'Fire Ron Rivera!'? Fans Rip Washington Commanders After 40-20 Loss to Lowly Chicago Bears
The Washington Commanders hoped to snap a two-game losing streak when the winless Chicago Bears came to try and get their first win of the season at FedEx Field. But Thursday didn't quite work out that way, the home team losing, 40-20, to a Bears team that snapped a 14-game losing streak.
Fire Ron Rivera!?
And the D.C. natives are restless, as exhibited all over social media. How did this happen? Follow along for our chrological take on the night ...
The Commanders last played at home in Week 3, where they got a massive wakeup call against the Buffalo Bills. But now they are back hoping their fortunes will change against a Bears team that hasn't won in nearly a full calendar year.
The Bears last won in Week 7 of last season on the road against the New England Patriots and have lost a whopping 14 consecutive games.
Chicago Bears running back Khalil Herbert carries the ball against the Washington Commanders.
USA Today Sports
FLASHBACK: These two teams faced off last season on Thursday Night Football in Chicago. The Commanders left the Windy City with a nail-biting victory with much thanks to cornerback Benjamin St-Juste's clutch play in the final minute.
RECORDS: Washington Commanders (2-2) vs. Chicago Bears (0-4)
ODDS: Washington -7
GAME TIME: Thursday, October 5th, 2023 at 8:15 p.m. ET
LOCATION: FedEx Field - Landover, MD
TV/RADIO: Prime Video, BIG 100.3 FM
THE FINAL WORD: Howell doesn't believe in 'moral victories':
"We will go back this week on a short week, playing on Thursday night, and we are excited for that opportunity. Definitely, I don’t believe in moral victories or anything like that. We lost the game, and I feel like we should have won.”
Check out Commander Country throughout the night as we provide live updates, drive-by-drive coverage and highlights from all the top plays.
Live updates will appear here after kickoff...
FIRST QUARTER: Bears 10, Commanders 0
Slye kicks to the end zone and the Bears will start with the ball at their own 25 to start the game.
Fields misses Mooney down the right sideline, then Herbert runs off tackle for one yard. On 3rd and 9, Fields connects with Moore deep down the left sideline for 58 yards to the WAS 16, out of bounds.
CHI TIMEOUT (#1) at 13:30
Herbert runs for no gain, then Fields is sacked for a loss of four.
TOUCHDOWN BEARS: On 3rd and 14, Fields hits Moore in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The extra point is good for a 7-0 Bears lead with 12:04 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in six plays and takes 2:56 off the clock.
The Santos kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Robinson runs off right guard for five, then Howell hits Logan Thomas for a gain of four. On 3rd and 1, Robinson is stuffed by Billings for a loss of one. The Way punt goes 52 yards to the CHI 15, returned 11 yards to the CHI 26 by Taylor. WAS - J. Reaves was injured during the play.
Fields runs off right end for seven, then hits Tonyan for seven and a first down at the CHI 40. Fields throws incomplete to Mooney, then finds Moore for another nine. On 3rd and 1, Fields sneaks up the middle for one and a first down.
Fields passes short left to Tonyan, out of bounds at the WAS 47 for a three-yard gain, then Herbert breaks one off right guard for 34 yards to the WAS 13 with 6:03 left in the first quarter.
On 1st and 10 from the WAS 13, Fields throws incomplete while under pressure, then Fields connects with Kmet across the middle for a gain of one - Kmet fumbles but recovers at the point of the tackle. On 3rd and 9, Fields hits Kmet again for eight.
FIELD GOAL BEARS: Santos is good from 22 for a 10-0 Bears lead over the Commanders with 4:18 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 70 yards in 11 plays and takes 5:33 off the clock.
At the 4:18 mark of the first quarter, the Bears lead the Commanders in total yards, 145-8.
The Santos kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell scrambles left for a gain of three. PENALTY on WAS-B.Pringle, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 28 - No Play. On 2nd and 12, Robinson runs off left end for just one. On 3rd and 11, Howell is sacked for a loss of one as the "Boo Birds" come out at FedEx Field. Way punts 50 yards to the CHI 26, returned for five yards to the CHI 31 by Taylor.
Two possessions for Washington, two 3-and-outs with 12 total yards gained.
Fields hits Moore on the right sideline for a short pass and Moore breaks several tackles and scampers down the sideline for 39 yards to the WAS 30.
Robinson runs off left guard for five, then rookie Roschon Johnson (Texas) runs off left end for 10 and a new set of downs.
Fields throws incomplete to the left sideline.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER: Bears 27, Commanders 3
On 2nd and 15, Johnson runs for four to the WAS 11.
TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Fields throws to the left side for Moore for 11 yards and a touchdown. The extra point is good for a 17-0 Bears lead with 14:15 left in the first half. The scoring drive goes 69 yards in six plays and takes 2:37 off the clock.
The kickoff goes 65 yards into the end zone for a touchback.
Robinson runs off right end for two, then Howell hits Samuel for six. On 3rd and 2, Howell finds Thomas for three and a first down.
Howell passes short right to Dotson for nine, then Robinson runs for two and a fresh set of downs.
Howell finds McLaurin for three, then Howell finds Thomas for 11 to the CHI 39.
Howell overthrows a wide-open Brown in the end zone, then Robinson runs off left tackle for one. On 3rd and 9, Howell throws deep to Dotson incomplete. PENALTY on CHI-D.Robinson, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at CHI 38 - No Play.
On 3rd and 4, Howell's pass is batted down at the line of scrimmage, incomplete.
FIELD GOAL COMMANDERS: Slye is good from 51 for a 17-3 Bears lead with 8:33 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 42 yards in 11 plays and takes 5:42 off the clock.
The Slye kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Fields runs for seven off left end, then he finds Kmet on a hook pattern wide open in the middle of the field for a gain of 23.
Herbert runs for three on first down, then Fields throws incomplete to Mooney. On 3rd and 7, Herbert runs for six.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION BEARS: On 4th and 1 with no huddle, Fields and the Bears "tush push" for a gain of one and a first down.
Fields misses St. Brown on first down, then Herbert scrambles up the middle for nine. On 3rd and 1, the Bears and Fields "tush push" for two and a first down.
Fields scrambles under tremendous pressure but is sacked by Sweat and Young at the line of scrimmage. Fields then passes short right to Kmet for six. On 3rd and 4, Fields throws incomplete to Mooney.
FIELD GOAL BEARS: Santos is good from 36 for a 20-3 Bears lead with 2:24 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 57 yards in 13 plays and takes 6:09 off the clock.
INTERCEPTION BEARS: Howell throws to the middle of the field intended for Samuel, INTERCEPTED by Stroman at the WAS 35, returned for no gain.
Fields throws incomplete to Herbert, then Herbert carries for three.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Herbert carries off left guard for 16 to the WAS 17 while carrying four defenders on his back.
Herbert runs to the right sideline for a gain of four, out of bounds. Fields then carries right for nine to the WAS 4.
TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Fields finds Kmet in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass. The extra point is good for a 27-3 lead over the Commanders with :24 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 36 yards in six plays after the interception and takes 1:55 off the clock.
The Santos kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell throws the ball away while under pressure incomplete, then hits Gibson in the right flat for a gain of just one out of bounds. On 3rd and 9, Howell hits Gibson for nine and a first down.
TIMEOUT CHI (#2) at :03 - to the sound of boos from the FedEx Field faithful.
Howell hits Thomas for 24.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER: Bears 27, Commanders 14
The Santos kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell hits Robinson on a screen, and he jukes and jives for 24 yards to the WAS 49.
Howell finds Robinson again for seven across the middle, then Howell hits Thomas for five and a first down.
Howell hits Gibson in the left flat and he carries it 12 yards to the CHI 27.
Howell throws into the corner of the end zone incomplete for McLaurin. PENALTY on CHI-T.Stevenson, Defensive Pass Interference, 25 yards, enforced at CHI 27 - No Play.
TOUCHDOWN COMMANDERS: Howell hits Thomas in the back of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion attempt is good for a 27-11 Bears lead with 12:00 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in five plays and takes 3:00 off the clock.
The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Fields runs up the middle for a gain of one, then Fields runs right out of bounds for 14 yards and a first down.
Fields passes incomplete to Herbert in the right flat, then Fields hits Moore for five. On 3rd and 5, Fields underthrows Herbert. CHI-K.Herbert was injured during the play.
Herbert was able to walk off under his own power after getting bent over backward trying to catch the 3rd down pass from Fields.
The Gill punt goes 45 yards to the WAS 10, returned 20 yards by Crowder to the WAS 30, out of bounds.
Howell hits Thomas for six across the middle.
FUMBLE RECOVERY BEARS: Howell then finds Thomas for a gain of nine, but Thomas FUMBLES, RECOVERED by CHI-T.Smith at WAS 46.
Fields is sacked for a loss of five, then throws incomplete short on the left side. On 3rd and 15, PENALTY on CHI-J.Carter, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at CHI 49 - No Play. On 3rd and 20 from the CHI 49, Fields throws the ball away under pressure. Chase Young blew the play up. The Gill punt goes 39 yards to the WAS 17.
Howell hits Robinson in the right flat and he dodges two tackles for a gain of seven. On 2nd and 3, Howell hits Gibson deep down the right sideline for a gain of 41 to the CHI 35.
