The Chicago Bears entered FedEx Field riding the NFL’s longest losing streak. Fourteen straight losses to be exact.
The Bears were one of two NFL teams starting the year out at 0-4 alongside the Carolina Panthers. But now, the Panthers are the lone winless team in the league as the Bears dominated the Washington Commanders 40-20. In the process, the Bears ended this long drought that was 18 days away from hitting one year.
Drought is over…. pic.twitter.com/2MutEGEGWG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 6, 2023
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When Was the Chicago Bears’ Last NFL Win?
Before Week 5’s Thursday Night Football win over the Washington Commanders, the Bears had lost 14 games in a row and were the holders of the NFL’s longest active losing streak.
One must go back to Oct. 24, 2022, when the team visited the New England Patriots at Foxboro, to find their previous victory.
From there, the 3-4 Bears would lose their next 10 games to finish 3-14 overall.
What Went Right for the Bears in 2022?
Inside Gillette Stadium, and in front of the Monday Night Football cameras, the Bears smacked the Pats 33-14.
How were the Bears so dominant that night before their long current slide? For starters, the Bears controlled the time of possession by holding the football for a total of 37:14. New England held it for 22:46.
As a result of their control-the-clock approach, the Bears would go on to tally 390 total yards and stacked 24 first downs.
Individually, quarterback Justin Fields accumulated 261 total yards of offense, including 82 through the rushing game. Fields also threw one touchdown pass and ran one in on a three-yard score for the evening’s first end-zone trip.
Chicago gashed the Pats with 243 rushing yards. Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery both ended with 62 yards apiece.
MORE: Chicago Bears Depth Chart
Defensively, Roquan Smith led the way with 12 tackles and eight solo stops. Smith also was one of three Bears defenders who got a pick alongside Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon.
What Went Right on TNF Versus the Commanders?
Have to start with Fields.
Right away, Fields showed the hot hand with three first-half touchdowns and 189 passing yards. He ended the evening with 282 passing yards and threaded the needle on this final touchdown of the night.
Game. Set. Match.pic.twitter.com/s7ZRcnybqJ
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2023
And his favorite target, D.J. Moore, delivered an epic eight-catch, 230-yard evening including that final touchdown for the hat trick of three touchdowns.
Defensively, despite surrendering 388 passing yards to Sam Howell, Chicago still sacked him five times and picked him off once. The Bears also forced a Logan Thomas fumble.
The Bears ended a near one-year drought of not winning, 347 days as noted.