Chicago Bears (2-2) at Washington Commanders (3-2) | Monday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, ABC/ESPN | Series record: Commanders lead 28-25-1 | Last meeting: Commanders beat Bears 18-15 at Washington on Oct. 27, 2024
A year after one of the most unforgettable finishes in recent Monday Night Football history — a 52-yard Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels to seal a last-second win over Caleb Williams and the Bears — the two young quarterbacks meet again under the primetime lights as the Chicago Bears visit the Washington Commanders.
This rematch pits the top two picks from the 2024 NFL Draft against each other, both now firmly entrenched as the faces of their franchises. Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, has guided Washington to a 14-6 record as a starter and a trip to the NFC Championship Game in his rookie season. Williams, the No. 1 overall pick, endured a rocky first year in Chicago but has shown major strides early in 2025 — leading the Bears to back-to-back wins before their Week 5 bye.
The Commanders have won two of the last three meetings in the series, including last season’s dramatic 18-15 victory that ended on Daniels’ Hail Mary touchdown pass. Chicago, however, holds plenty of momentum entering Monday night. The Bears notched consecutive victories over Dallas and Las Vegas, capped by Williams leading a clutch game-winning drive against the Raiders before cornerback Josh Blackwell blocked a last-second field goal to seal the win.
The win over Las Vegas also marked a historic milestone — Chicago became the second franchise in NFL history to reach 800 regular-season victories, joining Green Bay.
For Washington, Monday’s matchup is another opportunity to solidify its standing in the NFC after a 27-10 win at the Los Angeles Chargers last week. The Commanders defense stifled Justin Herbert, holding him to just 166 passing yards — the eighth-lowest total of his career — while the offense continued to hum behind a punishing ground game and Daniels’ efficient play.
Washington is 2-0 at home and off to a 3-2 start, the franchise’s first time posting back-to-back 3-2 or better starts since 2017–18.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears: After leading the league in sacks taken (68) last season, Williams has been dropped just seven times through four games — a testament to improved protection and quicker decision-making. He’s guided Chicago to its best offensive rhythm in years, highlighted by dynamic rookie wideout Rome Odunze, who has a touchdown catch in each of the Bears’ first four games. With another score Monday, Odunze would become the first player since Mike Evans in 2020 to catch a TD in his team’s first five contests.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders: Daniels has continued to redefine the dual-threat quarterback archetype. Through his first 20 games, he’s amassed 4,232 passing yards and 1,015 rushing yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to eclipse 4,000 and 1,000 within that span. He’s been flawless with the football in 2025, tossing four touchdown passes and no interceptions through three games since returning from a minor knee injury.
Kevin Byard, S, Bears: The veteran safety remains a ballhawk. His two-interception performance against the Raiders was his fifth career game with multiple picks — the most among all active NFL players.
Dorance Armstrong, DE, Commanders: Armstrong had a two-sack outing versus the Chargers, his first since Week 1 of 2023, and leads a Washington defense that’s among the league’s best against the pass.
Michael Croskey-Merritt, RB, Commanders: The rookie running back found the end zone twice last week, becoming the first Washington rookie with multiple rushing touchdowns in a game since Daniels accomplished the feat in his debut last season. He’s part of a backfield that powers the league’s top-ranked rushing attack at 156.4 yards per game.
For the Bears, a win would mark their first three-game winning streak since 2020 and signal legitimate progress under Williams’ leadership. For Washington, it’s a chance to stay in the NFC East race and prove last year’s playoff run was no fluke.
And for fans? It’s another chapter in what’s quickly becoming one of the NFL’s most exciting new quarterback rivalries — Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, a rematch with star power, playoff implications, and unfinished business.
Expect fireworks. Both QBs are more mature and better supported than a year ago, but Washington’s home-field advantage and dominant run game could tilt the balance.
