Josh Blackwell‘s Block seals Hard-Fought Bears Victory over Raiders
The Chicago Bears escaped Allegiant Stadium with a narrow victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, a win secured by a dramatic blocked field goal from special teams ace Josh Blackwell with just 33 seconds remaining. The 30-26 final score belied a frustrating afternoon for the Bears offense, which struggled with consistency and execution.
Despite the offensive woes – marked by dropped passes, batted balls, errant snaps, unsuccessful trick plays, and numerous penalties – the Bears managed to capitalize on key defensive plays. Chicago forced four turnovers, including three interceptions of Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew. Though, the offense failed to fully leverage these opportunities, settling for field goals after two Kevin Byard interceptions positioned them inside the Raiders’ 25-yard line. One drive stalled at the Raiders’ 20-yard line after an interception by Maxx Crosby.
Quarterback Justin williams, despite a 73.3 passer rating, demonstrated his resilience in crucial moments, a characteristic the Bears have come to rely on in his 21 NFL starts. The running game also faced challenges, averaging only 2.7 yards per attempt. Further complicating matters, offensive tackle Braxton Jones was benched in the first half, forcing rookies Theo Benedet and Ozzy Trapilo to finish the game.
While the Bears offense labored,the Raiders found success with running back Zamir Jeanty,who showcased his potential with a 64-yard touchdown and a total of 139 rushing yards,along with two receiving touchdowns. Raheem Mostert contributed a 38-yard run, and Minshew made key throws in the red zone, but the Raiders’ offense largely faltered when not focused on Jeanty. Defensively, Maxx Crosby was a disruptive force for Las Vegas, recording an interception, numerous batted passes, and three tackles for loss, despite not registering a sack.
The Bears defense, while allowing 240 rushing yards, including Jeanty’s long touchdown, made critical stops when needed. They intercepted Minshew three times and held the Raiders to a field goal in the fourth quarter, ultimately setting the stage for Blackwell’s game-winning block. The Bears are anticipating reinforcements to their defense after the bye week with the expected return of T.J. Edwards, Grady Jarrett, and Kyler Gordon. Despite a lack of sacks and only one quarterback hit on Minshew, the defense proved opportunistic and timely, ultimately proving the difference in the game.
The Bears enter their bye week with a 2-2 record, a result considered a relief given the absence of several defensive starters and the offensive struggles displayed on Sunday.
