Bears vs. Commanders Point Spread: NFL Week 8 Odds, Prediction
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Nik Kowalski
Chicago’s at 4-2, coming off a bye but rolling in with three straight victories. The 5-2 Commanders are atop the NFC East, but rookie sensation Jayden Daniels is injured (ribs) which leaves veteran QB Marcus Mariota at the helm.
Mariota and the Commanders cleaned up last week with a 40-7 victory over Carolina but Chicago is a different animal. Prior to their bye, Chicago put up 35 points in back-to-back weeks while allowing a total of 26 points in that period. It’s Chicago vs. Washington, the first battle of what could be many to come between to up-and-coming franchises.
Kickoff at Northwest Stadium goes at 4:25 p.m. EDT with the Bears a -145 road moneyline favourite and the over-under at 43.5 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Rookie quarterbacks and all, having Washington and Chicago as top-12 offences after nearly two months wasn’t in many experts’ projections. More specifically, Washington being tied atop the NFL with 31.1 points per game. The Commanders have gone 5-2 to the over this season and their history with Chicago heads right into that territory. Six of the last seven Bears–Commanders games played in Washington have finished over the total, including a 40-20 Chicago victory last season where D.J. Moore hauled in three touchdown receptions. Moore’s 230 receiving yards in the win at Washington last season was a career high for the 27-year-old.
The injury to Jayden Daniels plays a big role in the Commanders being a home underdog, but it shouldn’t be overlooked that Washington is 5-0-1 ATS in their last six outings. Chicago’s put on a streak ATS, going 9-3-1 in their last 13 overall, but it’s been a struggle head-to-head with Washington; the Bears are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 meetings with the Commanders.
Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams is shaping up to be the franchise quarterback Chicago hoped for. Williams’ four-touchdown outing in London saw the 2024 first-overall pick consistently make difficult throws and possess a level of quarterbacking the city of Chicago isn’t used to — albeit the career performance coming in London. And the case with youngsters is: the more time they get in the pros they only get better — making it safe to say expectations are high after the bye week.
Chicago’s coming off a 152-yard rushing performance too — another element Williams is contributing toward (56 of the 152 rushing yards), and getting pressure taken off as D’Andre Swift continues to ascend after a tough start to the 2024–25 campaign. Now, can Chicago perform with another spotlight on them when travelling to play the first-place Commanders?
Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels was hopeful to at the bare minimum ignite a spark into this Washington franchise. Through seven weeks, those expectations rose to making the playoffs and Daniels even getting considered for some hardware come season end — and more than just Rookie of the Year. So when Daniels exited last week with an injury, things expectedly got tense… that was until Marcus Mariota kept the train rolling by completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers.
The 30-year-old QB, ironically also a second-overall pick back in 2015, possessed command of the offence but if it’s Mariota under centre then this Washington attack starts on the ground. The Commanders ran the ball 37 times last week for 214 yards and this season rank 3rd in the NFL with 165 rushing yards per game. Between Mariota, Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, and Jeremy McNichols — expect the Commanders to commit to the run Sunday.
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