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The Chicago Bears are leaving Las Vegas like they hit the jackpot on their final spin of the slot machine with their last remaining dollar. The Bears grinded out an ugly game against the Las Vegas Raiders but found a way to come out on top at the very end with a 25-24 win thanks to a blocked field goal by Josh Blackwell late in the fourth quarter. It wasn't easy to get there, though.
For much of the day, the Bears struggled to generate points on offense. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby made life miserable for the offensive line, and Chicago couldn't capitalize on multiple turnovers from their defense in the first half. And despite those turnovers, the Bears defense got gashed by Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, who totaled 138 yards on the ground.
Chicago needed a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter to stay in the game and eventually take the lead. Quarterback Caleb Williams responded, first with a field goal drive, then a touchdown drive that took 11 plays and over six minutes. With under a minute to go in the game, Las Vegas had the chance to win the game with a Daniel Carlson field goal, but Blackwell's block saved Chicago's comeback as they improved to 2-2 heading into the bye.
With a day to reflect following the win, here are our takeaways from the game:
When it became apparent that the Bears were going to be without multiple key starters, including right tackle Darnell Wright, while going on the road before hitting their bye week, my mentality shifted from thrive to survive. This Raiders team wasn’t going to be the same team that got smacked around by the Washington Commanders, and that turned out to be true. Chicago simply needed to find a way to win the game and escape Vegas with a .500 record. And they did just that.
It was a grind-it-out type of game where a lot went wrong for the Bears. They struggled in the red zone, couldn’t figure out the running game on either side of the ball, and had too many penalties. Even the positives, like creating four turnovers, still only netted 13 points when it should have been at least 21. But when push came to shove, all phases stepped up during the final few minutes and preserved an improbable win considering the circumstances.
Poking fun at former Bears coach Matt Eberflus is still in season (and I’m part of the problem), but we can still look at the stark differences between him and Ben Johnson. The Bears came out fairly flat under Johnson and had to find answers to problems such as containing Maxx Crosby and limiting Ashton Jeanty. They were also on the verge of losing yet another close game that we had seen time and time again.
But there’s a belief and trust that is forming between this group of players and the coaching staff. Johnson is adjusting in various ways as the game progresses and is putting his best players in positions to make plays. The coach believes in the quarterback, and the quarterback believes in the offense. And there is no trepidation when it comes to making notable in-game decisions. Would someone like Eberflus have played musical chairs at tackle due to performance issues? Probably not.
Johnson had his shortcomings, but he excelled when their backs were against the wall. That’s a trait we haven’t seen in quite some time. Consider that the Bears never won a road Sunday game under Eberflus. Well, they’re already 1-1 this season.
The Chicago Cubs are gearing up for postseason baseball, the kids are using wearing headphones, and Kevin Byard is a ballhawk in the secondary. Is this 2017 or 2025? Byard has turned in an impressive two-game stretch with three interceptions and he’s playing his best ball in quite a few years.
Byard snagged two picks on Sunday off seemingly the same play from Geno Smith. On a deep in route, Byard read Smith’s eyes all the way and baited the quarterback to throw the ball. The Bears turned those two picks into six points. Byard also totaled five solo tackles, one for a loss, and two pass breakups. In Year 10, Byard is tied for the league lead with three interceptions. If the Bears can get their defense healthy, Byard might even take his game to another level.
Through four weeks, the Bears' tackle positions somehow have become both clearer and muddier since training camp began. Johnson was forced to make a change this week with right tackle Darnell Wright out with an elbow injury. Second-year tackle Theo Benedet got the start in his place but struggled mightily to contain Crosby. Meanwhile, left tackle Braxton Jones had a relatively average outing before he was pulled at halftime. The Bears moved Benedet to left tackle and brought in rookie Ozzy Trapilo on the right side.
The line seemed to perform better when the change happened, and Trapilo held his own against one of the best edge rushers in the league. Given more time, it’s possible he can be a dependable right tackle at some point in his rookie year. But what happens on the left side? Do the Bears try and move Wright to the opposite end during the bye week? Will Benedet take Jones’ spot, and Trapilo get sent back to the bench? All three tackles who played on Sunday allowed two pressures each, according to PFF.
It appears the Bears have two quality right tackles and a major question mark at left tackle. Johnson clearly isn’t concerned about making changes too early, so it will be interesting to see what the offensive line looks like in two weeks.
It’s been a long time since Cole Kmet caused as many problems as he did on Sunday. He had a couple of rough games during his first couple of years as a pro, but his performance against the Raiders will go down as the worst of his career. Kmet was the team’s primary tight end with rookie Colston Loveland out with a hip injury, and there was reason to believe he would have a big game with how much use he would get.
Instead, Kmet committed two pre-snap penalties, had a lackadaisical play that nearly resulted in an interception, and had a crucial drop in the red zone. He totaled just three catches on nine targets for 46 yards. It was something not usually seen with Kmet, who has always been dependable no matter what is asked of him.
