Bears end longest skid in franchise history: ‘A long time coming’

LANDOVER, Md. – Four days after blowing a three-point lead for their 14th straight loss, the Chicago Bears ended the longest losing streak in franchise history by defeating the Washington Commanders 40-20 on Thursday.

It’s been almost a full year — 346 days to be exact — since Chicago’s last win. After starting 0-4 amid off-field drama and poor on-field performance, how much do the Bears need this win?

“Pretty bad, I’m not going to lie,” the tight end said Cole Kmit He said. “I think the emotions I felt literally until…the clock hit zero was a relief. It’s been a long time coming to get that first win. We’ve got a lot of talent, we just have to put it together. These types of performances can continue, but we have to Able to execute and synchronize as a group.”

There are only a few players left from the last Bears team to score 40 points, in a 41-17 win over Jacksonville in Week 16 of the 2020 season. Wide Receiver Darnell Mooneywho was a rookie that season, barely remembers the score given the number of losses the Bears piled up from then on.

What looked familiar was the predicament the Bears offense found itself in after a hot start. Chicago scored a touchdown or field goal on every drive in the first half, due to two TD receptions DJ MooreThey led by 24 points at the end of the second quarter. Quarterback Justin Fields He became the first Bears player since the 1970 merger to throw three touchdowns in the first half of consecutive games.

A third quarter that saw two Chicago drives, both of which resulted in punts, while Washington scored a field goal and a touchdown, was the motivation the Bears used to avoid another disappointment.

“We will not let this happen again,” Mooney said. “We felt the intensity of another team against us, and we don’t want to feel that again.”

Moore’s huge night prevented another disappointment and helped the Bears to a win on the road. The 25-year-old receiver caught eight passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, the second-most receiving yards in a game in Bears history.

His fourth-quarter touchdown clinched the game in Chicago’s favor. Moore ran a downward spiral as a cornerback at Washington Kendall Fuller He jumped in vain, and caught a short reception 56 yards down the visitors’ line to the end zone.

As Fields watched his No. 1 wide receiver extend his yards after the catch to 141 — the most by any Bears player since ESPN began tracking the YAC in 2006 — the quarterback classified that moment of the game’s closing as “a sigh of relief.” Satisfaction.”

“I think we just had to reset,” Fields said. “Of course, the trip where we had a false start, you know, everyone was jumping around a little bit. But I just went to the guys and just said, ‘Calm down. We’re in a great position, the defense is going to go out there and do what they want. They did that, they stopped, and you know, of course, when DJ did that catch and run, the game was pretty much over by then. It was a great play, great catch, great protection up front and executed it well. “

Moore was a key part of the trade package Chicago received from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in March. In five games with the Bears, Moore has:

• 531 yards and five touchdowns, already more than any Bears wide receiver has accumulated during the 2022 season.

• He accounted for 47% of the Bears’ receiving yards this season, the most of any player in the NFL.

• Every Bears reception, according to Next Gen Stats. Fields is 8 of 11 for 137 yards and three TDs for Moore on tight window throws and 0 of 8 for all other Bears on those plays.

It’s been a long time since Chicago has been attacked this much by one player. Moore became the first Bears player with 200 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage in a game since Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton in 1979, the kind of performance the receiver said he didn’t expect.

“No, I was nervous this morning,” Moore said. “Out of this world nervous, so I think my body is telling me we’re about to go. I’m looking forward to more tense days before games.”

The Bears averaged 7.0 yards per play on the night as Fields threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns, along with another strong showing from Chicago’s running game (178 yards).

Days after starting to show their strength as a team, it has become clear to some what the Bears believe their offensive identity is.

“Give the ball to DJ, man,” Mooney said. “Give the ball to DJ. Really, give the ball to DJ, and like I said before, allow us to have a chance to make that play, not make that play, whatever. Put the weight on our shoulders and just give us the opportunity to make that play.”