Music blared from the Chicago Bears locker room after a victory for the primary time in virtually a yr, and gamers danced and jumped round with pleasure.
All because of Justin Fields and DJ Moore being completely in tune.
Fields and Moore related eight occasions for 230 yards and three touchdowns to present the embattled Bears their first win of the season, beating the Washington Commanders 40-20 Thursday night time, hours after phrase emerged of the demise of franchise nice Dick Butkus.
“We simply wanted a win, get the mojo entering into our favor,” Moore mentioned. “It felt wonderful to get the primary win underneath our belts.”
Reduction was palpable on the finish of a 14-game skid relationship to final season – since 24 October 2022, the final time they received a recreation. All of the off-field drama the group has been mired in for weeks melted away within the moments of celebration.
“The sensation that all of us had after the sport is a sense that you just simply by no means need it to finish,” Fields mentioned. “Simply happy with the way in which all the blokes recreation out and performed.”
Fields had 4 landing passes to match his profession excessive set final week, this time coming in a profitable effort as Chicago (1-4) jumped out to a 24-point halftime lead and, in contrast to Sunday, held on.
“He’s a heck of a great, younger soccer participant,” Commanders coach Ron Rivera mentioned.
Fields threw for 282 yards and ran for 57 yards, together with a rush for a primary down late within the third quarter after tipping the ball to himself following a excessive snap. Moore had 137 yards receiving within the first half alone, turning into the primary Bears participant to surpass 125 earlier than halftime since at the very least 2000 and ultimately reaching a profession excessive.
“This morning I used to be nervous – out of this world nervous,” Moore mentioned. “I assume that was my physique telling me that we had been about to go off.”
It was such a powerful displaying that it obtained the eye of LeBron James, who posted on social media: “J Fields and DJ Moore going loopy proper now!!! SHEESH!!”
The Bears additionally obtained a defensive efficiency that felt like a becoming strategy to honor Butkus, the fearsome Corridor of Fame linebacker who died at age 80 earlier Thursday. They compelled two turnovers and sacked Sam Howell 5 occasions in bouncing again from blowing a 21-point lead and shedding to Denver.
“We harped all week on ending,” mentioned Greg Stroman, a former Washington cornerback who picked off Howell. “We do nice issues as a group. We performed properly for 3 robust quarters final week, so simply had been constructing off that and that was the message: Construct off that and end.”
Washington (2-3) misplaced a 3rd consecutive recreation, this time scuffling with missed tackles and blown protection on protection, whereas once more failing to power a turnover. Couple that with Howell’s interception, and there was a motive the Commanders had been booed off the sector at halftime by followers who once more packed FedEx Area for an additional sellout.
Their second-half comeback bid fell quick, stunted by Logan Thomas fumbling, a later drive stalling within the crimson zone and Joey Slye lacking a 46-yard area purpose try with 5 minutes left. Washington obtained as shut as 10 factors, however couldn’t finish its shedding streak and maintain Chicago’s going.
“It begins on the prime,” Rivera mentioned. “That’s on me.”
