Dhruv Koul shares his in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the Bears-Raiders game at Allegiant Stadium. Follow him on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Bears breathed life into their season last Sunday, knocking off the pesky Detroit Lions at Soldier Field to even their season record at 2-2. And on Wednesday, Matt Nagy announced the franchise-altering decision that QB Justin Fields would remain the Bears’ starting quarterback going forward.
Thread: Some thoughts on the upcoming Bears-Raiders game.
1. Justin Fields' first game as the "unquestioned" starter will be fascinating. The Bears will game plan only for him from here on out.
Matt Nagy is auditioning for his Bears future.
Should be a fun ride.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 8, 2021
It’s the news Bears fans had been hoping for since training camp, but it took an Andy Dalton injury for this to come to fruition earlier than probably intended. It seems fans are relieved, and now, in a season that most experts don’t believe will amount to much record-wise or true contention-wise, the evaluation and development of Fields begins in earnest.
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That development began today, as Fields took on a confusing (yet still solid) Raiders team in Las Vegas — Fields’ second road start in 2021. The first one was a miserable trainwreck, and the hope was Chicago could build on their momentum of cleaner offensive execution and big plays from the victory over Detroit against the Raiders.
In the end, the Bears clamped down with a defensive masterpiece (and did just enough on offense) to steal a huge road win over the Raiders and get to 3-2.
I shared my in-game reactions, thoughts and observations from the game below. Follow me on Twitter @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Thoughts and Observations
1. (PRE-GAME) The 2019 matchup in London was one of Raiders HC Jon Gruden’s finest game plans. Under fire for the Khalil Mack trade, he developed a game plan that completely shut Mack out as the Raiders dominated on the ground (rookie Josh Jacobs ran wild) and the Raiders’ elite OL protected QB Derek Carr.
This season’s matchup seems different, as Vegas’ OL is nowhere near as good, Jacobs is banged up, and the Bears have a better pass rush outside of Mack. Losing Akiem Hicks is painful, and the Bears have lots of secondary questions outside of Jaylon Johnson — can they contain the Raiders’ explosive group of playmakers? That’s the major question today.
4b. That said, Gruden isn't dumb. He saw what happened in LA. He'll have answers ready.
Expect a very quick passing game from Carr — with the ball getting to Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow ASAP.
The Bears will need to tackle. Can they?
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 8, 2021
2. Not a great start to the game by the Bears. After both teams exchanged 3-and-punts with the Bears opening the game on offense, Justin Fields took a shot to the ribs on a draw on third down. He looked hurt and the Bears had to punt again. The trainers checked him out on the sideline, but it appears Fields will stay in the game.
Meanwhile, Vegas responded on their second drive to bruise the Bears on a 13-play drive that finally resulted in a field goal. Poor tackling from Chicago (and poor coverage at times) helped the Raiders along. The defense needs to be better than that second drive.
Pretty much the defensive execution I said couldn’t happen today: Missed tackles.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
Nice drive by the Raiders there, lengthy, methodical, and pretty physical — just like in London in 2019.
Good stop by the defense, but they need a response from the offense now.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
3. Well that’s one way to respond. The Bears took advantage of a bad Raiders roughing the passer on 2nd and 22 deep in Bears territory to move down the field with an efficient diet of runs and passes.
Sometimes a dumb penalty by your opponent will help things.
Bears in a rhythm finally.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
A couple other Raiders penalties (another roughing and an illegal hands) moved the ball inside the 10 yard line and the Bears scored on Justin Fields’ first career touchdown pass to Jesper Horsted.
Preseason legend Jesper Horsted on the receiving end.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
The Bears got some gifts on that drive to take a 7-3 lead, but Fields was also subject to several brutal hits. The Bears need to help him out with him in some pain and gutting it out. Something to watch for the rest of this game.
4. My word. After the Bears’ defense held strong in response by stopping Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs on third and fourth downs in plus territory, the Bears went on an offensive drive that included:
Justin Fields’ leg doing something very unnatural (luckily he came back a couple plays later), Germain Ifedi taking a terrible shot to the knee (looks season ending at first glance), and several other hard tackles by the Raiders.
Alright then, he’s back.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
Ifedi’s injury looked ugly, sheesh.
Just get out of Allegiant Stadium in as few pieces as possible at this point.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
The Bears, however, capped off a resilient drive highlighting some nice throws by Justin Fields and Andy Dalton, and several strong runs by Khalil Herbert and Damien Williams to score a touchdown (Williams). Bears go up 14-3.
That spin move by Damien Williams was awesome.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
5. Excellent job containing the Raiders on the next possession, who could’ve tried the “score and score” getting the ball after halftime. The Bears’ stop featured Khalil Mack’s first sack against the Raiders.
Khalil Mack with the revenge sack!
