Landover, MD. – The Washington Commanders lead the Chicago Bears 9-0 at halftime in Week 9.

For the Commanders, the good news came early when quarterback Jayden Daniels (rib) was not only cleared to play but also to start the game. And the NFL was also happy about the duel between Daniels and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

It was Williams and the Chicago offense that took the field first against the Washington defense and after a three and one out, which included a sack of Williams by rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton, the first of his young career, were immediately swept off the field.

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

Chicago's second drive of the game went better for the visitors, as Williams was able to gain a 13-yard gain, followed by a completed pass to receiver Keenan Allen for 17 yards. These two plays brought the ball to the Commander 41-yard line where the defense stopped the drive, leading to the Bears' second punt of the game.

Again Washington converted a punt into points, and again it was a field goal from Seibert that extended the lead to six points. On the scoring drive, Daniels made two crucial plays on third downs. The first came on 3rd-and-8 deep in its own territory with a nine-yard run. Daniels then found receiver Terry McLaurin on a 3rd-and-9 for a 61-yard gain, ultimately giving the Commanders second score of the game.

For the second week in a row, a Washington opponent felt the pressure early and attempted 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 plus side of the field.

Unfortunately, a controversial incompletion in the end zone by tight end Zach Ertz couldn't be recovered in the tackle, leaving Seibert forced to make his third field goal of the game, giving Washington a 9-0 lead.

As one-sided as the first half was 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 continue to stick to their game plan and do some damage on their fifth possession of the game, advancing to the Washington 25-yard line on third down.

On third down, Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu quickly got to Williams and defensive tackle Daron Payne was there when the quarterback was able to break free from the linebacker. Williams' escape made the sack even worse, and the resulting loss of 15 knocked Chicago out of field goal range and maintained a 9-0 lead with 55 seconds to play.

And with that result we enter the locker rooms, with Washington receiving the ball at the start of the second half.

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