Washington Outlasts Chicago 41–24 in Jayden Daniels’ Return Game

The Washington Commanders walked away with a 41–24 victory over the Chicago Bears in a matchup that proved one thing clearly: yardage doesn’t always win football games. Chicago finished the day with an impressive 510 total yards compared to Washington’s 387, but Washington capitalized on key moments, turnovers, and explosive plays to secure the win.

The storyline of the night centered around quarterback Jayden Daniels, who made his return after serving a two-week suspension. Daniels looked sharp and composed, completing 16 of 23 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown while adding mobility and rhythm back into Washington’s offense. Although he threw two interceptions, his presence clearly energized the Commanders’ attack and helped the team find its balance again.

Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams put up strong numbers statistically, completing 27 of 42 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown, but his three interceptions proved costly. Israel Abanikanda delivered one of the game’s biggest highlights with an 83-yard touchdown sprint, finishing with 132 yards on just 10 carries. Luther Burden III totaled 90 yards and a touchdown through the air, while Colston Loveland added 67 yards on seven receptions.

Washington’s ground game played a major role as Jamichael Croskey-Merritt rumbled for 119 yards on 14 carries, including a 75-yard explosion that flipped momentum. Tight end Ben Sinnott hauled in a single catch for a massive 72-yard touchdown, while Mark Andrews led the team in receptions and yardage with five catches for 86 yards.

Defensively, Chicago managed three sacks but failed to force a turnover, while Washington produced three takeaways that directly influenced scoring drives. The Commanders didn’t record any sacks, but their timely stops and opportunistic coverage made the difference. Special teams remained consistent, with Washington converting all five extra-point attempts and Chicago hitting its lone field goal.

The defining moments of the game came down to turnovers and efficiency. While Chicago moved the ball effectively between the 20s, their struggles inside the red zone — converting only one-third of their opportunities — left points on the field. Washington turned its chances into touchdowns more effectively and punished Chicago for every mistake.

For the Bears, this loss drops them to an even 4–4 and raises concerns about how their offensive production isn’t consistently turning into wins. Cleaning up turnovers and improving red-zone execution will be crucial moving forward. For Washington, improving to 6–3 marks a strong rebound, fueled by the return of Jayden Daniels. His presence restored confidence, tempo, and spark to an offense that clearly missed him.

In the end, the Commanders proved that the most important stat remains the score — not the yardage. Chicago may have won the statistical battle, but Washington won the game where it mattered, with their returning quarterback leading the way.