Howell throws an absolute dart to Dotson across the middle in double coverage for a gain of 14 and another first down at the CHI 21.
Howell then gets sacked on the blind side for a loss of 11. On 2nd and 19, Howell hits Dotson for seven for a 3rd and 12 coming up. Howell somehow avoids two separate sacks scrambles and breaks several tackles while tiptoeing up the right sideline for 10.
FIELD GOAL COMMANDERS: Slye is good from 32 for a 27-14 Bears lead with 3:17 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive goes 70 yards in seven plays and takes 4:23 off the clock.
The kick off goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Fields runs off right end for four, the scrambles off left guard for eight and a first down.
Herbert is back in the game and runs off right tackle for no gain. He's clearly still hurt. Then fields hits Moore for 32 to the WAS 31 down the right sideline.
Blasingame runs off left tackle to the WAS 28 for three yards.
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER: Bears 40, Commanders 20
Balsingame runs for three more to the WAS 25, then on 3rd and 4, Fields throws incomplete.
FIELD GOAL BEARS: Santos is good from 43 for a 30-14 lead over the Commanders with 14:09 left in the game. The scoring drive goes 50 yards in eight plays and takes 4:08 off the clock.
The kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell scrambles for five, then hits McLaurin for 10 more and a first down.
Howell throws to Pringle for 10 and a new set of downs.
Howell misses Pringle to the left side, then finds Crowder for 11 and a first down at the CHI 39.
Howell passes incomplete throwing the ball away, then incomplete to Thomas. On 3rd and 10, Howell gets the ball to Brown for a gain of 11 and a first down at the CHI 28.
Howell completes to Samuel for 25 to the CHI 3.
Howell misses Thomas then throws incomplete to Brown.
TOUCHDOWN COMMANDERS: Howell hits Samuel for three yards in the end zone for a touchdown. The two-point conversion is no good for a 30-10 Bears lead with 10:51 left in the game. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in 12 plays and takes 3:18 off the clock.
The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Blasingame runs for five, the Fields runs for three more. On 3rd and 2, Fields is incomplete to Moore. The Gill punt goes 47 yards to the WAS 20.
Howell passes incomplete to Gibson in the right flat, then Howell hits Samuel across the middle for 15 and a fresh set of downs.
Howell scrambles for a gain of one to the left sideline, then is sacked for a loss of four. On 3rd and 13, Howell connects with Thomas for 13 and a first down. CHI-T.Smith was injured during the play.
Howell throws deep down the right sideline incomplete to McLaurin. A flag was thrown for defensive pass interference as the ball was underthrown and the defender wasn't looking for the ball. After the officials discussed, the flag was picked up and the call was reversed.
Howell hits McLaurin deep down the left side for 32 yards to the CHI 23.
Howell then misses Dotson at the goal line. Howell threw the ball out of bounds and Dotson was wide open. Howell then finds Robinson short left for a loss of five. CHI-T.Edmunds was injured during the play. On 3rd and 15, Howell misses a wide-open Gibson in the right flat. He probably wouldn't have gotten the first down anyway.
MISSED FIELD GOAL COMMANDERS: Slye misses wide right from 46. It's still 30-20 Bears with 5:11 left in the game.
Blasingame runs for six to the CHI 42. WAS-J.Ridgeway was injured during the play. Blasingame runs up the middle for two yards.
WAS TIMEOUT (#1) at 4:17
TOUCHDOWN BEARS: Fields hits Moore down the left sideline for 56 yards and a touchdown. The extra point is good for a 37-20 lead over the Commanders with 4:09 left in the game. The scoring drive goes 64 yards in three plays and takes 1:02 off the clock.
The kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell is sacked for a loss of 11 yards to the WAS 14. Howell hits Samuel on second down for eight, then Howell goes down again for a loss of five. It's the fifth sack for the Bears, who had only two all season coming into the game.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS to BEARS: On 4th and 18, Howell hits Turner for a gain of eight.
Blasingame runs for two.
WAS TIMEOUT (#2) at 2:24
Blasingame runs for two more.
WAS TIMEOUT (#3) at 2:19
Blasingame runs for two.
FIELD GOAL BEARS: Santos is good from 37 for a 40-20 Bears lead over the Commanders with 1:56 left in the game. The scoring drive goes seven yards in four plays and takes :34 off the clock.
The kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Howell passes to Samuel for a gain of eight, then finds Bates for 10 more and a first down at the WAS 43.
Howell throws incomplete to the left sideline, then finds McLaurin across the middle for just four. On 3rd and 6, Howell connects with Crowder for 10 yards and a first down
Howell to Bates gets 10 more.
END OF GAME
