Bears Grind Out Win Against Raiders in a Character Win

Let’s be honest—this wasn’t the prettiest game to watch. In years past, this is exactly the type of game the Bears would’ve found a way to lose. Instead, they gutted it out, made enough plays when it mattered, and walked away with a win over the Raiders. Even better, this marked the 800th regular season win in franchise history—a milestone worth celebrating.

Caleb Williams Battles Through the Chaos

Caleb Williams continues to grow into his role as the Bears’ franchise quarterback. He finished 22-of-37 for 212 yards and one touchdown, though he did throw his first career interception on a play where Maxx Crosby tipped the ball up and came down with it himself. Credit where it’s due—Crosby was a wrecking ball, constantly creating pressure, especially in the first half.

The Bears managed to slow Crosby down after shuffling the offensive line. Theo Benedet slid over to left tackle, stepping in after Braxton Jones was pulled. Rookie Ozzy Trapilo also entered the mix and quietly put together a solid performance, allowing only two pressures in 26 passing snaps. His presence seemed to stabilize things, and the run game immediately benefitted—jumping to over 5 yards per carry once he joined the action.

Rome Odunze Keeps Making History

Second year receiver Rome Odunze continues to look like the real deal. He scored yet again, marking four straight games with a touchdown. The last Bear to do that? None other than Walter Payton back in 1986. That’s not bad company to keep.

Running Back Room Questions

The running back rotation still feels unsettled. D’Andre Swift carried the bulk of the load (14 carries for 38 yards, just 2.7 YPC), but the numbers don’t lie—he hasn’t looked explosive lately. Meanwhile, Monangai had 4 carries for 18 yards (4.5 YPC) and looked like he deserves more opportunities. Coming out of the bye, it might be time to flip the script and give Monangai a bigger role.

Defense: Opportunistic but Leaky

The defense was a mixed bag. On one hand, they came up with four takeaways and held the Raiders to just 23.9% on third down. On the other hand, they got gashed in the run game. Ashton Jeanty had a breakout performance with 138 yards on 21 carries (6.6 YPC) and a touchdown, while Raheem Mostert added 62 yards on just 4 carries. That’s a glaring weakness that can’t be ignored, and it’s something that hopefully improves with health. Getting guys like Tremaine Edmunds, Gervon Dexter, and Kyler Gordon back after the bye should help.

Cairo Santos: Mr. Reliable

Once again, Cairo Santos was automatic. He went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, including a clutch 52-yarder. In a game that felt like it could slip away at any moment, his consistency was a difference-maker.

Final Thoughts

The Bears didn’t play their cleanest game, but they showed resilience. Caleb kept his composure despite the Crosby chaos, the offensive line found answers, and the defense came up with turnovers when needed. If this team can clean up the run defense and get healthy coming out of the bye, there’s reason to believe they can keep stacking wins.

For now, let’s just appreciate this one—it’s the type of win Bears fans haven’t seen enough of in recent years.