The Chicago Bears knew they’d need a great performance from their offensive line if they were going to pull off an upset against the Washington Commanders on Thursday night. They got it. Despite losing center Lucas Patrick to a concussion, the Bears front five still dominated the line of scrimmage most of the night. Probably the biggest catalyst for that success was the return of Teven Jenkins. Their left guard was a monstrous presence from the moment he stepped on the field, blasting open holes in the run game and never allowing a pressure in pass protection.
It was another reminder that he plays like one of the best guards in the NFL when he’s healthy. This appears to have impacted his confidence. Jenkins isn’t usually known for making bold statements or being a trash talker. Still, that didn’t stop him from taking a not-so-subtle jab at Washington’s defense. He noticed their lack of intensity almost right away. Yet what stood out the most was how poor they were at making shifts in the secondary to disguise their coverages.
Fields ripped apart Washington’s secondary most of the night, with D.J. Moore being the primary beneficiary. The two connected for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Cole Kmet also had a solid game. To top it off, Chicago ran for over 170 yards on the ground. It is the second glimpse in five days of what the Bears offense could look like when nearing full health. Having Jenkins back was a huge boost. The only piece remaining is left tackle Braxton Jones. He is still working his way back from a neck injury suffered a couple of weeks ago.
As for Washington’s defense, they have a lot of soul-searching to do. Opposing offenses have had success against them almost all season. Chicago was probably their lowest point of the year. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is under tons of fire for the failures. Head coach Ron Rivera has maintained no changes are happening, but his hand may be forced if this continues. Teven Jenkins wasn’t impressed. It looked nothing like the defense that held Chicago to seven points last year.
It must’ve felt good getting some revenge on national TV.
