What We Saw 2023: Week 7

Raiders @Bears

Final Score: Bears 30, Raiders 12

Writer: Mike Miklius (@SIRL0INofBEEF on Twitter)

There is nothing like a battle of backup quarterbacks to get you fired up, right? Jimmy Garoppolo was out for Las Vegas with a back injury and Justin Fields was nursing a dislocated thumb. So, fire up veteran Brian Hoyer and undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent! Yeah, this was not exactly the marquee match of week seven. Still, the stats count and someone was walking away from Soldier Field with a win. The Bears won the toss and decided to take the ball–quickly going 3-and-out in hilarious fashion. The Raiders went 34 yards with 29 of them going to Davante Adams. They then missed the 41-yard field goal. Chicago then went 69 yards thanks to a heavy dose of their rookie play-caller. Bagent threw, he scrambled, and he almost found DJ Moore in the endzone before D’Onta Foreman plunged it in from two yards out. After the teams traded punts, Brian Hoyer threw a pick on a screen intended for Josh Jacobs. Chicago went 34 yards for another touchdown, this time with a heavy dose of the run game. Las Vegas put up a field goal to make it 14-3 at the half. Chicago found the endzone again to start the second half, and they cruised to a rare win. The Raiders threw another two picks–both to Jaylon Johnson–and the final score was 30-12. Let’s look at what both teams showed us today.

Two Up

• Tyson Bagent – Played well and won his first career start. If Bagent plays again next week and wins we could be looking at a QB controversy
• D’Onta Foreman – Ran hard and showed he can still be a lead back. Foreman is my #2 behind Herbert here

Two Down

• Raiders’ Quarterbacks – Everyone in Las Vegas struggled today; it’s hard to find upside in the passing game today.
• Davante Adams – Adams was targeted heavily early, but it cooled off and he mostly disappeared; Adams was on the bench at the end while the offense scored their lone touchdown.

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

Brian Hoyer: 17/32, 129 yards, 2 INT, sack

Brian Hoyer’s day was highlighted by two things: locking in on certain receivers and throwing picks. On the team’s first drive, all four attempts went to Davante Adams. The next drive saw another three targets to Adams. I know what you’re thinking: Adams is the best receiver. