When the Washington Commanders secured a phenomenal Hail Mary victory over the Chicago Bears two years ago, it seemed to spark a mini-rivalry between the two clubs, especially with their two talented quarterbacks set to take the league by storm for years to come.
The Commanders initially got the upper hand. Since their conference championship game appearance, the momentum has shifted.
And the Bears' blockbuster trade for stud defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons confirmed just how far behind the Commanders have fallen compared with their NFC rivals.
Commanders and Bears are heading in different directions this season
Chicago struck a bombshell deal for Simmons, which sent shockwaves through the league. The compensation was huge: two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the four-time Pro Bowler and a 2028 fifth-rounder.
Is it a lot for a defensive lineman approaching 30? Perhaps, but it shows that the Bears truly believe this is the missing piece that can get them over the hump.
Looking at how the Bears have performed so far this season, they might be right.
As for the Commanders? They are barely treading water at 1-4-1 with a do-or-die game against the under-strength Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football. This stems from some bold moves made by general manager Adam Peters that didn't quite pay off.
Believing the Commanders were close to earning a permanent seat at the NFL's top table again, Peters took a more aggressive approach. The team acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., and left tackle Laremy Tunsil via trade. Only one of those is still around, and Washington plunged to 5-12.
Things aren't much better this time around.
Commanders are treading water while the Bears have gone all-in for success
Peters has avoided trades, but he spent a lot of money in free agency. Injuries haven't helped again, but fans expected much more early in the campaign.
The Bears are going in a different direction.
They have their head coach in Ben Johnson. They have their franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. They have a crushing running attack, some dynamic playmakers in the passing game, and a defense that is showing real growth.
Now, they also have Simmons, which is a game-changing addition to the trenches.
The NFL offers no guarantees. Simmons could fall flat, or he could get injured. But his production in Tennessee this season has been nothing short of exceptional, and even though it cost a premium, Chicago seemed comfortable enough with pushing all its chips into the middle.
The Commanders are more likely to sell than buy. This becomes almost guaranteed if they cannot beat the Eagles. Time will tell, but if Washington cannot turn it around, another major shake-up will come in the offseason, perhaps with a new head coach.
This was a fun rivalry for a short time. But now, the Bears have flipped the script, and a bold playoff push is expected after acquiring Simmons for a king's ransom.
Washington just has to take things one game at a time and see where it takes them. But the team's ambitions are nowhere near the Bears' right now.
And that's just sad to see.
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