Frequently Asked Questions: Bears vs Commanders Rivalry

The Chicago Bears lead the all-time series with a 28-25-1 record through the 2023 season, including both regular season and playoff games. The Bears have won 27 regular season games while Washington has won 25, with one tie occurring on November 27, 1960. The teams met once in the playoffs beyond the famous 1940 championship game, with the Bears winning 23-19 in the 1984 divisional round. The Bears also won the 1940 NFL Championship Game 73-0, which remains the most lopsided game in NFL history. The series has been competitive throughout its history, with the point differential across all 54 games being just 49 points in favor of Chicago.

The first meeting between these franchises occurred on October 16, 1932, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Boston Braves 7-0 at Braves Field in Boston. At that time, the franchise that would become the Washington Commanders was in its inaugural season as the Boston Braves, having just been established in 1932. The team would rebrand as the Boston Redskins in 1933 before relocating to Washington, D.C. in 1937. The Bears, meanwhile, had already been in existence since 1920, when they were founded as the Decatur Staleys before moving to Chicago in 1921 and becoming the Bears in 1922. This initial 1932 matchup began a rivalry that has now spanned over 90 years and nine decades of professional football.

The highest-scoring game in the series was a 45-41 Washington victory on October 20, 2013, at FedExField, producing 86 combined points. In this game, the Commanders overcame a 31-14 halftime deficit to defeat the Bears in dramatic fashion. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III threw for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 84 additional yards. The Bears' Brandon Marshall caught 11 passes for 96 yards, but Chicago's defense collapsed in the second half, allowing 31 unanswered points. This game showcased the offensive firepower both teams could generate and demonstrated Washington's resilience under head coach Mike Shanahan. The 86 total points surpassed the previous high-scoring affair from November 14, 1948, when the Bears defeated Washington 48-13 for 61 combined points.

The Bears and Commanders have met twice in playoff competition. The most famous encounter was the 1940 NFL Championship Game on December 8, 1940, when the Bears won 73-0 at Griffith Stadium in Washington. This game remains the most lopsided contest in NFL history and revolutionized offensive football through the Bears' innovative use of the T-formation. The second playoff meeting occurred in the 1984 NFC Divisional Round on December 30, 1984, at RFK Stadium, where the Bears won 23-19. That 1984 Bears team finished the regular season 10-6 and defeated Washington before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The following season, Chicago would go 15-1 and win Super Bowl XX. The limited playoff history between these franchises reflects their different periods of dominance throughout NFL history.

The Chicago Bears have dominated at home in this rivalry, winning 16 of 27 home games (59.3% win rate) with one tie. The Bears have played host at both Wrigley Field (their home from 1921-1970) and Soldier Field (1971-present), maintaining strong home-field advantage at both venues. Washington has struggled more at home against Chicago, posting a 12-15 record when hosting the Bears across multiple stadiums including Griffith Stadium (1937-1960), RFK Stadium (1961-1996), FedExField (1997-2021), and Northwest Stadium (2022-present). The single tie in the series occurred in Washington on November 27, 1960, ending 17-17. The Bears' superior home record reflects both the challenging conditions at Soldier Field, particularly in late-season games, and the overall strength of Chicago's home-field advantage throughout franchise history.

This rivalry has featured dozens of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees throughout its history. For the Bears, legendary figures include George Halas (player, coach, owner), Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, and Richard Dent. Washington's Hall of Famers who faced the Bears include Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Sonny Jurgensen, John Riggins, Art Monk, Darrell Green, and Russ Grimm. The 1940 championship game alone featured multiple future Hall of Famers including Halas, Luckman, and Baugh. The 1980s matchups showcased Payton, Singletary, Riggins, and Green. According to Pro Football Hall of Fame records, the Bears have 30 Hall of Famers associated with their franchise while Washington has 28, making their head-to-head meetings particularly significant for football historians studying the game's greatest players.