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3 Keys to Bears Victory Over the Commanders in Week 8

The Bears come off the bye and face the Washington Commanders in a game that could be important for playoff seeding. Here are three keys to victory.

By Joseph Grassano

Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) carries the ball for a first down during the first half of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) carries the ball for a first down during the first half of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images / Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images
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2. Attack the Secondary

Over the past three weeks, the Bears passing offense has improved significantly from the start of the season. Caleb Williams has thrown for 687 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception over that stretch. Although his success has come against weaker defenses, it is still impressive after how he started the season.

This week, the Bears take on a middle-of-the-pack Commanders pass defense. Currently, the pass defense gives up an average of 197.6 yards per game. The reason the Commander's pass yards per game are so low has more to do with their opponents than their actual defense.

In four of their seven games, the Commanders faced a bottom-15 passing offense. In the three games where they have played good offenses, they allowed 289 passing yards (Tampa Bay), 324 passing yards (Cincinnati), and 323 passing yards (Baltimore).

While Willams still has a lot more to learn, his talent is closer to Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow than it is to Daniel Jones or current Deshaun Watson. So this Bears passing offense should be able to thrive against this weak Commanders secondary.

Heck, last season, when the Bears played the Commanders with Justin Fields, they threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns. From last season to this season, the Commanders' secondary didn't vastly improve, but the Bears' quarterback situation did.

If the Bears open this game attacking the Commanders' secondary, don't be surprised if this is the game where multiple receivers pass 100 yards receiving. Should that happen, Williams could potentially pass for over 400 yards, making him the third quarterback in Bears history to do so in a single game.

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