CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are looking to ensure that their heart-wrenching defeat does not spiral into a disastrous season.
After entering their bye week on a high with three consecutive victories, the team is now grappling with the aftermath of a stunning 18-15 loss to Washington, highlighted by a last-minute Hail Mary touchdown on Sunday.

The Bears’ offense struggled for most of the game, failing to gain momentum until it was nearly too late. Coach’s decisions that backfired, coupled with a significant mental oversight by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, contributed to a challenging outing for the team.
“When you lose, your initial feeling as anybody is to want to deflect blame or point fingers elsewhere,” stated tight end Cole Kmet on Monday. “But, we reviewed the tape — I’ve watched it several times — and as players, we simply didn’t execute well in that game.”

Quarterback Caleb Williams struggled to find a groove, and a combination of underperformance and poor play-call choices placed the coaching staff under scrutiny.
The Bears found themselves trailing 12-7 in the fourth quarter when they advanced to the 1-yard line. Instead of a traditional play, they attempted a handoff to offensive lineman Doug Kramer, who fumbled, allowing Washington to recover the ball.
Chicago did briefly take the lead when Roschon Johnson scored from the 1-yard line with just 25 seconds left. However, what looked like a possible victory turned into a demoralizing defeat.

Highlights during the game included Stevenson being caught on social media imitating gestures to the crowd while turning his back as the Commanders executed the crucial Hail Mary pass from Jayden Daniels to Noah Brown.
On the previous play, with only six seconds left and Washington at their own 35-yard line, the Bears made the questionable choice not to cover the sidelines. This allowed Terry McLaurin to catch the ball and step out of bounds, stopping the clock, which was critical in the lead-up to the final play.
Coach Eberflus explained, “If you’re looking to defend the sideline, the opposing team will simply run a play to set up the Hail Mary.”

Despite the loss, there were positives to reflect on. The Bears’ red-zone defense stood strong, forcing Washington into field goal attempts three times when they had opportunities inside the 20, preventing a potentially larger blowout.
Conversely, the offensive line remained a significant concern. After losing left tackle Braxton Jones to a knee injury in the first half, additional injuries in the fourth quarter to guards Teven Jenkins (knee) and Bill Murray (chest) impaired the Bears’ offense.
Williams faced two sacks during the game, bringing his season total to 22, tying him for second in the NFL despite having played one game fewer than other quarterbacks.

In performance updates, running back D’Andre Swift showcased his abilities with 129 rushing yards on 18 carries. His impressive 56-yard touchdown run marked the longest for the Bears since Justin Fields’ long rush against Detroit in the previous season, highlighting Swift’s effectiveness with a total of 386 rushing yards and four touchdowns over the last four games.
Unfortunately, Stevenson expressed regret to his teammates after the game for his critical mistake. According to Eberflus, Stevenson misstepped during the critical play, where he was meant to box out Brown but instead went for the catch, leading to an easily tipped pass caught by Brown in the end zone.

Injury reports indicated that Montez Sweat (shin) was unable to return for the final play of the game, with no additional updates provided on him or the three offensive linemen.
Statistically, the Bears managed 15 first downs against Washington’s 23 and were outgained in total yards, 307 to 481.
Moving forward, the Bears will look to bounce back as they prepare to face the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday.