The Chicago Bears (1-2) are on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) in week four with a chance to enter their week five bye week with a .500 or better record for just the second time in five years.
To secure a win in their first cross-conference game of the season, the Bears must accomplish the following four keys to success:
1) Continue to protect Caleb Williams despite offensive line injury
Last week, for the first time in his NFL career, Caleb Williams finished a game without taking a sack. Much of this credit can be awarded to the quarterback himself, who played within rhythm while creating space behind the line of scrimmage with his legs, but the offensive line deserves some recognition as well for their ability to shut down Dallas's collection of pass rushers.
This week should be a more formidable challenge for the offensive line, as the Raiders are one of just 12 defenses with two players who have recorded two or more sacks in their first three games (Jonah Laulu, Maxx Crosby). Against one of the best edge rushers in the league and an emerging interior rusher, the offensive line will have its work cut out for it, especially with Theo Benedet slated to make his first career start in place of the injured Darnell Wright.
When Benedet and Crosby are lined up across from one another, the Bears would be smart to help the former Detroit Lion in pass protection, especially if they want to see Williams have another confident passing outing from within the pocket.
2) Spread the ball around in the passing game
Second-year receiver Rome Odunze has seemingly emerged as the Bears' number one pass-catcher, and because Sunday marks his first NFL game in his hometown, that shouldn't be expected to change anytime soon. Still, the team boasts a deep rotation of talented players with the ball in their hands, and the offense should continue to rely on the group as a whole, rather than just a few players.
Through three games, Odunze accounts for 28.4% of the team's targets, 26.2% of the receptions, 30.6% of the receiving yards, and a whopping 57.1% of the receiving touchdowns. In comparison, D.J. Moore is averaging just 45 yards per game through the air, Luther Burden III has just 38 yards outside of his 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown, and tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland -- who remains questionable for Sunday -- have combined for 113 yards and a touchdown.
It has been encouraging to see the former ninth overall pick quickly develop into Williams' first option in the pass game, but the Bears will be better as a whole if they can scheme up other guys and present a deep and robust receiving corps that teams have to gameplan for in its entirety. Against a Raiders defense that has allowed the ninth most receiving yards per game, Sunday provides a great opportunity to take a step in that direction.
3) Generate more consistent pass rush
So far this season, the Bears have been one of the league's worst teams at generating pass rush, symbolized by a 23% pass-rush win rate, the third-worst mark in the NFL. They improved slightly last week against a banged-up Cowboys offensive line and walked away with two sacks, but the defense, and the line specifically, must do a better job of rushing the passer.
Fortunately for the Bears, the Raiders will likely present opportunities up front, as Las Vegas's 58% pass block win rate is ranked in the dead center of the league. Geno Smith has not been the most mobile quarterback throughout his career, either, so there should be real opportunities for the Bears to generate legitimate pressure that affects the passing attack, even if it does not result in a high sack total on Sunday.
Perhaps the best way to generate pass rush is to lead in the second half and let the defensive line play with their ears pinned back as they did a week ago, but the job will undoubtedly be more difficult in Las Vegas with Grady Jarrett ruled out for the game. Andrew Billings, who is too big not to be double-teamed, may help create one-on-one opportunities for his running mates, but he will have to help collapse the pocket in his own right.
4) Make the Raiders one dimensional
Few names were held in higher regard this offseason than Ashton Jeanty, and so far, the Raiders have not seen a lot of production out of their first-round pick. Granted, the Heisman Trophy runner-up actually has more yards after contact than in total, so all the blame cannot be pinned on him, but the Boise State product has too much talent to be held down much longer.
The Bears allow nearly 140 rushing yards per game, placing them as the sixth-worst rush defense in the league. Jeanty has only gained 144 rush yards this entire season, but the Bears will have to be careful to avoid his potential coming-out game. Ideally, the visiting team will be able to contain the rookie's production, forcing the Raiders to rely on their passing attack, where they have limited options outside of Brock Bowers and Trey Tucker, who have accounted for all four of the Raiders' passing scores.
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Chicago still has several injuries in the secondary, although slot cornerback Kyler Gordon has been listed as questionable heading into the game. The defense will nevertheless continue to rely on Nashon Wrigth and Tyrique Stevenson on the boundaries with Jaylon Johnson out. If they can play well on the perimeter after the front seven shuts down the Raiders' rushing attack, it could lead to another solid win for the Bears before their bye week.