Chicago Bears finally tasted victory this season as they beat the Washington Commanders 40-20 on the road.
The Bears had gone without a win in 14 games dating back to last season but Justin Fields and DJ Moore combined to snap the 347-day losing streak on Thursday Night Football.
Following the triumph the Bears’ X account dedicated the win to legendary linebacker Dick Butkus, whose death was announced just a couple of hours before kickoff.
It’s the Bears’ first victory since October 24, 2022, and it came with a receiver in exile, their defensive coordinator gone and in the aftermath of blowing a 21-point lead last week.
None of that mattered in the moment. Fields had four touchdown passes to match his career high set last week, this time coming in a winning effort as Chicago (1-4) temporarily put all the off-field drama aside.
DJ Moore (pictured) and quarterback Justin Field comebined to run riot at FedEx Field
Fields threw for 282 yards and ran for 57 yards, including a rush for a first down late in the third quarter after tipping the ball to himself following a high snap. Moore had 137 yards receiving in the first half alone, becoming the first Bears player to surpass 125 before halftime since at least 2000, and finished with eight catches.
It was such an impressive showing that it got the attention of LeBron James, who posted on social media: “J Fields and DJ Moore going crazy right now!!! SHEESH!!”
The Bears also got a defensive performance that felt like a fitting way to honor Butkus, the fearsome Hall of Fame linebacker who died at age 80 earlier Thursday.
They forced two turnovers and sacked Sam Howell five times in bouncing back from a bad loss to Denver.
The Bears and Commanders also honored NFL legend Butkus before the game as the two franchises held a moment’s silence in tribute.
Paramedics responded to a medical emergency at Butkus’s Malibu residency at 12.51pm Thursday, according to TMZ. The former linebacker was reportedly declared dead at the scene.
The report claims that Butkus was found unresponsive when someone went to check on him at the property.
The Butkus family confirmed that the Chicago Bears icon died ‘peacefully’ overnight.
He is hailed as one of the greatest linebackers of all time and was a defensive standout at the University of Illinois before being taken with the No. 3 overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft by his hometown Chicago Bears.
Butkus, coming in a 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, spent his entire NFL career with the Bears before retiring in 1973 and the team retired his No. 51 jersey in 1994.
And following the win, the Bears’ social media dedicated the result to Butkus, posting: ‘This one’s for 51.’
Washington (2-3) lost a third consecutive game, this time struggling with missed tackles and blown coverage on defense, while again failing to force a turnover. Couple that with Howell’s interception, and there was a reason the Commanders were booed off the field at halftime by fans who again packed FedEx Field for another sellout.
Their second-half comeback bid fell short, stunted by Logan Thomas fumbling, a later drive stalling in the red zone and Joey Slye missing a 46-yard field goal attempt with five minutes left. Washington got as close as 10 points, but couldn’t end its losing streak and keep Chicago’s going.
More to follow.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk