Bears vs. Commanders Thursday Night Football Week 5 preview, odds

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”, so he says, but will his performance on Thursday bring this kind of confidence to the forefront? 

When it comes to the ground game, Bears running back Khalil Herbert put on a performance that’s been as engaging as a Netflix show. He’s appeared in a season-high 78% of the Bears’ offensive snaps, headlined by an 18-rush 103-yard performance against the Broncos. A developing dual threat out of the backfield, he’s caught 10 of 15 targets for 83 yards this season. The Bears running backs are tied for the sixth most targets at the position with 30.

Injury report

Washington wide receivers Javan Dotson (ankle) and Curtis Samuel (ankle) along with running back Chris Rodriguez (illness) were limited in practice this week. Cornerback Christian Holmes was also limited in this practice. Defensive backs Quan Martin and Benjamin St-Ajuste have made progress, though, participating in full.

The Bears had three players miss their most recent practice with the controversial wide receiver Chase Claypool being one of them. Claypool has been already ruled out and staying away from the Bears after making inflammatory comments to the media. Safety Eddie Jackson has a foot injury and Jaylon Johnson has a hamstring injury, sidelining the two out of the last practice. Jackson has had to miss the last two games.

Bears vs. Commanders TNF Odds

• Spread: Commanders -6
• Over/Under: 44.5
• Bears Moneyline: +215
• Commanders Moneyline: -265 

Odds courtesy of DraftKings. Click here for more.

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