"I really sense that everybody feels that this is an absolute should win game [for the Washington Commanders]. Do you feel that way?" Kevin Sheehan asked Ben Standig about Thursday night's matchup with the winless Chicago Bears at FedEx Field.
"A million percent," Standig answered, before mentioning how former Redskins head coach Jay Gruden had used the word "putrid" to describe the Chicago roster.
"There's nothing on paper to me that suggests that the Bears should win this other than [stuff] happens, that's why they play the game," he continued. "There's no reason that they should lose this unless they come out flat and just terrible things happen. If they're a real team at all they should win this."
Sheehan said that it is one of these games that is "a bit on the coach to make sure that they are ready," before adding that the Bears are "horrible" on defense, which means if Washington's offense is bad that is a terrible sign for Ron Rivera, Eric Bieniemy and Sam Howell.
"This is a game where you should be able to dictate terms," Standig said about the Commanders' offense. "Obviously, a lot is gonna come down to the offensive line, and the pass protection is still a bit of a work in progress, but they have so many advantages of here... this should be a game when the offense comes out and looks... consistent, solid and make plays when they're there."
Listen to the full conversation – and hear about the areas where Standig is most concerned about Washington's defense - by hitting the audio player above.
Reminder: Pregame coverage can be heard on Team 980 starting at 4 p.m. with Logan Paulsen and Craig Hoffman.
Why You Should Be Excited About The Commanders' 2026 Draft Class