(670 The Score) It was a winning trip to Las Vegas for the Bears, who earned a thrilling 25-24 victory over the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
Bears special teams standout Josh Blackwell blocked the Raiders' go-ahead field-goal attempt with 38 seconds remaining, sealing a win that lifted Chicago to 2-2 on the season. Here are observations from the Bears’ victory.
Lady luck in Las Vegas
As Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson lined up for the go-ahead 54-yard field-goal attempt late, Bears head coach Ben Johnson heard a voice in his headset. It was from special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, who made a bold prediction.
“He's kind of narrating it in real time and he's like, 'Yeah, Blackwell is going to get this one for us, he's going to come through,’” Johnson told reporters in Las Vegas. “And sure enough, it came to light, just like he thought.”
Blackwell timed his jump off the snap to perfection – which is essentially the only way to block a kick while rushing off the edge like he did – and batted Carlson’s attempt into the air. A low trajectory from that distance helped, given that Blackwell had gone full extension for the block.
Blackwell told reporters in Las Vegas that he received a tip from Bears long snapper Scott Daly, who noticed a tendency on tape. Raiders long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer moves the football just before he snaps. That allowed Blackwell to look to his right at the football and time the snap well.
Last week, Hightower mentioned there had been 12 blocked kicks in the first three weeks of the NFL season. He did so while pointing to the need for the Bears to have strong protection on their kicks, but the goal on the other side was to block one.
Hightower had his special teams unit watch those 12 blocks and identify ways to get home.
“They’re happening all over the field, so it’s not like they’re longer kicks or shorter kicks,” Hightower said. “They’re happening with different teams, different divisions, different weather, indoor, outdoors. There’s really no trend on it right now. What I can tell you is that we’re watching all that tape and our players are watching all that tape as well.
“Their eyes are open on it. Those are really good teaching moments for us as coaches and for the rest of the football team. They’re well-aware. We study the hell out of the league. The boys, they’re on top of it. There were some eye-opening moments in the meeting this week with that.”
The Bears were seeking any edge they could find to help them block a kick. The insight came from Daly, and the game-changing play was produced by Blackwell, a valuable special teams player for Chicago.
The Bears had too often lost games like this in the past. In former head coach Matt Eberflus' three seasons in Chicago, the Bears were 5-19 in one-score games. His glass-half-full message to the players about being close in such games struck the wrong tone and contributed to the team checking out on him late in his tenure.
On Sunday, the Bears were outgained 357-271 by the Raiders. Quarterback Caleb Williams was just OK – 22-of-37 for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception – and the offense as a whole sputtered.
The Bears changed the game with four takeaways, including two interceptions from veteran safety Kevin Byard. The Bears turned those four Raiders turnovers into two field goals and a touchdown on their ensuing possessions.
This sloppy, often-maddening football game came down to a big play in the final minute. The Bears found a way to make it.
Ground game still stuck
Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty rushed 21 times for 138 yards and a score Sunday while adding two touchdown catches as well. It was a breakout game for the No. 6 overall selection in the NFL Draft and a glimpse of what could've been for the Bears.
Jeanty was an ideal target for the Bears in the first round, but he was selected four spots before Chicago was on the clock at No. 10 overall. General manager Ryan Poles explored a trade up for Jeanty, sources said, but the price was far too steep for the Bears to make the jump.
Poles shouldn’t be blamed for passing on a trade up for Jeanty. The Bears don’t have a roster good enough to justify trading significant draft capital for a running back, which is a luxury that usually only championship-caliber teams can afford.
The trouble is Poles has backed off on lower-profile moves to solidify the Bears’ backfield, and it has caught up to his team. Chicago still doesn’t have a reliable running game with veteran back D’Andre Swift, who had 14 carries for 38 yards Sunday. The Bears rushed for 69 yards and 2.7 yards per carry against the Raiders.
Poles elected to sign Swift right when free agency opened in March 2024 in an offseason in which Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs were also available. This past offseason, he passed on the likes of Javonte Williams, who's having a strong start to his first season in Dallas.
In this past NFL Draft, the Bears didn't land a running back in a deep class that also included Omarion Hampton (No. 22 overall in the first round to the Chargers), TreVeyon Henderson (second round to Patriots), Quinshon Judkins (second round to Browns) and Cam Skattebo (fourth round to the Giants).
Now in his fourth year leading the Bears, Poles has operated with a careful price point in negotiations. That’s admirable, but once in a while, an overpay in value is necessary – whether that’s in free-agent spending or draft capital.
The Bears are still being let down by their running game, and Jeanty reminded them of what they’re missing.
Still got it
Playing a decade in the NFL is an accomplishment in its own right. Doing so at a high level is something more to celebrate.
Now a 10-year NFL veteran, Byard recorded a pair of interceptions Sunday. He has 32 in his career, second among all active players and trailing only Vikings safety Harrison Smith.
The Bears are fortunate to have Byard, a respected veteran and team captain who remains a standout on their defense.
Extra points
-- That sure seemed like a Bears home game.
-- It will be curious to see how the Bears adjust their offensive line during the bye week. Veteran left tackle Braxton Jones was removed from the game Sunday without an injury designation, an indication he was benched.
-- Nose tackle Andrew Billings blew up consecutive plays on the Raiders’ second drive, giving the Bears stops on third and fourth down.
-- Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is a new man this season. That was a tremendous interception he pulled in.
-- That was quite the tense exchange between Johnson and CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala.
-- Bears second-year receiver Rome Odunze is becoming a star.
-- The Bears will gladly take 2-2 at the bye week.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.