Game Recap, Final Score Oakland 24, Chicago 21: Raiders claw back to victory against Bears in London

Welcome to London, and here we go! The Oakland Raiders are taking on the Chicago Bears in an international overseas game. It was looking good for the Raiders up until they got into field goal range on the opening drive. Unfortunately, Richie Incognito got a personal foul penalty after the play on a Raiders 3rd down which knocked them back out of field goal range and had to punt. It was a somewhat questionable penalty call, but Incognito has to know he will never get the benefit of the doubt.

The Bears opening drive had them get to midfield, but it stalled out mostly in thanks to a Maxx Crosby sack. The rookie just keeps making plays, and his relentless motor is definitely earning his Mad Maxx nickname.

Oakland’s offense would not be stopped the next time they had the ball though, they went 90 yards for a touchdown. The offensive line was great the whole way, blowing up the great defensive line of Chicago at the point of impact. They put an explanation mark on it with a Josh Jacobs touchdown run that featured Khalil Mack getting blocked to the ground on the play. The 12 yard touchdown run made the score 7-0 Oakland.

To make it even better, the Raiders intercepted a 3rd down pass on the Bears next drive. Nick Morrow came down with the pick and the Oakland offense got to start at the Bears 24 yard line. They got a little help thanks to a defensive holding call on 3rd down, but they punched it in on 1st and goal after that. This time it was a 3 yard run from DeAndre Washington to make the score 14-0 Raiders.

Oakland’s defense came up with another quick stop and then a shifty return by Trevor Davis had the Raiders starting at midfield again. They almost got knocked out of field goal range with another personal foul penalty on Incognito, but they did the smart thing on 3rd down with just getting the yards back for a field goal attempt. Daniel Carlson came out and booted the 41 yard kick was good and made the score 17-0 Oakland which is what the score would remain at for halftime.

The Bears started out the 2nd half with the ball with a 3 and out, but unfortunately an unforced turnover gave them the ball right back in great field position. Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs miscommunicated on an audible change from a handoff to a pitch, and then Jacobs made a rookie mistake by trying to scoop the ball instead of falling on it. The Bears took advantage of it with a touchdown run from their own talented rookie David Montgomery.

Sure enough, the momentum completely changed from that turnover. The Raiders drive was a short one and then a punt, and the Bears went right down the field for another touchdown. The drive featured what looked like a sure Lamarcus Joyner interception but the receiver made an amazing catch over the top of him. That led to the Bears getting another touchdown, this one a 4 yard pass to Allen Robinson to make it 17-14.

Derek Carr and the Raiders offense clearly was rattled and failed to do anything on their next drive too. Then Bears return man Tarik Cohen got past the coverage team for a huge return of 71 yards. They took the lead a couple of plays later with a 16 yard touchdown pass to Allen Robinson, Bears lead now 21-17.

Thanks to an after play personal foul on the Bears after the touchdown, they had to kickoff from their own 20. Trevor Davis made them pay, he looked stopped at the 30 but bounced it outside for a 51 yard return into Bears territory. Sadly, the same guy who regained the momentum for the Raiders turned it back over at the 1 yard line. Trevor Davis fumbled and the Bears recovered the ball on the goal line.

Chicago had to start their drive at the 1 at least, though they got out of the shadow of the endzone with an amazing 32 yard catch from Allen Robinson. It was challenged because it looked like no way he could have got both feet down but sure enough he caught it. The Raiders then intercepted the ball, but they touched the QB so of course roughing the passer. They did at least eventually come up with the stop and force a punt but the entirety of Raider Nation will be fuming at that roughing the passer call all week long.

Of course the Raiders didn’t field the punt and let it bounce down to their own 2 where the Bears downed it. Josh Jacobs solved that problem with a 15 yard run to start their drive out. Of course they did nothing with it after that, including a 2 yard checkdown pass on 3rd and 8 to a triple covered Derek Carrier.

The first punt was a running into the kicker penalty that clearly was a roughing the kicker because the plant leg was hit. However, it allowed the Raiders to have another chance and they got a first down on a fake punt. It was called a fumble on the play but clearly Erik Harris was down. The fake punt finally woke the Raiders offense up and they drove down the field beautifully. They took the lead back with an incredible diving touchdown run from Josh Jacobs to make it 24-21 with 1:57 left in the game.

Chicago wasn’t going to go away easy though, they immediately get another big catch from Allen Robinson to get them close to midfield. The Raiders desperately needed a big play from their defense, and they got one. For the second game in a row, they got an interception to seal the win. This time it was Gareon Conley with the huge interception on a very strange floated pass to nobody from Chase Daniel.

The Raiders just needed to run out the rest of the clock to get the win, which they mostly did. The Bears did get one last chance with the ball but they only had 0:13 to use. The Raiders defense came up with the final stop to steal the victory they dominated the first half for, and they ended it on a Mo Hurst sack for the cherry on top. Oakland Raiders win, 24-21.