Bears football fans, if you’re riding the wave of this Monday Night Football showdown, the Chicago Bears are making every snap count in their Week 6 battle against the Washington Commanders on October 13, 2025, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Under a steady drizzle that added extra slip to the turf, the Bears flipped the script on a mistake-riddled Commanders squad to grab a gritty 13-7 lead at halftime. It’s been a tale of takeaways and tough yards, with Chicago’s defense turning Washington turnovers into quick points while rookie QB Caleb Williams showed poise with a sneaky rushing score. The Commanders, fresh off a hot start to the season, looked like their own worst enemy—coughing up the ball twice and doinking a field goal try off the upright. As the teams head to the locker room, Chicago’s outgaining Washington 163-120, setting up what could be a barnburner second half on ESPN (streaming on Fubo or the ESPN app). This clash marks the 48th meeting between these old rivals (Bears lead 27-20 all-time), and with playoff implications simmering early, every play feels electric—especially for a Bears team chasing their first winning streak since last December.
Bears Football vs Commanders updates
The first half kicked off with the Bears winning the toss but deferring, letting their defense set the tone right away. Washington started strong on their opening drive, marching into Bears territory with a mix of short passes from Jayden Daniels and runs by rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. But on a crucial third-down throw to Deebo Samuel in the end zone, Daniels underthrew it badly—safety Jaquan Brisker snatched his first pick of the season (and Daniels’ first giveaway all year), returning it 32 yards to flip the field. That sparked Chicago’s first scoring push: An eight-play, 36-yard drive capped by replacement kicker Jake Moody’s 47-yard field goal through the rain, putting the Bears up 3-0 with 9:45 left in the first. Moody, stepping in for the injured Cairo Santos (quad tweak), looked steady as a rock.
Washington’s woes snowballed on their next possession. After a false start penalty backed them up, defensive end Montez Sweat exploded through the line to punch the ball loose from Croskey-Merritt just behind the scrimmage line—cornerback Kyler Gordon pounced on the fumble for Chicago’s second takeaway in as many drives. The Bears wasted no time, turning the short 35-yard field into points: Williams mixed quick slants to DJ Moore (who hauled in a 22-yarder) with Swift’s tough runs, before sneaking in himself on a 1-yard QB draw for the touchdown. Moody’s extra point made it 10-0 Bears with 4:12 in the first—Chicago’s defense had Washington reeling, with just 34 yards allowed through the quarter.
The second quarter brought some fight from the Commanders, who finally clicked on a 75-yard, eight-play drive highlighted by Daniels’ pinpoint accuracy (he went 10-of-11 overall in the half). A 17-yard dart to Zach Ertz moved the chains, and then Daniels dropped a perfect 22-yard rainbow to Chris Moore in the back corner of the end zone for Washington’s lone score—beating Gordon in coverage to cut the lead to 10-7 with 8:22 before the break. But Chicago answered right back: Williams connected with Moore for a 20-yard gain on third down, and Swift ripped off a 28-yard scamper to set up Moody’s second field goal, this one from 48 yards out, pushing it to 13-7 Bears at the two-minute warning.
Washington had one last shot to tighten things up before halftime, driving to the Bears’ 32 with 1:14 on the clock. But kicker Matt Gay’s 50-yard attempt clanged off the left upright—a heartbreaking “doink” that echoed through the stadium, leaving the door open for Chicago. The Bears couldn’t add more before the whistle, but their halftime edge felt earned through opportunistic play. Turnovers were the game-changer: Chicago turned Washington’s two giveaways into 10 points, while outrushing them 78-46 and controlling the clock (17:45 time of possession to 12:15).
Standout Bears shone bright: Williams went 10-of-17 for 85 yards with no picks, adding that crafty 1-yard TD run—showing the rookie poise that’s got fans buzzing. Swift powered the ground game with 7 carries for 54 yards (7.7 average), breaking tackles like a vet. Moore led receivers with 3 grabs for 42 yards, stretching the field when it mattered. On D, Brisker’s pick and 32-yard return sparked the spark, while Sweat’s forced fumble (his team-high third of the season) and Gordon’s recovery kept the pressure on. For Washington, Daniels impressed with 10-of-11 for 74 yards, 1 TD, but that lone INT stung; Moore’s 3-46 and TD kept them alive, but Croskey-Merritt’s 8-30 rush and fumble highlighted the sloppiness.
Inactives added intrigue: Bears sat Santos (quad), WR Velus Jones Jr., and DB Tyrique Stevenson (calf tweak), forcing Moody up from practice squad and testing the secondary depth. Commanders missed WR Deebo Samuel (heel, limited to 2-2 receiving) and LB Frankie Luvu (toe), thinning their front seven against Swift’s burst. Weather played a role too—steady rain made footing tricky, but both squads adapted without major slips.
Common Questions About Bears Football vs Commanders
What’s the halftime score in Bears vs Commanders? The Bears lead 13-7 at halftime, thanks to two field goals from Jake Moody (47 and 48 yards) and a 1-yard TD run by Caleb Williams. Washington answered with a 22-yard TD pass from Jayden Daniels to Chris Moore, but a missed 50-yard FG by Matt Gay kept them from closing the gap.
Who forced the turnovers for the Bears? Jaquan Brisker grabbed the first interception of Jayden Daniels’ season with a 32-yard return, while Montez Sweat punched out a fumble from Jacory Croskey-Merritt, recovered by Kyler Gordon. Those plays led to 10 Bears points.
How did Caleb Williams perform in the first half? Williams completed 10 of 17 passes for 85 yards with no interceptions, and added a sneaky 1-yard rushing TD. He showed calm under pressure, leading drives that capitalized on turnovers.
What was the Commanders’ biggest mistake at halftime? Besides two turnovers, Matt Gay’s 50-yard field goal attempt clanged off the left upright with 1:14 left, missing a chance to make it 13-10. That “doink” kept the Bears’ lead at six.
Who’s kicking for the Bears with Cairo Santos out? Jake Moody stepped in from the practice squad and nailed two long field goals (47 and 48 yards) in rainy conditions, proving steady in a pinch.