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Washington Commanders 12, Chicago Bears 7
This was not exactly the kind of game that tends to be celebrated in the NFL. Yet, it was two of the older franchises, playing a tough, physical game dictated by solid defensive efforts, on a chilly evening in Chicago. And it nevertheless came down to the final minute of play.
Ultimately, Washington won. They made the most of the few opportunities that were presented to them, unlike Chicago. The Bears had a chance to settle for a field goal earlier in the game, and decided to gamble and go for a touchdown. This is understandable, but it always reminds me of the 1990 New York Giants, who had a big regular season showdown on a nationally televised Monday Night Football game against the dynasty 49ers in San Francisco. They also could have settled for a field goal and cut into the lead, making the latter part of the game more manageable. Instead, they tried to force the issue and went for it on fourth down. Later in the game, in the final minute, they were in field goal position, but that did them no good, because they were down by four. Had they gone for the field goal, perhaps they would have been in that situation, but with a chance to win. Instead, they had to go for it, and failed. It was a lesson that they learned well, because when the two tams met again in the NFC Championship Game, the G-Men kept going for field goals, and never actually scored a touchdown. But it was a decision that served them well, because ultimately, they once again were in field goal position in the final seconds. This time, they were only down by one, and when the field goal attempt by Matt Bahr split the uprights, the Giants had ended the Niners dynasty and were on their way to Tampa Bay to play in Super Bowl XXV. Which they won, by the way.
Am I saying that these two teams, who walked off Soldier Field last night sporting identical 2-4 records, are going to meet later for a championship, or even will be heading to the playoffs?
No, I am not saying that. But what I am saying is that when the Bears, who struggled on offense all night much like the Giants did on that night all of those years ago in San Francisco, decided to go for it instead of settling for the field goal, I got a sense that it would come back to bite them.
Then in the fourth quarter, down 12-7 and needing a touchdown, because a field goal would not help them, it felt like a lesson that they should take to heart, much like the New York Football Giants did in 1990.
True, the Bears came close to a winning touchdown on the final play. But in the end, they did not get it. Close, but no cigar.
And that cost them dearly. They could (and perhaps even should) have been 3-3 at this point. Not a great record, but not a losing one, either. Instead, they dropped a third straight game, and fall even farther behind both the Vikings and the Packers in the NFC North.
After the game, some of the pundits were saying that maybe it was time for Ron Rivera and the coaching staff to devise a game plan that would accommodate the talents of Justin Fields more. He is not a bad quarterback, but his arm is clearly not like that of Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady. His strength is in running, and maybe it is time that the Bears incorporated that into their offensive game plan more, like Rivera did with Cam Newton in Carolina. Frankly, it sounds reasonable to me.
In any case, yes, the Bears fell to 2-4, and are in serious danger of falling completely into irrelevance in the NFC North, as it increasingly seems like it will be a race between the Vikings and Packers for supremacy in the division. As for Washington, they finally stopped the bleeding from a four game skid of their own, and earned a much needed win, in their case improving to 2-4 with a tough road win.
My pick: Inaccurate
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