Instant Reactions: Bears score late, block field goal in thrilling win

Josh Blackwell’s blocked field goal was the Bears‘ first blocked kick since Week 2, 2023. The special teamer’s all-out effort saved the day for the Bears in the desert.

It wasn’t a pretty win, but a win’s a win, and the Bears are suddenly 2-2 heading into their early Week 5 bye week.

Caleb Williams struggled throughout the first half, but turned things up a notch in the second, connecting with Rome Odunze for a massive 27-yard touchdown in the third quarter. It was Odunze’s fifth receiving touchdown of the season through four games.

Williams finished the day just 22-for-37 passing for 212 yards, but the second-year quarterback came through when it mattered most, giving his team a chance to win.

The Bears’ defense struggled to contain the Raiders’ rushing attack, allowing RB Ashton Jeanty to pick up 138 yards of the Raiders’ 240 total on the ground. Jeanty scored all three touchdowns for the Raiders on Sunday.

But the Bears’ secondary put Raiders QB Geno Smith through the ringer, intercepting Smith three times. Safety Kevin Byard picked off Smith twice, and Tyrique Stevenson made a sensational diving grab on the Raiders’ first play of the second half. Stevenson also recovered a fumble in the first quarter.

The Bears will have plenty to clean up before Week 6 Monday Night Football, but this was the type of game the Bears historically haven’t found a way to win.

Bears 25, Raiders 24

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Adam Jahns

A wild back-and-forth game came down to just one play – and special-teams ace Josh Blackwell made it for the Bears. He blocked Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard attempt with 38 seconds remaining to deliver the win. And with it, the Bears got in on the block field-goal party that has taken over the league.

The Bears played well enough to win but also bad enough to lose. The defense forced four takeaways but also got steamrolled by running backs Ashton Jeanty and Raheem Mostert. The Raiders totaled 240 rushing yards. The offense couldn’t run the ball but running back D’Andre Swift still scored on a two-yard run in the final two minutes to give the Bears the lead.

It was a wild game from start to finish. The Bears just made one more play than the Raiders.

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Mark Carman

What a win for the Chicago Bears. Credit all around. The most important part of the win was scoring a touchdown on their final drive when they had to have it. The run game showed up huge in the red zone. And then the defense got a stop when they had to have it.

All hail Josh Blackwell, who has been a great contributor when called upon. Character building win for the 2-2 Bears with all the possibilities in front of them. Trust in Ben. Great response to 0-2. To the bye and beyond!

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Patrick Norton

It felt like we were reading a story we’ve read too many times before. Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense really did some great things in the second half, and especially on the final drive. But it didn’t feel like enough. The missed two-point conversion left a pit in the stomach.

Sure enough, the Raiders returned the kickoff under two minutes back to their 42. They were in business in the blink of an eye — until they weren’t. Josh Blackwell’s block off the edge felt like one of those moments that you look back on as a major turning point.

That’s one heck of a win, and one that probably doesn’t work out in past regimes. Impressive stuff. And a big boost heading into the bye.