This was a should win game for the Raiders. One that if they are to challenge for a playoff berth that they had to come away with a game in the W column.
Distractions late in the week, with Gruden’s old email surfacing and two corners ending up on IR following last weeks game.
That said, early on it looked like the Bears QB was going to have a long and painful day and that the Raiders would indeed walk out of the Death Star with a 4-1 record.
But the Bears rallied around their rookie QB and held a 14-3 halftime lead. A lead that didn’t look in threat until the last drive of the third. It ended with a touchdown run by Josh Jacobs then a failed two point conversion. Thanks to a sack by former Raider Mack.
The Bears then extended their lead with a field goal in the fourth. Forced a turnover on downs on the Raiders next drive which they capitalized on with another field goal. The game then ended with a Carr run after three plays.
The game was marred by some accuracy issues for Carr, Darren Waller having trouble catching the ball and penalties that killed drives. All of which Gruden needs to fix quickly or this season, like so many in recent years, will slip away and we’ll be again thinking in terms of what-ifs.