People anticipated a major revenge game when the Chicago Bears played the Las Vegas Raiders two years ago. Khalil Mack had wanted a contract he felt he’d earned. The organization wasn’t willing to give it to him and so they traded him to Chicago for a haul of draft picks. A decision they seem to be regretting. Yet when his opportunity came to exact some vengeance in London? The Raiders made him effectively disappear.
In an all-around frustrating performance for the defense, Mack managed just one pressure on Derek Carr for the game. He didn’t show up on the stat sheet much at all. The Bears lost 24-21. A game that likely played a big role in their season falling apart. While Mack is never one to dwell on the past too much, that game no doubt burned him. One moment he wished he could’ve played better.
Now he has another chance.
Months after trying to reacquire the star pass rusher from the Bears, the Raiders host them at Allegiant Stadium for what will be an important game for both teams. Chicago is 2-2 and can’t afford to lose another winnable game. Not with Green Bay and Tampa Bay waiting right around the corner. Las Vegas is coming off their first loss of the year, a humbling 28-14 performance where their offense managed just 213 total yards.
One of the biggest issues? Their pass protection. Derek Carr was sacked four times on the evening and pressured 19 times total. Probably the biggest liability the Chargers exploited? Right tackle Alex Leatherwood. His start to 2021 has been rough. Through four games, he’s allowed four sacks and 18 pressures by himself. Joey Bosa abused him for five pressures and a sack on Monday night. He came away unimpressed by Leatherwood and the Raiders offense.
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People underestimate how incredible this is… that’s not a human, that’s a jungle cat in a 97 jersey.
Joey Bosa cleared 15 yards, in less than 3 seconds, with a 320lbs Right Tackle in his path. His ability to close distances is hard to comprehend.pic.twitter.com/fVK83dk6As
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) October 5, 2021
Joey Bosa what are your thoughts on Derek Carr? pic.twitter.com/nJe5gTf9sU
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) October 5, 2021
Khalil Mack is on a streak of his own right now
The star Bears pass rusher has at least one sack in each of his past three games. He has four total for the season and the defense leads the NFL with 15. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai has done a great job finding different ways to attack opposing blocking schemes. Mack and others are reaping the benefits. If the Raiders aren’t able to run the football, which has been a problem for them so far this year, then that means Carr is going to have to throw it a lot.
Combine a streaking Khalil Mack with a struggling rookie right tackle? Not to mention a reborn Robert Quinn on the opposite side. That is a recipe for sacks. Bosa wasn’t lying about Carr. He starts making mistakes when pressured enough. In the 39 games where he has been sacked at least three times, he’s thrown 34 interceptions and fumbled 31 times. This is a big opportunity for Mack to finally get the last word.
It may also alter the course of the Bears’ season.
A win on Sunday would get them to 3-2, setting up a monumental divisional game at home against Green Bay. Not many people are giving them a chance to survive this part of the schedule. Understandably so. Yet the opportunity is right there. If Mack and the defense deliver and the offense can repeat what it managed against Detroit? They can win.
