The Raiders are coming off a humiliating loss to a Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders. The Raiders are looking for a bounce back game against an opponent that is in the same NFL tier.
Here are my 5 predictions for the Las Vegas Raiders versus the Chicago Bears Sunday:
Ashton Jeanty has another tough day running the ball
The Bears’ defense is a unit opponents have no problem running on. Ashton Jeanty has yet to have the success he was expected to have right away because of the Raiders’ poor offensive line. The Bears’ defensive line can win their matchups against the Raiders’ line. Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings will clog holes, limiting the Raiders’ success in the run game. I think an Ashton Jeanty breakout game is coming soon, just not this week.
Geno Smith throws for 300 yards
The Raiders will not be able to run the ball and their best chance in this game is passing the ball a lot. Geno Smith has no issue with that, Geno Smith threw for 362 yards in the rain in the Raiders Week 1 victory. He is capable of making defenses pay through the air. The Raiders have all the weapons possible to attack this hobled Bears secondary. I think this game will be a shootout and that will be mainly because Geno Smith has a great passing day.
Brock Bowers has a big game
It has been two straight quiet games for Brock Bowers after sustaining in injury in the Raiders Week 1 game. In Week 1 before injury Broc Bowers had 5 catches for 103 yards. With the Bears safeties being suspect and the Bears not having their star slot corner Kyler Gordon, Brock Bowers will be able to get open with ease. Geno Smith will have a good game in this matchup, and the target he will look to the most will be Brock Bowers. I expect a Brock Bowers getting over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
Dont’e Thornton catches his first touchdown
Dont’e Thornton is the Raiders best deep play threat. Thornton has yet to find the endzone and he really has not had his breakout game just yet. I think he gets corner Nahshon Wright for a big play resulting for a touchdown. Thornton will be getting favorable matchups in this game and with his speed it will be easy to get past this Bears’ secondary. Geno Smith throws the best deep ball in the NFL and he connects on a deep ball with Thorton in this game.
Maxx Crosby gets two sacks
Maxx Crosby is a game wrecker. Crosby has 2 sacks and 11 pressures so far on the season. When the Bears played Aidan Hutchinson a similar player to Crosby, Hutchinson had a sack and multiple pressures. Darnell Wright has not practiced this week and Braxton Jones early this season has looked like a liability. I think Maxx Crosby will feast off the Bears tackles this week.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Micah’s 5 expectations for Pete Carroll’s Raiders vs Chicago Bears
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