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
With an opportunity to maybe steal a few more points before halftime, the Bears picked up a first down and got into Raiders territory, but Justin Fields was sacked after and intentional spike, running out the clock and sending the game to the half. Still, a very good showing by the Bears overall in the first half, leading 14-3.
Halftime thoughts:
1. The Bears weathered a tough start and have taken control.
2. The Raiders won't stay out of sync for long. Offense needs to keep the pedal down.
3. Running game's been outstanding. Raiders may adjust, have a counter ready.
4. Put Fields in bubble wrap.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
6. Wow, the Bears’ defense got bailed out there. On 3rd and 2, Derek Carr scrambled left and unleashed a deep throw to a wide open (on an island) Bryan Edwards that would’ve gained 60 yards. SIXTY. That’s not a typo. Alas, Edwards dropped it and the Bears get it back. Good teams take advantage of breaks like this. Let’s see if the Bears can.
Still having trouble processing that Bryan Edwards drop. (Also, how/why so open?)
Bears’ offense would do well to capitalize on that gift.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
(Narrator: They didn’t. After an eight-yard gain by Khalil Herbert on first down, two straight runs up the middle didn’t get it done. Not sure I love the idea of running with Damien Williams in a power set on third and short, but oh well.)
7. That was an incredible interception by DeAndre Houston-Carson on third down for the Raiders on the ensuing possession. He read Derek Carr and the receiver on that deep ball and came out of nowhere in center field to pick off a surefire deep completion otherwise. That was a great display of instincts.
Unfortunately, the Bears did nothing with it… They’re letting the Raiders hang around despite every indication that Vegas wants to lose this game.
Bears haven’t been able to take advantage of two huge gifts this half.
That’ll certainly come back to bite them.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
8. Trevis Gipson has been nothing short of outstanding this year on his limited snaps. Another sack — he beat his man quickly and brought down Carr. That forced another Vegas punt.
There’s Trevis Gipson yet again. What a step he’s taken.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
However, after getting one first down, the Bears had a chance to convert another one on a short third down and got ransacked. Damien Williams up the gut again, and stopped again. I’m not loving the conservatism in this second half…
9. That was a brutal drive for the Bears’ defense. A questionable spot on a 4th down sneak extended the drive, then Mario Edwards Jr. extended it further with a terrible (stupid on him) unnecessary roughness penalty. A tough but fair call on Roquan Smith extended it FURTHER, before Josh Jacobs leaped over for a touchdown. Khalil Mack sacked Derek Carr on the 2 point try, so it’s 14-9 Bears. But that was a momentum-grabbing drive by Vegas that lasted a LONG time. The Bears need to respond on offense.
Man, the Bears’ defense has imploded on this drive.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
10. A pretty impressive drive by the Bears’ offense to respond there. A massive 3rd and 12 conversion throw by Justin Fields to Darnell Mooney early in the drive kept momentum going. Khalil Herbert and Damien Williams traded carries for good yards. Even Cole Kmet showed up! The drive burned a lot of time off the clock, too — 6:16 of game clock.
Unfortunately, a not-so-great call on 3rd down on the Raiders’ 29-yard line (Fields keeper) brought up 4th down, but Cairo Santos nailed his kick to make it an eight-point game. 17-9 with 2:45 left. Huge.
Didn't love that third down call, but a pretty big-boy drive by the Bears there to respond.
Santos is good and the Bears are up 17-9. Huge drive.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
11. Man, Khalil Mack really couldn’t wait for this game. Although one (huge sack) came on a two-point conversion, Mack has 2.5 sacks in this game. A total 180 from the game in London two years ago.
Khalil Mack couldn’t wait for this game.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
On 4th and 5, under pressure, Carr delivered an overthrow to Bryan Edwards down the field, and the Bears took over on downs with under two minutes left. Just gutsy.
The Bears take over on downs. Wow.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
12. Cairo Santos ices the game with a big time field goal and the Bears are up 20-9 with under a minute left in Vegas. What a huge kick, what a game, what a win.
Cairo Santos, the legend. Bears up 20-9 and will escape Las Vegas with a win.
— Dhruv Koul (@DhruvKoul) October 10, 2021
13. Matt Nagy, Sean Desai, and Bill Lazor with a huge road win at Allegiant Stadium and can prepare for next week’s showdown at 3-2. Immense.
14. The Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, in what should be a very interesting game. The Packers escaped Cincinnati today in a wild overtime finish, with Mason Crosby overcoming three missed FGs to win a 25-22 epic at Paul Brown Stadium. They’ve rebounded well from their Week 1 beatdown at the hands of New Orleans. And here are the Bears now, at 3-2, breathing down their necks. This is a pivotal divisional game next week.
Early prediction: Packers 31, Bears 22.
