With Pernell McPhee inactive, Willie Young started at right outside linebacker, effectively operating as a defensive end throughout, so his evaluation and that of Lamarr Houston is going as part of the defensive line, not linebackers.
Young sacked Kirk Cousins with second effort after a Bears turnover in the second quarter, stopping what had been little more than a Washington scrimmage against second-stringers. Young also generated other pressures and delivered a tackle-for-loss with Washington driving late in the third quarter.
Young finished with three tackles for loss (out of four total stops) working against Washington left tackle Trent Williams. The plays were not enough to stanch the bleeding elsewhere, leading to another loss by three or fewer points, the fourth this season.
“It happens,” Young said. “Those guys are on top of their division right now. It’s not like Washington is a bad team at all. It’s just a matter of us coming out, sticking together and trying to figure out to get a win at the end of the day. That’s what it’s going to be about for us over these next few weeks.”
[SHOP BEARS: Get your Bears gear right here]
Houston swarmed Cousins for a second-quarter sack that forced Washington out of field-goal range. Houston led the Bears with nine tackles, two for losses. Mitch Unrein started at end and beat left tackle Trent Williams with a bull rush for a sack in the first quarter. Will Sutton was credited with two tackles, one for a loss, plus a pass deflection.
Eddie Goldman again played well overall, providing power in the middle but the Bears repeatedly lost at least one, sometimes two battles at the point on run plays and interior linemen did not provide any sort of consistent pressure up the middle in the face of Cousins.
NFL
Moon's Grade: B