The Raiders came into their week four game in Las Vegas having lost two straight with many wondering if this team was going to be a contender or a pretender. And they left that game with many leaning more toward the latter.
Those who would still argue for the former would point to the fact that the Raiders were set up to win it if not for the game-winning field goal attempt being blocked. But that would ignore the four turnovers the Raiders had. There was only really a couple things that were working for the Raiders and the game was only as close as it was because the Bears were failing to fully capitalize on the Raiders’ mistakes.
That’s not to say the Bears were failing in a vacuum. The Raiders had something to do with it. Notably, the gentlemen who we list first.
Ballers
DE Maxx Crosby
Crosby was unstoppable in the first half of this game. He was the sole reason that, despite the Raiders turning the ball over three times in the first half, the Bears failed to get a single touchdown out of it and thus the Raiders carried a lead into the half.
Three of the Bears’ first four possessions were killed by Crosby. Their second possession came off an interception and started at the Vegas 24-yard-line. They would go three-and-out and two of those plays were a Crosby tackle for loss and a batted pass at the line. Their third possession came off another turnover, this time starting at the 20. The Bears would get as close as first and goal at the nine. Two plays later, Crosby batted another pass, this time tracking it in the air and intercepting it. The Raiders took over and drove for a touchdown to take the lead.
The next Bears possession, Crosby had a pressure to force the Bears to have to go for it on fourth down. They drove to the 24-yard-line when Crosby broke into the backfield and scared Caleb Williams so badly, that he fumbled the ball before Maxx even got to him. So, what should have been ruled a strip sack, was a QB hit and a tackle for loss. A sack on the next play would take the Bears out of field goal range.
A third turnover by the Raiders would give the Bears the ball back. And on the second play from scrimmage, Crosby got his third tackle for loss of the game — and it was still early in the second quarter. The Bears would get a field goal out of that drive, but the Raiders still held the lead. Imagine that, three turnovers and they still had the lead. You can thank Crosby for that.
Crosby had two more pressures resulting in incompletions in the third quarter and added his third batted pass early in the fourth quarter. Giving him a ridiculous stat line of three tackles for loss, three pass breakups, and an interception. Imagine if he’d been credited with the strip sack too? Second time this season Crosby has been robbed of a strip sack.
RB Ashton Jeanty
If not for Maxx Crosby’s absurd performance, Jeanty would have been the Top Baller for sure. The Raiders scored three touchdowns in the game. All three were Jeanty.
His first run went for 12 yards which was a good sign. But soon things would start looking more like they had in past weeks. On the Raiders’ second possession, he got pressure in the backfield much quicker than he anticipated (more on that later) and on the second hit, the ball popped out.
By the next possession, Jeanty got back on track. He broke off consecutive runs of seven and 11 yards to put the Raiders in scoring range. A few plays later, in first and goal from the eight, he took a swing pass in the left flat, broke a tackle and was in for the score. It was Jeanty’s first career receiving touchdown and his first at Allegiant.
By midway through the second quarter, a Bears field goal made it a one-point game. Then on the first play of the Raiders possession, he found a hole on the left side and broke into open field. Kevin Byard tried chasing him down, but Jeanty stepped out of the tackle attempt to finish off a 64-yard touchdown run to give the Raiders their largest lead of the day at 14-6.
Ten unanswered points by the Bears had the Raiders down 16-14 in the third quarter. So, Jeanty got back on his horse. Three consecutive run plays for 25 yards put the Raiders near midfield. This opened up the pass game and in the end, there was Jeanty catching another pass at the goal line and breaking another tackle to be in for the score. And the Raiders re-took the lead at 21-16. He added two runs for 21 yards on the Raiders’ final scoring drive as well and finished the game with 138 yards rushing on 21 carries (6.6 ypc), 155 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns. Hell of a breakout game for Jeanty. Only wish he could have celebrated it with a win.
G Dylan Parham
The times the Raiders had success on the ground, they often did so behind a block by Parham. Jeanty’s first run for 12 yards was behind Parham. And Jeanty got through the first line of defense on his huge 64-yard run behind a block from Parham. Another 12-yard run for Jeanty to start off their third scoring drive was thanks to a Parham block.
Even Raheem Mostert enjoyed a ten-yard run later in that same drive behind Parham. And again in the fourth quarter when Mostert broke off a 38-yard scamper.
T Kolton Miller
Miller joined in on opening up a couple of those holes. Including that 38-yard run and a 13-yard Jeanty run on third and two on the same scoring drive. He also gave up virtually no pressure from the left side all game. It’s a real shame it ended with him suffering a high ankle sprain on the second to last play of the game.
CB Eric Stokes
Stokes didn’t give up a catch of any significance all game long. And he added a nice pass breakup as well. His day also ended with an injury, though it may not be as serious.
Honorable Mention
G Jackson Powers-Johnson — Had not one, but two tackles on turnovers. Also had a big block in space in the right flat that allowed Brock Bowers to pick up 19 yards on the play.
RB Dylan Laube — Started the day with a gunner tackle on the opening kickoff. And added a couple nice returns, including a return to the 42-yard-line in the final minutes to give the Raiders a great shot at driving for the game winning field goal.
