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Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
It’s a battle of futility on Thursday night (8:15 p.m. ET) as the Washington Commanders host the Chicago Bears.
The Commanders head into this game with their chin down having lost two straight to cancel out a 2-0 start. Granted, they followed up a 37-3 beatdown at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 with a valiant showing last week against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 34-31 overtime loss.
Yet they’re in significantly better shape than the Bears who are off to a miserable 0-4 start. Last week against the Denver Broncos, they blew a 28-7 while allowing 24 unanswered points to gift a win to Sean Payton’s equally miserable side. This after they outscored 106-47 in their first three games of the season.
The Bears have done quarterback Justin Fields no favor in his professional development. With a lack of offensive creativity or protection, the dual-threat passer struggled mightily in his first three games of the season, averaging just 175 yards per game while recording four interceptions.
Against Denver last week, he went off for 335 yards while completing 80% of his passes with four touchdowns and a pick. But a loss is a loss, and his career record as a starter is just 5-24.
He’ll be facing Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, who struggled against the Bills in Week 3, throwing for 170 yards with four interceptions. In their first three games of the NFL season. But he bounced back by going 29-of-41 for 290 yards and a touchdown.
Dealing with early-down issues in the passing game, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, had a better plan for Howell; take shorter drops to slow down the pass rush. Howell is a huge advocate for “momentum”,…
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