Commanders’ Week 8 game against Bears flexed to 4:25 p.m. kickoff

The Washington Commanders’ Week 8 home game against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 27 has been moved from 1 p.m. to 4:25 p.m., the NFL announced Tuesday.

The matchup at Northwest Stadium will feature Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the top pick in this year’s NFL draft, as he squares off against Commanders signal-caller Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick.

The 4:25 p.m. time slot is typically reserved for the premier matchups on Sundays as CBS and Fox alternate airing the game of the week for a majority audience. The NFL’s flex scheduling lets the league move more prominent games into prime time and Sunday afternoons.

The process is available to the NFL’s broadcast partners from Week 5 through the end of the season to account for the unpredictable early-season surprises.

The Bears and Commanders shocked the league by sprinting to 4-2 records after finishing as two of the NFL’s worst teams in 2023. Williams and Daniels have led the charge for two organizations that for years struggled to find a franchise quarterback.

Daniels leads the league with a 75.3% completion percentage, while Williams has gained momentum after a slow start. The D.C. native has thrown 530 yards and six touchdowns over his past two starts.

The Bears have a bye week to prepare for their trip to the D.C. region. The Commanders will host the Carolina Panthers at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.