Windy City Gridiron
The Chicago Bears, coming off of an early bye week, will face the Washington Commanders on the road during Monday Night Football. The Bears have won their last two matchups, but we all remember what happened last time the Bears faced the Commanders.
The “Fail Mary” play that led the Commanders to an 18-15 victory over the Bears last season makes Monday’s matchup carry more weight as the Bears have the chance to prove what kind of team they are: one that loses by a fluke play that derails the rest of the season or one that doesn’t set their opponent up to make that play in the first place?
Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s get into my pregame Windy City Honors for week six:
Biggest Question: How will the Bears perform after a bye week?
In theory, a team should come off of a bye week rested, refreshed, and prepared for their next game. And yet, the Bears are 2-10 after a bye week since 2013.
Lovie Smith was the last Bears’ head coach to have a winning record coming off of a bye; he was 6-3 in his nine-year tenure. This raises questions on how coaches since Smith were using that extra week to prepare. If Head Coach Ben Johnson can lead his team to an on-the-road win after a bye week, he will continue to rewrite the narrative and further prove that this team is headed in the right direction.
Greatest Redemption Story Potential
Shortly after the hail mary loss to the Commanders last season, video clips of cornerback Tyrique Stevenson taunting opposing fans in the audience during the play went viral. Stevenson went on to then tip the ball, positioning it right into Commanders WR Noah Brown’s hands for the game-winning touchdown.
Stevenson became known for his role in the “Fail Mary” play. “It just hurt my feelings being a football player and having one of those mistakes that’s going to linger around,” Stevenson said earlier this week.
“It definitely hurt. But just use it as fuel.”
Stevenson has had a good season so far, stepping up as cornerback Jaylon Johnson has been injured. So far, he’s recorded 19 total tackles, 14 of which were solo, one forced fumble, and one interception.
He has the opportunity to get his redemption on Monday night and show that the hail mary play does not define who he is as a player.
Player to Watch
On Saturday, Johnson announced that Canadian undrafted free agent Theo Benedet will replace Braxton Jones at left tackle on Monday night. Benedet started at right tackle in place of an injured Darnell Wright during the Las Vegas Raiders game but was moved to left tackle before the end of the first half.
The personnel change does not come as a surprise as Johnson has been clear since training camp that he was not opposed to making changes as the season went on.
All eyes will be on Benedet in hopes that...
