The Chicago Bears knew the game in Las Vegas against the Raiders would be a battle. Both teams were desperate, knowing another loss would all but sink their seasons. That meant an air of desperation would be felt inside Allegiant Stadium. It would come down to who made the fewest mistakes. To that end, it fell on the Bears coaching staff to try forcing the issue. Veteran safety Kevin Byard thought he had a good idea of what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen would do when preparing for the game.
He was surprised by what the coach had cooked up.
Byard revealed on 1920 Football Drive that extensive film study from Allen showed there would be significant opportunities for the defense to force a turnover in the game. It would come down to when the Raiders gave the right look, meaning quarterback Geno Smith would likely throw the ball to a certain spot. Byard was designated as the one to make the play. Sure enough, the Raiders gave those looks not once but twice. The safety intercepted Smith both times. They were two of the four turnovers Chicago would force in the game, and proved crucial to pulling out a 25-24 victory.
This story shows why Dennis Allen was such a great hire for the Bears.
While his reputation as a head coach is not anything special, he's highly regarded as a defensive coordinator. No position group hates him more than quarterbacks. Dennis Allen has a knack for finding ways to frustrate them with clever disguises, well-timed blitzes, and overall smoke and mirrors. Tom Brady played one of the worst games of his career against him in 2020, throwing three interceptions. The same was true of Matt Ryan that same year, throwing two interceptions and getting sacked eight times. Aaron Rodgers had only 133 yards and two picks in a 38-3 loss against him in 2021.
Dak Prescott and Geno Smith both had their worst games of the season against Allen. The fact that he pulled this off despite a run defense that is one of the worst in the NFL is remarkable. He deserves all sorts of credit for keeping that unit afloat amidst so many health setbacks and other issues. Maybe he can work some of that magic in Washington on Monday night.
