Views from 400’s Week 5 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

Week 5 of the NFL season kicks off on Thursday Night when the surprisingly competitive 2-2 Washington Commanders host the not-surprisingly dysfunctional 0-4 Chicago Bears.

Washington is coming off their second straight loss after starting the season 2-0, losing in overtime to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chicago, well, Chicago is a dumpster fire. The Bears led the Denver Broncos 28-7 last week before blowing the game, which last year’s prized trade deadline acquisition Chase Claypool was not allowed to attend.

As will be the case every Thursday during the NFL season, the guys from Section 400 are here to give their takes on the game.

Here is what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Jack Albanese, and Matt Kolen are thinking heading into this NFC matchup.

Taking Command

The Commanders are 6-point favorites to move to 3-2 on the season. If they take care of business, are they for real?

BH: Oh yeah, they are for real. I have an unhealthy obsession with Brian Robinson and I’m not afraid to let everyone know that. Sam Howell has looked serviceable so far, which is something Washington hasn’t had from the quarterback position since Kirk Cousins.

The Commanders play the Falcons, my lowly Giants twice, the Eagles, the Patriots, and the Seahawks in the five games after Thursday. They may be 7-3 come Thanksgiving.

MK: No I am not confident in them being legit. Their schedule will get tougher as the season goes on and quarterback play will be inconsistent and sloppy.

JA: No. The Commanders have been a tough team to grade through 4 weeks. They started 2-0 against two of the worst teams in the league and then dropped their next 2 games to two of the best teams in the league.

A win over the Bears will not move the needle for me. I think a loss would tell us all a lot more about the Commanders than a win would.

Chasing Claypool

Chase Claypool may have played his last game as a Bear after his comments last week. Is he a bum or a product of the Bears dysfunction?

BH: It’s a little bit of both. Claypool simply hasn’t been a productive player since his early Steelers days. After surpassing 1,900 yards in 31 games during his first two seasons, Claypool has gone for just 502 yards in 18 games since.

Claypool really needs a change of scenery, not only for his playing career but also for so he can get some better pizza.

MK: A big part of it is Claypool being a product of a bad system. I think he is a pretty average receiver in general. The play of Justin Fields certainly isn’t doing him any favors.

JA: Bust. Chase Claypool has the potential to be good but hasn’t shown the mentality or drive to be even an average wide receiver.

Playing the Field(s)

The Bears are on pace to get the first two picks in the NFL Draft. If they lose this game, is it time to look into trading Justin Fields?

BH: Duh. It’s easy to say the Bears should have traded Fields last year and taken C.J Straud with their top pick in the NFL Draft. Somehow, they may look like geniuses if they end up with Caleb Williams.

That being said, Williams might take the NIL money for another year instead of spending his winters in the Chi.

MK: Yes! Trade Fields. I’m not sold one bit. Chicago needs to trade their quarterback and tank for Caleb Williams. They also have the Panthers pick this year. Can you imagine a Williams-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection for the Bears in 2024?

JA: Yes. It’s fairly clear Justin Fields is not an NFL-caliber quarterback. The Bears need an NFL-ready talent like Caleb Williams, not another project.

Howellin’ for you

Sam Howell bounced back to throw for 290 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles in week 4 after throwing 4 interceptions in week 3. Which version of the Commanders quarterback will we see against Chicago?

BH: The more I watch Sam Howell, the more I think that game against the Bills was the anomaly and not the norm. Howell’s gunslinger mentality will get him into trouble against good competition, but he should have no issues carving up a Bears defense that is giving up the fourth most passing yards per game to opponents in 2023.

MK: We’ll see the better version of Howell for sure. The Bears suck plain and simple. It won’t be hard for the Commanders quarterback to go out and have a big day against them.

JA: The Bears’ pass defense is soft. I don’t think Howell gets intercepted in this one, but I don’t think he plays insane either.

I like Commanders running back Brian Robinson’s odds of having a bigger day than Howell.

Show me the money

Favorite bet for this game?

BH: I kind of already alluded to it, but I love me some Brian Robinson, specifically his over 15 rushing attempts. He’s gone for 18 and 19 carries in both of Washington’s wins, making this line way too low with the Commanders favored by a touchdown.

MK: Give me a Brian Robinson ATD and I’d even sprinkle him for the first TD. Robinson has found the end zone four times this year and the Bears won’t be stopping him.

JA: Both teams to complete their first pass attempt? No -118.

Final score prediction

BH: Commanders win it, 24-17

MK: Washington takes down Chicago, 23-16.

JA: Commies by seven, 24-17.