Chicago @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 24, 2016 ) Washington 41, Chicago 21

The Chicago Bears, as expected, have allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL, one reason why they were a trendy pick to repeat as NFC North champions. However, the Bears have been woeful on the other side of the ball and will look to get their offense untracked when they visit the nation's capital to face the winless Washington Redskins on Monday night.

Chicago barely avoided an 0-2 start, squeezing out a 16-14 win at Denver last week on a last-second field goal, but it has scored the second-fewest points in the league. "We've got to believe that this offense can explode at any minute because of the playmakers and the special guys we have in the locker room," Bears third-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky told reporters this week. Chicago has the perfect opponent against which to get well in the Redskins, who rank among the league's worst teams in myriad defensive categories and have a woeful track record on Monday night. Washington is 2-15 in its last 17 appearances on Monday Night Football and has been even worse at home, posting a wretched 1-16 record dating to 1998.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Bears -4. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BEARS (1-1): Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has yet to throw a touchdown pass and recorded only 348 yards through the air in two games after going 16-of-27 for 120 yards in Denver. Rookie running back David Montgomery rushed 18 times for 62 yards and a score last week -accounting for the team's lone touchdown in 22 offensive possessions this season. Wideout Allen Robinson is off to a solid start with 11 receptions, but Chicago will be relying on a defense that has yielded 24 points overall and an average of 292.7 yards. While defensive end Khalil Mack is the unquestioned leader of the defense, linebackers Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan combined for 25 tackles in Week 2.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (0-2): Coach Jay Gruden kept Adrian Peterson inactive for the season opener but was forced to turn to the veteran running back last week after Derrius Guice suffered a knee injury in Week 1. Peterson managed only 25 yards on 10 carries in last week's 31-21 home loss to Dallas, and Gruden didn't exactly offer a ringing endorsement for his backfield against Chicago's stout defense. “I say we want to run the ball, but they’re a very difficult team to run the ball against,” Gruden told reporters of a unit that is yielding an average of 68.5 yards rushing. “I might have to wait until next week.” Case Keenum has played well despite a paucity of offensive weapons with five touchdowns versus zero interceptions, but Washington's defense ranks 30th in points (31.5) and yards (455) allowed.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Trubisky has won his last four starts on the road.

2. Washington's Terry McLaurin is the first rookie WR in the league since 2008 with at least five catches and a touchdown in each of his first two games.

3. Bears CB Kyle Fuller has recorded six interceptions in his last eight road contests.

PREDICTION: Bears 26, Redskins 16