The calls to cut the veteran tight end are silly, though. Kmet still has a place on this team, and he will be critical in certain situations. But on a day when the team’s top draft pick was unavailable, this was Kmet’s chance to show he’s worthy of sticking around for the long run. Games like Sunday don’t help his cause.
The Bears have problems with the running game. I don’t even need to elaborate more than that because both the offense and defense are struggling. Once again, Chicago’s ground attack was extremely limited, which impacted the pass game. For the third week in a row, the Bears' total rushing yards decreased, falling to 69 yards. It’s the 12th time since the start of the 2024 season that they have failed to eclipse 100 rushing yards.
D'Andre Swift still cannot operate as an early-down back, and Johnson still doesn’t have a trustworthy player behind him to count on. Kyle Monangai shows flashes here and there, but it’s hard to see him as a consistent threat. If the Bears want to make the postseason for the first time in five years, they need another dependable back—among other things.
Unfortunately, the run game issues extend to the defense as well. The Bears allowed a staggering 240 rushing yards from the Raiders. It’s extremely rare for a team to win when allowing that sort of total, so count the Bears lucky. Their linebackers are struggling playing downhill, and the defensive line that is supposed to be more adept at run stopping than pass rushing can’t do either right now. The combination of injuries and lack of fundamentals is impacting this group.
Johnson will need to spend these next couple of weeks working with his coaching staff to both start and stop the run. Otherwise, the Bears won’t be in the hunt for a playoff spot come December.
When Blackwell made the play of the game with the blocked kick, Bears fans erupted all over the world. It was a relief to finally see a tragic loss go the other way for a change after the last two and a half years of crumbling under pressure. Inside the locker room, though, it feels like the players themselves are starting to see the bigger picture. That has led to a belief that they can do whatever it takes to get a win.
No matter how you spin it, the Matt Eberflus era fractured the Bears. Players had no confidence that they could win games, and it showed on the field. Johnson is doing everything he can to break that mentality, and we’re seeing it happen in real time. Belief and confidence aren’t the only things a team needs to win, but when you don’t have them, you get blown leads, poor execution, and finger-pointing that all contribute to losses. You can see in the locker room that this group of players are starting to truly trust in one another and the coaching staff. That will go a long way in determining whether or not a team is successful.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Raiders: Takeaways from Chicago's Week 4 win
Continue reading...
For much of the day, the Bears struggled to generate points on offense. Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby made life miserable for the offensive line, and Chicago couldn't capitalize on multiple turnovers from their defense in the first half. And despite those turnovers, the Bears defense got gashed by Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, who totaled 138 yards on the ground.
Chicago needed a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter to stay in the game and eventually take the lead. Quarterback Caleb Williams responded, first with a field goal drive, then a touchdown drive that took 11 plays and over six minutes. With under a minute to go in the game, Las Vegas had the chance to win the game with a Daniel Carlson field goal, but Blackwell's block saved Chicago's comeback as they improved to 2-2 heading into the bye.
With a day to reflect following the win, here are our takeaways from the game:
1. This was the great escape
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When it became apparent that the Bears were going to be without multiple key starters, including right tackle Darnell Wright, while going on the road before hitting their bye week, my mentality shifted from thrive to survive. This Raiders team wasn’t going to be the same team that got smacked around by the Washington Commanders, and that turned out to be true. Chicago simply needed to find a way to win the game and escape Vegas with a .500 record. And they did just that.
It was a grind-it-out type of game where a lot went wrong for the Bears. They struggled in the red zone, couldn’t figure out the running game on either side of the ball, and had too many penalties. Even the positives, like creating four turnovers, still only netted 13 points when it should have been at least 21. But when push came to shove, all phases stepped up during the final few minutes and preserved an improbable win considering the circumstances.
2. The last regime doesn't win this game
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Poking fun at former Bears coach Matt Eberflus is still in season (and I’m part of the problem), but we can still look at the stark differences between him and Ben Johnson. The Bears came out fairly flat under Johnson and had to find answers to problems such as containing Maxx Crosby and limiting Ashton Jeanty. They were also on the verge of losing yet another close game that we had seen time and time again.
But there’s a belief and trust that is forming between this group of players and the coaching staff. Johnson is adjusting in various ways as the game progresses and is putting his best players in positions to make plays. The coach believes in the quarterback, and the quarterback believes in the offense. And there is no trepidation when it comes to making notable in-game decisions. Would someone like Eberflus have played musical chairs at tackle due to performance issues? Probably not.
Johnson had his shortcomings, but he excelled when their backs were against the wall. That’s a trait we haven’t seen in quite some time. Consider that the Bears never won a road Sunday game under Eberflus. Well, they’re already 1-1 this season.
