With just under a quarter of the 2023 NFL season in the books, the league rolls into Week 5. The Chicago Bears head to FedEx Field to face off against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Night Football.
Despite two rough weeks, Washington sits in a good position at 2-2 on the season. However, the same cannot be said for Chicago, which has yet to reach the win column.
Will that change tonight? Here’s the Thursday Night Football start time and live stream option for tonight’s matchup between the Bears and Commanders.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed.
What Time Does Thursday Night Football Start?
Week 5’s Thursday Night Football game between the Bears and Commanders kicks off in FedEx Field at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Despite losing back-to-back weeks, Washington showed vast improvement in their overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
With QB Sam Howell bouncing back from a nightmare outing in Week 3, can the Commanders put it all together for another win tonight?
2023 has been miserable for Chicago, though. After being thoroughly outmatched the first three weeks of the season, it looked like the Bears were on their way to the first win of the season in Week 4.
However, the Denver Broncos scored 24 unanswered points to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat to win 31-28. Will the losing streak extend to five games? Here’s a look at the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Bears and Commanders.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
It seemed like everything had finally come together. After three weeks of offensive struggles, the Bears walked onto Soldier Field on Sunday in Week 4 and scored touchdowns on four of their first six drives.
However, with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter, the Bears would not score another point, allowing Denver to claw its way back to a victory.
MORE: 2023 NFL Prime-Time Games
With each loss, the season outlook appears bleak for Chicago. Despite making some offseason moves to improve the offense, QB Justin Fields is still struggling massively in the passing game. Multiple WRs have expressed displeasure with their use, and the defense continues to be problematic.
Week 5’s matchup doesn’t appear to be any easier for the Bears as they continue to search for the first win of the season. Washington boasts a stout front seven.
The Commanders have sacked opposing QBs once per 12.5 pass attempts since the 2022 season, the fourth-best in the NFL. Fields has averaged 7.1 pass attempts per sack over the same time, the worst among QBs.
Since Week 15 of last season, Chicago has a third down conversion rate of 32%, the fourth-worst in the NFL. Washington’s defense has allowed a third down conversion rate of 34%, the fifth-best.
They are also allowing a completion rate of just 58.6% at home since last season, the second-best in the league. Meanwhile, Fields has just a 78.3 passer rating on the road in that time, the second-worst among QBs.
However, every defense has a flaw, and while the Commanders apply pressure, Fields should be able to find a few chunk plays. Bears WRs have averaged 13.2 yards per reception since the start of 2022, the fifth-highest in the NFL.
The Commanders are allowing 13.9 yards per reception to WRs, the fourth-worst. Washington has also allowed 11 TD to WRs since Week 15 of the 2022 season, the second-most in the NFL. Can Fields and the Bears offense string together enough plays to keep up with the Commanders’ offense?
2023 Thursday Night Football Schedule
Thursday Night Football comes back next week as the Broncos head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC West showdown. Only 12 Thursday Night Football games remain in the 2023 NFL season.
Here’s a look at the remaining Thursday Night Football schedule, including start times and livestream options.
Week 6, Oct. 12
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 7, Oct. 19
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 8, Oct. 26
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 9, Nov. 2
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 10, Nov. 9
Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 11, Nov. 16
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 12, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving)
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
- Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
Week 13, Nov. 30
Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 14, Dec. 7
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 15, Dec. 14
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 16, Dec. 21
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
Week 17, Dec. 28
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
- Start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- Channel: Prime Video
