And just like that, the Chicago Bears got from under the cloud that seemingly lingered since Week 8 of last season. Then, Caleb Williams and the Bears came up short against the Washington Commanders thanks to some last-second chaos.
This time, it was the Bears who would make the plays that they needed to when they needed them the most. In the end, the Bears can thank some key performances in critical areas for the victory.
They can also thank their tremendous resolve, which they put on full display in the game’s final moments.
Bears Show Critical Sign vs Commanders in 2nd Homecoming for Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams Delivers in 2nd Homecoming
Williams finished with 252 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions on 58.6% completion in the contest. There were some times where he could have gotten more out of a particular play or made a better decision in general, but he was not the issue for the Bears for most of the night.
In the fourth quarter, Williams was 3-for-5 for 75 yards and threw his lone TD pass on the evening. He completed his lone pass attempt on their game-winning drive.
On third-and-5, Williams found Colston Loveland for 6 yards and a first down.
Williams would have had a bigger night, but he had a touchdown to Rome Odunze wiped off the board by a questionable illegal formation penalty against the Bears’ new starting left tackle, Theo Benedet.
The Bears committed 11 penalties in the game, with nine calls assessed against them for 84 yards. However, just three of them were on the offense.
For Williams, though, it was really just more of the same.
In 2024, Williams drove the Bears’ offense down for a go-ahead touchdown and completed a two-point conversion in Washington, taking a 15-12 lead. Were it not for several breakdowns by the defense on the ensuing Commanders possession, Williams would be 2-0 in his hometown.
The Bears utilized a lot of motion in this contest, as Williams said they would. They still have a lot of issues to work out, but it was a good showing for a group that has had its share of battles.
Bears Defense Gets Some Getback
The Bears’ defense came up with three turnovers, including Nahshon Wright, who otherwise had a rough night, capitalized on a botched handoff from Jayden Daniels to Bill Croskey-Merritt.
But this effort was about more than just one drive. The Bears’ defense stepped up in a major way after having significant issues against the run and pass earlier this season. They held the Commanders’ top-ranked rushing attack to 124 yards, their second-fewest this season.
Daniels posted a 211-3-1 line on 73% completion.
Jaquan Brisker, who would later get tagged with a roughing call, picked Daniels off on a pass to Deebo Samuel in the end zone in the first quarter.
Kyler Gordon also recovered a fumble. Like the Commanders with Williams, the Bears got to Daniels for 3 sacks, though one was him running out of bounds. Still, it was as encouraging of a showing as the Bears could have asked for, all things considered.
D’Andre Swift & the Running Game Come Alive
While the Bears were containing the Commanders’ ground attack, running back D’Andre Swift rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries. He also caught two of his three targets for 67 yards and 1 TD that covered 68 yards.
It is Swift’s second 100-yard game in a Bears uniform, and the eighth time he has crossed the century mark in his career.
It helps that they played the Commanders’ 19th-ranked run defense.
Kyle Monangai (5-19-0), DJ Moore (2-10-0), and Roschon Johnson (1-6-0) all chipped in, while the Bears’ 145 team rushing yards against the Commanders are a season-high for Chicago (despite facing two worse run Ds) and the second-most Washington has allowed in 2025.
Moore notably left the stadium in an ambulance, accompanied by wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, per The Bigs’ Herb Howard. The only other details are that Moore will remain at the hospital overnight for observation, per the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs.
He was also noticeably jovial during the postgame celebration.
Jake Moody Gets Confidence Back
The Bears’ decision to sign Jake Moody in the first place proved to be more telling about Cairo Santos’ status than the practice report. The former San Francisco 49ers third-round draft pick filled in for the inactive veteran despite the latter practicing in full all week.
Moody was available because he struggled with the 49ers, and his former head coach, Kyle Shanahan, believed his confidence was down, saying there was not much of a decision to be made when it came.
It was but one game, and Moody could cede duties back to Santos as soon as next week.
Still, Moody was 4-for-5, overcoming the specter of a block to seal the deal for the Bears on the road. The Bears won by the same final score in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and they are now 2-1 in one-score games.
They were 3-7 in one-score games last season. The Bears have also won three straight games for the first time since the weeks leading up to their last encounter with the Commanders.