D.C. or nothing: Windy City Gridiron picks Bears-Washington

In the least expected of plot twists, the NFC North appears to be more competitive than ever in the early goings of the 2019 season. The rival Packers are 3-0 with a revitalized defense and are arguably the NFC’s best team. They’re essentially following the same script that every other great quarterback in NFL history has enjoyed when he was on his last leg—he no longer has to the heavy lifting on his own. The Vikings, the curious case of Kirk Cousins and all, are 2-1, as they’ve figured out giving the ball to Dalvin Cook isn’t an awful idea. Even the previously languid Lions, technically undefeated thanks to a Week 1 tie, look improved and moderately competent.

If the 1-1 Bears are going to keep their Super Bowl, playoffs, something hopes alive, it would behoove them to start getting into a groove against one of the NFL’s worst teams in Washington while the country looks on. The Bears haven’t won in Washington since 2001, and that victory needed a Brad Maynard touchdown pass to Brian Urlacher. If the Bears consider themselves relevant in any form, their record of road futility against Dan Snyder’s excuse for a professional football franchise must be broken.

Here’s how the Windy City Gridiron staff sees Monday night’s game shaking out.

Robert Zeglinski: Bears 29, Washington 13

Case Keenum or the rookie hotshot in Dwayne Haskins under center, it makes little difference. After finally exorcising the psychological demons of Parkey’s Past, the Bears open the floodgates on a hapless outfit.

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Chicago 24, Washington 13

Chicago’s offense takes another small step as Matt Nagy puts together his best game-plan of the 2019 season, and the Bears’ defense continues it’s stellar play with a couple sacks and a pick-six from Eddie Jackson.

Josh Sunderbruch: Bears 14, Washington 6

Nothing but field goals and a safety. I’ll believe this offense can score reliably when I see it score reliably. The defense is legitimate, though.

Erik Duerrwaechter: Bears 24, Washington 17

The Washington secondary might cause problems in the passing game. However, they’re not built to stop the run, and the Bears’ defense shouldn’t have too much of a problem containing the Washington offense.

Aaron Leming: Bears 27, Washington 17

This feels like the week that the Bears’ offense finally figures things out. It might not be as drastic a high scale performance as last year’s Week 4 matchup against Tampa Bay, but this Washington defense is dreadful.

Kev H: Bears 15, Washington Professional football club 13

I have no current reason to think that the Bears will score more than 13 to 16 points, and they should use this game to find a way to prove they can. The defense will give up a late touchdown to make it closer than it has to be, because they will play 10 minutes of the fourth quarter.

Robert Schmitz: Bears 24, Washington 10

Riding off of the momentum of a huge win in Denver, the Bears march into Landover, Maryland (a mere 50 meters above sea level) and lay a beating on Washington that gets Chicago fans excited.

Jacob Infante: Bears 16, Washington 10

Another low-scoring matchup in which the Bears’ defense bails out their offense and leads them to victory? Sounds like good old-fashioned Bears football to me.

Ken Mitchell: Chicago 24, Washington 3

Washington’s defense isn’t as good as Denver’s, and Chicago’s defense is still Chicago’s defense. I expect to see some improvement on offense simply because there’s too much talent there to be scoring less than one touchdown per game.

Sam Householder: Bears 14, Washington 13

The Bears haven’t won in the nation’s capital since 2001 and have lost seven straight in the series, while Washington hasn’t won a Monday Night Football game at home since 2012. This is bound to be another game between two teams that don’t want to win, but the Bears are the better team and eke it out.

WhiskeyRanger: Bears 24, Washington 10

Despite his statistical lines, Case Keenum looks bad, and Chicago’s defense is going to feast. Expect short fields for the Bears’ offense against a shaky defense, with the possibility of a defensive score (Eddie Jackson, I’m lookin’ at you!).

Patti Curl: Bears 52, Washington 3

Obviously the first time I don’t predict the Bears to store 52 points will be the week they actually do it. I’m definitely not going to waste that magic on this game, when they certainly won’t need it.

Robert finds it necessary to remind everyone that no matter what happens, it will be difficult for the Bears to be the biggest embarrassment in D.C on Monday night.

WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Like us on Facebook.