The Chicago Bears going 4-2 through the first six games opened up a huge opportunity for the NFL. They have long wanted to feature the organization in more premium time slots because of their large fanbase and extensive media market. Recent attempts haven’t gone well because of the team’s struggles. Well, they’re trying again. According to Ian Rapoport and other top insiders, the Bears’ noon game against the Washington Commanders following the bye week has been flexed to 3:35 Central Standard Time.
This move can’t be a surprise for the Chicago Bears.
The league has always loved to showcase this team when it’s good. After a string of noon starts early in 2018, they ended up playing four late afternoon or primetime games over the second half of the season. Things are always more interesting when the Bears are good. There is no question why the NFL is doing this, though. It is a chance to showcase Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, its two newest rookie sensations at quarterback. Both have been hot over the past few weeks, trading blows in a suddenly competitive race for Rooke of the Year.
Williams threw four touchdowns in London. Daniels has accounted for 10 total in his first six games, staking Washington to a 4-2 record and command of the NFC East. The Chicago Bears face a tough challenge against the athletic #2 overall pick. It is a good thing they have two weeks to prepare, during which their defense has a chance to get healthy after some injury setbacks. If both quarterbacks play like they have for the past month, that will be an exciting game.
The game will be in Washington, where the Commanders are 2-0 this season. The Bears are 0-2 on the road with losses in Houston and Indianapolis. Keep that in mind.
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@Bob: The statistics agree with you. Bears are in the top fifth of the NFL in defense, maybe higher, while Washington is in the bottom fifth. Personally, I think the real matchup here is can Flus’s defense expose Daniels as a limited QB, playing a simpler offense that good NFL defenses can shut down, or will Daniels continue to run and pass effectively. I expect Caleb will have another solid game, maybe not quite as dominant as the Jags beatdown, (or maybe more, if he’s still getting better), and it comes down to scoring more points than the opponents, as… Read more »
The new time slot will somewhat benefit the Bears by massaging the jetlag and slight time difference going to the East coast.
Sure, multiple factors will end up determining the outcome of a highly anticipated and surely to be an interesting game. Even without their Allen, we should witness if Caleb is or is not a pocket passer and whom currently is the better pocket passer, Caleb or Daniels. We already know both QBs are capable outside of the pocket; whereby Caleb still looks to pass and Daniels, like Fields, is more apt to run. Oops I did it again. I said the F-word.
Both QBs have been playing great. I think the determining factor here will be defense… which is where the Bears have the advantage, in my opinion.