Landover, MD. — The Washington Commanders lead the Chicago Bears by a score of 9-0 at halftime of Week 9.

For the Commanders, the good news came early when quarterback Jayden Daniels (rib) was cleared to not only be active, but also start the game. And the NFL was also happy with their Daniels vs. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams matchup.

It was Williams and the Chicago offense who took the field first against Washington’s defense and were promptly swept off the field on a three-and-out, including a sack of Williams by rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton, the first of his young career.

After a punt on fourth down, Washington got the ball for the first time on its own 36-yard line and drove down the field, gaining 56 yards on nine plays, resulting in a 27-yard field goal by kicker Austin Seibert and a 3 -0. early lead for the good guys.

The second drive of the game for Chicago went better for the visitors as Williams was first able to compete for a gain of 13 yards, followed by a completed pass to receiver Keenan Allen for 17. Those two plays put the ball on the Commanders 41 yard line. where the defense stalled the drive leading to the Bears’ second punt of the game.

Washington again converted a punt into points, and again it was a field goal by Seibert to extend the lead to six points. On the scoring drive, Daniels made two key plays on third downs. The first gets deep in his own territory on 3rd-and-8 with a nine-yard run. Then, facing a 3rd-and-9, Daniels connected with receiver Terry McLaurin for a gain of 61 yards, ultimately setting up the second score of the game for the Commanders.

For the second week in a row, a Washington opponent felt the pressure early, attempting a 4th-and-1 conversion from its own 40-yard line. And for the second week in a row, they failed, leading to a Commanders possession that started on the positive side of the field.

Unfortunately, a controversial incompletion in the end zone by Zach Ertz was not overturned on a challenge, and Seibert was forced out for his third made field goal of the game, resulting in a 9-0 lead for Washington.

As lopsided as the first half had gone in the Commanders’ favor, three field goals didn’t give the scoreboard the same feel as the flow of the game. This allowed the Bears to stick to their game plan and do some damage on their fifth possession of the game, all the way to Washington’s 25-yard line, facing third down.

On the third down play, Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu quickly got to Williams, and defensive tackle Daron Payne was there when the quarterback was able to wriggle free from the linebacker. Williams’ breakaway made the sack even worse, and the resulting loss of 15 knocked Chicago out of field goal range, preserving the 9–0 lead with 55 seconds left.

And that’s the score we enter the locker rooms with, with Washington receiving the ball to start the second half.

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