This is the most points allowed by a defense in the NFL. After their defense looked sound in the first two weeks, the Commanders defense has looked dysfunctional after giving up 37 to Buffalo, 34 to Philadelphia, and 40 in tonight's loss. Ron Riveria and his defensive coordinator will need to do some soul searching in this long week as they prepare to travel to Atlanta next Sunday for a date with the Falcons.
