Thursday, December 12, 2024

Three takeaways: Bears destroy Raiders 30-12

Both teams entered week 7 without their starting quarterbacks, with Bears rookie Tyler Bagent getting the better of veteran Brian Hoyer for the Raiders 30-12.

So what does this result mean for the two teams? Let’s take a look at our takeaways from the game.

THE BEARS DEFENCE IS GOOD ENOUGH

Admittedly against the Raiders QB2 and QB3 the Bears defence has started to look decent. With three picks the Bears held the Raiders offence out of the end zone until the fourth quarter by which time the game was over. But it wasn’t just the QB’s who struggled for the Raiders, Josh Jacobs could only manage 35 yards on 11 carries.

It was an impressive performance by the Bears who haven’t exactly been impressive most of the season and it was a sign that Chicago can win a few games this season if their offence can keep them fresh and off the field.

TYLER BAGENT IS MORE THAN SERVICEABLE

Let’s start by saying there’s not going to be a QB controversy in Chicago…yet. Bagent now has as many wins as Justin Fields on the season, but the performance was more of a game management situation than the dynamic plays the Bears are looking for from Fields. That said, it was the perfect recipe for Sunday.

Completing 21/29 for 162 yards and a touchdown, Bagent avoided any big mistakes but gave his team enough to put up points and keep the ball moving. It can be one of the myths of the NFL that QB’s have to put a team on their back. Sometimes they surely do, but most of the time a performance like Bagent’s is all that is needed.

WHAT NEXT FOR RAIDERS

With an oft-injured starter in JimmyG, and a perennial meh QB in Brian Hoyer, the Raiders turned to third-stringer and rookie Aidan O’Connell after Hoyer threw a pick-6 in the fourth quarter. Hoyer had 129 yards no scores and 2 interceptions.

The bar wasn’t very high but O’Connell faired better completing 10/13 for 75 yards 1 TD and 1 interception. But for a team that is expected to compete, or at least entertain, this season is fast becoming one that is very, very painful.

After the game HC Josh McDaniels said “We didn’t do anything well enough to deserve to win”. Short sweet and to the point. But also rather sums up his head coaching career. In this stint with the Raiders, McDaniels is now 9-14, adding to his previous record when he was Denver head coach of 11-17, things have to turn around quickly for McDaniels.

Having jettisoned Derek Carr to go with Jimmy Garoppolo, McDaniels has all his eggs in one very injury-prone QB. But if the Raiders don’t turn things around quickly you have to wonder how much longer McDaniels has.

Las Vegas RaidersChicago Bears
1st Downs2023
Passing 1st downs1610
Rushing 1st downs113
1st downs from penalties30
3rd down efficiency2-98-13
4th down efficiency2-20-1
Total Plays6069
Total Yards235323
Total Drives99
Yards per Play3.94.7
Passing196150
Comp-Att27-4521-29
Yards per pass4.34.8
Interceptions thrown30
Sacks-Yards Lost1-82-12
Rushing39173
Rushing Attempts1438
Yards per rush2.84.6
Red Zone (Made-Att)1-23-3
Penalties2-159-110
Turnovers30
Fumbles lost00
Interceptions thrown30
Defensive / Special Teams TDs01
Possession25:5434:06

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