Better rethink those ‘easy’ Raiders
When the NFL released its 2015 schedule in April, most of you/us thought the Oakland Raiders would be the Bears’ first victim of the season. If you believed that no matter how improved the Bears would be, there was no way they’d steal one from the opening murderer’s row of the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, you were right.
The problem now, though, is that these Raiders aren’t the liedown team Bears Nation hoped they would be.
At 2-1, the Raiders lack a signature win, having defeated the 1-3 Baltimore Ravens and the 1-2 Cleveland Browns after getting spanked by the Cincinnati Bengals in their opener. But special young talent in the form of quarterback Derek Carr, running back Latavius Murray, wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end/ outside linebacker Khalil Mack is maturing quickly, and a few quality vets— wideout Michael Crabtree, defensive lineman Aldon Smith and Justin Tuck, linebackers Malcolm Smith and Curtis Lofton and future Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson— are teaching them how to win.
Although most of that name recognition is on the defensive side of the ball, that’s also where the Raiders continue to struggle, ranking 32nd in the league in total defense, 30th against the pass, 25th in both sacks and interceptions and 28th in points allowed.
Unfortunately for the Bears, who are sixth in the NFL running the ball, stopping the run is the only place the Raiders’ defense is succeeding, ranking 13th.
If the Bears have Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery back, they should be able to do some business against a Raiders defense that struggles at cornerback with second-year player T.J. Carrie and D.J. Hayden, whom you may remember was a surprise 12th pick overall in the 2013 draft.
However, the Bears are 28th in total offense, 31st throwing the ball and 31st in points scored— due mainly to the complete lack of production since Jimmy Clausen took over at quarterback.
The matchup of the day figures to be Martellus Bennett trying to defeat coverage that most likely will come from Woodson and Malcolm Smith, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks.
Carr, Murray, Cooper and company are on fire through three weeks: seventh in total offense, 17th rushing, seventh passing and 10th in points scored. In addition to Murray, Marcel Reece is a threat running and catching and an excellent blocker, to boot, as one of the best fullbacks in the game.
The Bears hope to benefit from the return of Jeremiah Ratliff (questionable) at nose tackle and improving play from Jarvis Jenkins, Eddie Goldman, Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton against a very average Raiders offensive line. Tackles Donald Penn and Austin Howard are castoffs from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets, respectively. The strength of this group is former Kansas City Chiefs center Rodney Hudson, who was the Raiders’ biggest free-agency acquisition this summer.
The Raiders aren’t deep behind Cooper and Crabtree, but Alan Ball, Kyle Fuller and Tracy Porter still will need to take another step forward to handle that top two.
This is a game where safeties Antrel Rolle and Adrian Amos must show up, and if they, Shea McClellin and Christian Jones can at least get a standoff with Murray and Reece, the Bears will have a shot at the upset.