Attention Griswolds: it's time for a "European vacation." The Raiders are fresh off a quality underdog road win at Indianapolis. Now, they're headed to north London to face off against former linebacker Khalil Mack and his vaunted Bears defense in an overseas matchup featuring a host of storylines preparing to play out. With both teams coming off quality wins, the former trade partners will attempt to give the Brits a show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Whether it's the last-minute deactivation of of a superstar lineman or the suspension of a defensive captain, both teams have seen their share of adversity early in the season. The Raiders sit in second place in the AFC West while the Bears are tied with the Green Bay Packers for the best record in the NFC North. Here are five of the most intriguing storylines heading into this week's
Chicago Bears-Oakland Raiders showdown in London.
5. Battle of the Rookie Running Backs
Both the Raiders and the Bears selected running backs early in the 2019 draft. In fact, the Raiders used the pick they acquired in the Khalil Mack trade to select Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick while the Bears took theirs in a pick obtained from Detroit via New England. Both are very talented and come from two strong college football conferences known for producing strong running backs — the SEC and the Big 12.
Jacobs, an Alabama product has carried the football 62 times for 307 yards (4.95 ypc) and two TDs while also catching three passes for 37 yards. Montgomery has 200 total yards (3.45 ypc) on 58 carries and eight catches for 61 yards. Both backs are quite similar but Montgomery's draft stock dropped thanks to his somewhat average 40 time (4.64) at the combine. Jacobs's didn't despite his 4.60 time. Both almost seem interchangeable so it seems it'll take some time to decide which back turns out to be the best.
Jacobs faces a defense that shut down league rushing leader, Dalvin Cook, last week, holding him to just 35 yards on 14 carries. The Raiders just gave up 39 rushing yards to Marlon Mack on 11 carries this past week. It's a coin toss which back will break out, but the two both have bright futures ahead of them in the NFL.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSx-kn4uThk
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4. Who's Going to Play Quarterback?
While Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is expected to play, despite a lower leg injury that forced into the X-Ray room, Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky isn't as certain. The third-year quarterback dislocated his shoulder Sunday on the team's first drive and is doubtful to play Sunday. Carr, on the other, hand should be there under center. If neither play, you're looking at a pair of veteran backups set to do battle.
If Carr can't go, the Raiders will turn to former Bears quarterback Mike Glennon, who lost his job to Trubisky under John Fox's regime. Glennon has an 84 career quarterback rating, and is 6-16 in his career as a starter. Bears backup Chase Daniel is 2-2 in his career as a starter, including a 1-1 record last year when Trubisky missed time with a different shoulder injury.
In other words, the Raiders need Carr to be healthy if they're going to hold off the Bears defense, which scores plenty on its own, even when its offense struggles. London fans would prefer Carr vs Trubisky, but it doesn't look like it's in the cards. This is definitely storyline to monitor as the week progresses.
3. Baby Boomer Head Coach Vs Xennial Head Coach
Jon Gruden is old school. Matt Nagy is from the new. One is a 55-year-old fringe "Baby Boomer," while the other is from the "Xennial" microgeneration
(born from roughly 1977-1983, for those new to the term). One more than likely played electric football when he was a kid while the other most definitely rocked out on Tecmo Bowl. Both are football savants and know the game. Both have high gridiron IQ and both are terrific leaders.
If Gruden was still working on Monday Night Football, he'd be lauding Nagy with great enthusiasm. In a different world, Nagy could've easily worked for Gruden as he cut his teeth in professional football, instead working under Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid. The two will match wits Sunday in a game that could give the Raider Nation a huge boost of confidence, or could continue the Bears strong push for an NFC title.
The two of these coaches on the same field should make for some intriguing games of chess, no matter the personnel. Old School vs New School. Former Young Hotshot Coach vs Current Young Hotshot Coach. Something's gotta give in London.
2. How Will The Raiders and Bears Defenses Adjust Without Key Starters?
The Raiders received bad news Monday morning as Vontaze Berfict would be suspended for the remainder of the season after his vicious hit on Colts tight end Jack Doyle. The Bears made a mysterious last-minute decision to make second-year stud defender Roquan Smith inactive and his return is up in the air, although he committed to playing Wednesday in a meeting with the press. The Raiders are without first round pick Johnathan Abram, who is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, while the Bears' standout defensive tackle Akiem Hicks is likely to sit. Don't forget the Bears are probably without franchise quarterback Mitchell Trubisky thanks to a shoulder injury and Raiders signal caller Derek Carr is questionable with a lower leg injury that even required X-Rays Sunday evening.
With so many players out, the trip to London could very well play as a get-to-know-each-other vacation, as much as it is a work trip. The Bears defense did well without their starters last week, holding the Minnesota Vikings to just six points and 40 rushing yards with six sacks and two forced fumbles. The Colts started creeping in late last week before Erik Harris's 30-yard pick-6 with two minutes remaining in the game and the Raiders up just a score.
While Chicago's defense didn't seem to skip a beat, the lack of Trubisky under center could eventually pose a problem for the Bears. Backup Chase Daniel was 1-1 last season when Trubisky was out with a shoulder injury, losing a stinker to the New York Giants that ended up costing the Bears a first round playoff bye. Carr is expected to play, which gives the Raiders an advantage under center...if the offensive line can keep Mack away from his former teammate and friend in London.
1. Khalil Mack vs the Raiders (Of Course)
Duh.
It wasn’t pretty for the Oakland Raiders. When All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack sat out 2018 training camp in a contract dispute, first-year head coach Jon Gruden had only two options: pay the man or trade him. For Bears fans, the rest is history as the Monster of the Midway sent a healthy trade haul to the Raiders in return for Mack, who has been the heart and soul of arguably the best defense in the NFL. Mack faces off against his former team this weekend in London for the first time since the deal.
The Bears gave up first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, a third-round pick in 2020 and a sixth-round pick in 2019 to acquire Mack and, in return, the Bears received a second-round pick in 2020 and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2020. In turn, they locked up Mack with a record-setting six-year, $141 million extension, making him the highest paid defensive player in league history. The Raiders used the first round draft pick to select running back Josh Jacobs, a central player in the team’s offensive attack.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been sacked just eight times this season while the Bears sacked Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins six times alone on Sunday. All told, Mack has 4.5 sacks and four forced fumbles this season for the stout Chicago defense. The Raiders defense, as a whole, has collected just five sacks on the season. In 2018, Mack had 12.5 sacks while the Raiders, as a team, had 13.
Sunday could get pretty ugly for Carr, if the offensive line turns into a turnstile against Mack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3FSoPFHSuo
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