Raiders report card: An ‘A’ for effort against playoff-quality Bears in London
The Raiders showed up big in just about every every area Sunday in a 24-21 win over the Chicago Bears in London.
How the Raiders graded Sunday in a 24-21 win over the Chicago Bears Sunday at Tottenham Hostspur Stadium in London.
PASS OFFENSE: B-plus
The stats weren’t off the charts — 25 of 32 for 229 yards and no touchdowns — but Derek Carr threw no interceptions and kept the offense moving with some big throws despite missing wide receivers Tyrell Williams and J.J. Nelson. Carr completed passes to nine different receivers including all three tight ends (Foster Moreau, 4 catches for 46 yards, Darren Waller 4 for 39 and Derek Carrier 2 for 22). Hunter Renfrow caught just one pass, but it was for a huge first down on the Raiders last scoring drive, taking the ball behind the stake and turning into a 12-yard gain. Carr was 5 of 6 for 53 yards on the game-winning 97-yard drive. Carr wasn’t sacked and Khalil Mack was effectively neutralized by Kolton Miller and Trent Brown with help from tight ends and fullback Alec Ingold. Trevor Davis lost a fumble at the goal line following a short swing pass.
RUN OFFENSE: A-minus
The only blemish was a miss-communication on a pitch from Carr to Josh Jacobs which led a Khalil Mack fumble recovery and the first score by the Bears.The Raiders ran 39 times for 169 yards. The offensive line dominated the Bears front seven, with Chicago never recording a tackle for loss. The Raiders had one no gain and every other carry got positive yards. Josh Jacobs had his biggest game with 26 carries for 123 yards. Fullback Alec Ingold cut-blocked Mack to the ground on Jacobs’ 12-yard touchdown run. Jalen Richard (two carries, 14 yards) and DeAndre Washington (six carries, 17 yards and a 3-yard touchdown) also chipped in. Erik Harris gained four yards on a fourth-and-1 play out of punt formation as the personal protector. The Raiders finished with 13 rushing first downs to go along with 10 passing.
PASS DEFENSE: B
The Raiders recorded four sacks — two by Maurice Hurst — and had interceptions by Nicholas Morrow and Gareon Conley. Conley’s pick finished off the win. The Raiders looked susceptible at times as Daniel was 22 of 30 for 231 yards and Allen Robinson did the most damage among the receiving corps with seven catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Daryl Worley nearly had another reception for the Raiders but it was negated by a penalty. With Aaron Rodgers and DeShaun Watson coming up in road games after the bye, the pass defense is still a concern. But the Raiders did what they needed to do in that area to beat the Bears.
RUN DEFENSE: A
The Bears got nowhere, gaining 42 yards on 17 carries for a 2.5 average. There was only one one rushing first down and no rushing touchdowns. David Montgomery, the Bears rookie running back, had 11 carries for 25 yards and a 1-yard touchdown run.The Raiders front seven consistently got off blocks and linebackers Tahir Whitehead and Nicholas Morrow filled holes and ranged sideline to sideline. Other than getting rolled by Minnesota and Dalvin Cook in Week 3, the Raiders run defense has been a strength under coordinator Paul Guenther in a way it never was a year ago.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
The big mistake was a 72-yard punt return by Tarik Cohen to set up a Chicago score during the disastrous third quarter. But special teams also turned in a huge play on the Raiders’ final drive when Erik Harris as personal protector took the snap from Trent Sieg and gained four yards for a fourth-and-1 first down to sustain the game-winning 97-yard touchdown drive. Daniel Carlson connected on his only field goal attempt from 41 yards. Punter A.J. Cole had a net average of just 19.5 yards and hit his first kick into the end zone when it called for more touch. The Raiders got a 52-yard kickoff return from Trevor Davis (but Davis fumbled at the goal line on offense). Cordarrelle Patterson averaged 31.0 yards on three kickoff returns with a long of 39 yards for the Bears.
COACHING: A
Gruden’s script work on opening drives continues to impress. The Raiders went 90 yards in 10 plays the first time they had the ball for a touchdown, immediately setting a physical tone for the game. The Raiders’ game-winning drive, a 97-yard march, including some crisply executed plays which came despite not having a viable downfield threat to keep the Bears honest. Kudos to line coach Tom Cable, whose unit dominated a Bears front seven that is among the NFL’s best, as well as devising blocking schemes to deal with Mack. Gruden’s decision to stay all week in England paid dividends as the Raiders were the fresher team even after blowing a 17-0 lead. Paul Guenther’s defense generated some pressure and had Daniel confused enough to throw two point-blank interceptions. The Raiders were clearly the better prepared team against a defending division champion.
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