Let’s get this out of the way: that 25-24 Monday Night Football win in D.C. wasn’t just a thriller — it was a statement. A big-ass, "we’re not the same Bears" moment. Caleb Williams didn’t need to put up Madden numbers. The defense didn’t pitch a shutout. But when it came down to crunch time? The Bears delivered. Period.
This wasn’t just Chicago stealing one on the road. It was a full-team gut check that proved Ben Johnson’s squad has learned how to close. Here are five guys (or units) who balled out and swung this game.
1. D'Andre Swift
If you didn’t know why the Bears brought in D’Andre Swift last year, now you do. The dude cooked Washington’s defense like they were working the night shift at Waffle House. 175 total yards, 108 of them on the ground at 7.7 yards a pop. But the exclamation point? A 55-yard house call on a screen that turned into a fourth-quarter dagger.
That TD wasn’t just flashy — it flipped the damn game. The Bears were down 24-16. Swift's score dragged them back within two and swung win probability harder than a drunk uncle at a wedding. It’s the type of play Chicago hasn’t had consistently since... hell, maybe ever.
Credit the O-line for cracking open some massive holes, especially on the edges. But Swift’s vision, burst, and ability to shrug off contact were on another level. For the first time this season, the run game looked dangerous — and Swift was the reason why.
2. Jake Moody
Seven hours before kickoff, Jake Moody wasn’t even on the active roster. By the end of the night, his teammates were carrying him off the damn field.
The newly signed kicker (yeah, that Jake Moody — the one San Fran dumped for being shaky) went 4-for-5 on field goals, including the 38-yard game-winner as time expired.
Moody’s performance was ice-cold under pressure. Prime time. Revenge game. Zero prep. He still drilled kicks from 47, 48, and 41 before nailing the walk-off. You can't teach stones like that.
Also: Cairo Santos, you might want to get healthy fast. There’s a new leg in town.
3. Jaquan Brisker
Washington’s opening drive was humming. Red zone. Crowd buzzing. Momentum? Gone, courtesy of Jaquan Brisker.
Brisker jumped a route at the 2-yard line, snatched the rock, and dragged it 32 yards the other way. That swing led to Chicago’s first points and killed Washington’s early vibe.
The play showed Brisker’s film-room smarts — he read the concept, baited Daniels, and pounced. It wasn’t just instinct; it was execution. And it came in a moment that changed the trajectory of the whole damn game.
Fun stat: Brisker now has three career picks on Monday Night Football. Dude's got a flair for the brightest lights.
4. Caleb Williams
Stat line? Decent: 17-for-29, 252 yards, one passing TD, one on the ground. But watch the tape — Caleb Williams played like a dude in full command.
He’s now strung together five straight games with 200+ passing yards and has tossed just one pick over the Bears’ three-game win streak. More than that, it’s the little things. That late-game clock management? Chef’s kiss. Slid in bounds. Burned Washington’s last timeout. Killed the clock. That’s the kind of situational mastery you expect from a vet, not a second-year QB.
And let’s not overlook the dime to Swift on the 55-yard score. Sure, Swift did the heavy lifting, but Williams put it right where it needed to be.
This kid isn’t just surviving anymore — he’s dictating.
5. The Bears Defense
Let’s call it what it is: Chicago’s defense is turning into a damn turnover machine. Against Washington, they forced three more. That’s now nine takeaways in the last 16 defensive series going back to Week 3. That’s not a fluke — it’s a full-on trend.
Brisker’s pick started it, but Sweat’s strip of Croskey-Merritt and Nahshon Wright’s late fumble recovery were just as big. Those plays gave the Bears 13 points. That’s the difference in a one-point win.
They also held a top-5 rushing offense to 4.0 YPC. And when the Commanders tried to test the edge, Tremaine Edmunds was there to clean up shop, racking up 13 tackles like it was nothing.
This group is flying to the ball, playing with confidence, and forcing mistakes. You don’t want to face a defense like that in December.
Final Verdict
Last year, this game ends with the Bears folding in the fourth. This year? Ben Johnson's squad took a punch, stared down a deficit, and delivered a haymaker.
The offense found its rhythm. The defense kept turning the screws. And a rookie kicker became a legend in one night. This wasn’t just a win. It was a blueprint.
If this keeps up, nobody's going to want to play the Bears come winter.
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