It took three years, but Khalil Mack finally got his revenge against his former team, and he was a big reason why as the Chicago Bears pulled off an upset against the Las Vegas Raiders with a 20-9 win on Sunday to improve to 3-2 on the season.
As has been the case on many occasions during Matt Nagy’s tenure in Chicago, the defense was the reason why the Bears were able to eke out a victory. They allowed just 3 points through the first 51:41 of the game and held a high-powered Raiders offense to 259 yards and 9 points.
Mack finally had the revenge game everyone was expecting with 1.0 sack – and another on a failed 2-point conversion – and contributed to a pass rush that made it a long afternoon for quarterback Derek Carr, who was sacked three – technically, four, counting the 2-point attempt – times.
Following an impressive outing against the Lions, rookie quarterback Justin Fields didn’t have to do much in his third NFL start – and the first since he was named the permanent starter. Fields completed 12-of-20 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown with a 91.9 passer rating.
Fields was heralded for his toughness, and that was certainly on display in the win. Early in the game, Fields took a shot to the ribs, and he was on the sideline with a trash can beside him. Later in the first half, he appeared to hyperextend his knee, which forced him out for a couple of plays. Andy Dalton saw some snaps before Fields returned to finish the game and lead his team.
The Bears offense goes through the run game, and even without star David Montgomery, Chicago found plenty of success on the ground with running backs Damien Williams and rookie Khalil Herbert, who combined for 139 rushing yards. Herbert led the Bears with 18 carries for 75 yards on the ground, where he finally got to showcase his burst. Williams added 64 yards on the ground, and he had some nice runs. While the Bears will certainly miss Montgomery, who’s been one of the best in the NFL this season, they’re in capable hands with Williams and Herbert.
Now, Chicago stands at 3-2 and in 2nd place in the NFC North heading into a divisional clash with the 4-1 Packers, who were lucky to escape with an overtime win against the Bengals. The Bears are going to need another stout defensive effort and a little more from the offense if they hope to get their first win over Green Bay since 2018.
But for now, the Bears came away with a big win at the start of a difficult six-game stretch through their bye week.