Game Overview ::
By >> mike johnson
- The Bears offense has had wildly different situations so far this season, with the elite Vikings and Lions defenses giving them fits and the woeful Cowboys letting them have their way.
- Chicago’s skill position usage and snap counts could look different if rookie first round pick, tight end Colston Loveland, is unable to suit up.
- The Raiders offense will struggle to be balanced as long as their offensive line continues to perform at a very low level.
- The emergence of wide receiver Tre Tucker and injury to tight end Michael Mayer should significantly condense the Raiders offense.
How chicago Will Try To Win ::
We can only hope Bears QB Caleb Williams recognizes how lucky he is, as his performance so far in 2025 has left a lot to be desired but the scheme and play calling of head coach Ben Johnson has done wonders to make Williams look good. The Bears opened Week 1 against the Vikings with an incredible drive on scripted plays and looked like they might set the league on fire this year. They also scored quickly and efficiently on their first drive in Week 2. Outside of those two scripted drives, Chicago scored on four out of 22 possessions in their first two games. The Bears looked terrific in Week 3 against the Cowboys defense, but Dallas may legitimately have the worst defense in the league so it is hard to take much away from that. Even in that situation, most of the Bears offensive success was derived from the elite play design and play calling of the coaching staff.
The Bears offensive line had some upgrades this offseason, but they are still a work in progress and rank 22nd in adjusted line yards through three weeks. Chicago runs the ball at a surprisingly high rate, also ranking 22nd in pass rate over expectation. Considering their relative ineffectiveness as a rushing offense and the nature of their personnel, it would make sense for the team to throw at a higher rate. Chicago has shown a commitment to Ben Johnson’s roots as a run-focused team who can open things up when they need to and has multiple paths to creating chunk plays. D’Andre Swift is more of a space back and has never really shown the ability to be a “between the tackles” grinder, for what it is worth. The Raiders defense has been below average so far this season in all aspects, but it will be interesting how the Bears handle their first middling opponent of the season. We know they weren’t ready for the top tier units of Minnesota and Detroit, while the offensive domination of Dallas should be taken with a grain of salt. This week will help us gauge exactly where they are as a unit.
It will be interesting to see the Bears personnel usage this week as their two prized rookies are headed in starkly different directions. Tight end Colston Loveland seems likely to miss this game after two missed practices, while wide receiver Luther Burden III had a breakout game by going over 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career on only 17 snaps and three targets. Loveland’s absence will leave veteran TE Cole Kmet in an every down role, while Burden’s strong play could give him a claim to more playing time. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore are likely to be the focal points of the passing game, but we know from Ben Johnson’s time as the Lions offensive coordinator that he isn’t afraid to spread things around. The Raiders defense ranks third in the NFL in zone coverage rate, which should benefit the Bears passing game as they have had a lot more success dealing with zone than man coverage. Expect Chicago to play with pace and an elevated pass rate early in this game as Johnson acclimates to the personnel he is now dealing with rather than the elite backfields he had in Detroit.
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