3. Kevin Byard turned back the clock
You must be registered for see images
The Chicago Cubs are gearing up for postseason baseball, the kids are using wearing headphones, and Kevin Byard is a ballhawk in the secondary. Is this 2017 or 2025? Byard has turned in an impressive two-game stretch with three interceptions and he’s playing his best ball in quite a few years.
Byard snagged two picks on Sunday off seemingly the same play from Geno Smith. On a deep in route, Byard read Smith’s eyes all the way and baited the quarterback to throw the ball. The Bears turned those two picks into six points. Byard also totaled five solo tackles, one for a loss, and two pass breakups. In Year 10, Byard is tied for the league lead with three interceptions. If the Bears can get their defense healthy, Byard might even take his game to another level.
4. The Bears have an enigma at tackle
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Through four weeks, the Bears' tackle positions somehow have become both clearer and muddier since training camp began. Johnson was forced to make a change this week with right tackle Darnell Wright out with an elbow injury. Second-year tackle Theo Benedet got the start in his place but struggled mightily to contain Crosby. Meanwhile, left tackle Braxton Jones had a relatively average outing before he was pulled at halftime. The Bears moved Benedet to left tackle and brought in rookie Ozzy Trapilo on the right side.
The line seemed to perform better when the change happened, and Trapilo held his own against one of the best edge rushers in the league. Given more time, it’s possible he can be a dependable right tackle at some point in his rookie year. But what happens on the left side? Do the Bears try and move Wright to the opposite end during the bye week? Will Benedet take Jones’ spot, and Trapilo get sent back to the bench? All three tackles who played on Sunday allowed two pressures each, according to PFF.
It appears the Bears have two quality right tackles and a major question mark at left tackle. Johnson clearly isn’t concerned about making changes too early, so it will be interesting to see what the offensive line looks like in two weeks.
5. Cole Kmet had his worst game in years
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It’s been a long time since Cole Kmet caused as many problems as he did on Sunday. He had a couple of rough games during his first couple of years as a pro, but his performance against the Raiders will go down as the worst of his career. Kmet was the team’s primary tight end with rookie Colston Loveland out with a hip injury, and there was reason to believe he would have a big game with how much use he would get.
Instead, Kmet committed two pre-snap penalties, had a lackadaisical play that nearly resulted in an interception, and had a crucial drop in the red zone. He totaled just three catches on nine targets for 46 yards. It was something not usually seen with Kmet, who has always been dependable no matter what is asked of him.
The calls to cut the veteran tight end are silly, though. Kmet still has a place on this team, and he will be critical in certain situations. But on a day when the team’s top draft pick was unavailable, this was Kmet’s chance to show he’s worthy of sticking around for the long run. Games like Sunday don’t help his cause.
6. The Bears won't go anywhere until they fix the run game
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The Bears have problems with the running game. I don’t even need to elaborate more than that because both the offense and defense are struggling. Once again, Chicago’s ground attack was extremely limited, which impacted the pass game. For the third week in a row, the Bears' total rushing yards decreased, falling to 69 yards. It’s the 12th time since the start of the 2024 season that they have failed to eclipse 100 rushing yards.
D'Andre Swift still cannot operate as an early-down back, and Johnson still doesn’t have a trustworthy player behind him to count on. Kyle Monangai shows flashes here and there, but it’s hard to see him as a consistent threat. If the Bears want to make the postseason for the first time in five years, they need another dependable back—among other things.
Unfortunately, the run game issues extend to the defense as well. The Bears allowed a staggering 240 rushing yards from the Raiders. It’s extremely rare for a team to win when allowing that sort of total, so count the Bears lucky. Their linebackers are struggling playing downhill, and the defensive line that is supposed to be more adept at run stopping than pass rushing can’t do either right now. The combination of injuries and lack of fundamentals is impacting this group.
Johnson will need to spend these next couple of weeks working with his coaching staff to both start and stop the run. Otherwise, the Bears won’t be in the hunt for a playoff spot come December.
7. This team is starting to believe
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When Blackwell made the play of the game with the blocked kick, Bears fans erupted all over the world. It was a relief to finally see a tragic loss go the other way for a change after the last two and a half years of crumbling under pressure. Inside the locker room, though, it feels like the players themselves are starting to see the bigger picture. That has led to a belief that they can do whatever it takes to get a win.
No matter how you spin it, the Matt Eberflus era fractured the Bears. Players had no confidence that they could win games, and it showed on the field. Johnson is doing everything he can to break that mentality, and we’re seeing it happen in real time. Belief and confidence aren’t the only things a team needs to win, but when you don’t have them, you get blown leads, poor execution, and finger-pointing that all contribute to losses. You can see in the locker room that this group of players are starting to truly trust in one another and the coaching staff. That will go a long way in determining whether or not a team is successful.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears vs. Raiders: Takeaways from Chicago's Week 4 win
Continue reading...
