ASHBURN — As the Washington Commanders were warming up for practice last month, one player turned to a small group of reporters to ask them what the heck was happening in Chicago. This was around the time when Bears quarterback Justin Field not only threw coaches under the bus for his “robotic” play, but also when defensive coordinator Alan Williams abruptly resigned. Oh, and the Bears had to deny rumors that the FBI raided team headquarters about Williams’ exit.
It was the kind of chaos that used to dog the Commanders.
But a lot can change in a year.
When the Commanders host the Bears on Thursday in prime time, the dynamics between the two teams couldn’t be more different from when they met a year ago. In the lead-up to that 2022 game, also coincidentally on “Thursday Night Football,” the Commanders were steeped in turmoil — from coach Ron Rivera’s “quarterback” gaffe to (now former) owner Dan Snyder coming under fire for a bombshell ESPN story.
Fast forward to 2023, and the Bears might as well as have moved to Ashburn.
Williams’ exit remains a mystery, though multiple reports indicated that his resignation stemmed from inappropriate conduct. But beyond Williams, Chicago’s coaching staff has other problems: The Bears haven’t won a game since Oct. 24, 2022. That’s 14 straight losses, with an 0-4 record to start this year.
The Commanders? They’re 2-2, but their issues have largely been related to the product on the field. Snyder is gone, having sold the team to Josh Harris.
“Things have changed and it’s been different,” Rivera said. “It’s been refreshing. … It’s one of those things that we’re very fortunate to be where we are. What Mr. Harris and his group have brought has been very different and it’s allowed me, it’s allowed us, to keep the focus on football, the players, as it should be and what we do on the field.”
As Rivera spoke, he laughed and referred back to a question he received earlier in the season that pointed out that one of the main problems for the Commanders this season has been the long snapper position — and how that, in a way, had signified progress. “When that’s your biggest concern as a player or a position or something on the field, that’s really cool,” Rivera said.
Last year there were certainly bigger concerns for the Commanders than the long snapper. In the week before the Bears game, Rivera made headlines when he said “quarterback” was the reason NFC East rivals were ahead of the Commanders — an answer that some saw as the coach throwing starter Carson Wentz under the bus. Rivera tried to clarify that he didn’t mean that, but the damage was done: The coach apologized to his team for causing a distraction.
A few days later, the Rivera story was overtaken by new allegations against the owner. ESPN dropped a lengthy investigation into Snyder that said the embattled billionaire claimed to have dirt on other NFL owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Snyder’s camp pushed back hard against the story, but again, the damage was done. During Thursday night’s game, play-by-play man Al Michaels remarked how “the league would love” for Snyder to sell the team.
“He’s become a major problem around the league, obviously,” Michaels said.
Michaels likely won’t be calling for owner Virginia McCaskey to sell the Bears when Chicago meets Washington this year, but the commentator and the rest of the Amazon crew will still have plenty to discuss.
Chief among the topics will be the drama involving Chase Claypool, who will miss his second straight game Thursday after the wide receiver complained publicly about his role. The Bears said they told the wide receiver to stay home shortly after the comments, but even that message was delivered confusingly. Bears coach Matt Eberflus initially told reporters that it was Claypool’s choice to stay away from the team before a team spokesperson clarified that the Bears made the decision.
On the field, the Bears defense ranks second-to-last in points per game (34.3) and is coming off a loss in which it was responsible for blowing a 28-7 lead to the Denver Broncos. Fields, in his third year, hasn’t progressed the way coaches and teammates had hoped. While the Ohio State product looked much better against the Broncos — throwing his first 300-yard game — Fields has spent most of the season looking lost under center.
Despite the chaos, the Commanders have spent the week preaching that they’re taking the Bears seriously. Rivera warned how Fields gave Washington “hell” in last year’s game in which the Commanders barely pulled out a 12-7 win. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin said the Bears have “been in a lot of their games,” and Washington needs to make sure to avoid critical errors.
Commanders left tackle Charles Leno, who spent his first seven seasons with the Bears, said it would be a mistake to underestimate his former team.
“I guarantee you their players and their coaches are telling their team they can come in here on Thursday night to Washington and try to kick our (butts) in our house,” Leno said. “That’s what I’m worried about. That’s what I care about.”
These Bears, though, are quite unrecognizable from the franchise that Leno knew.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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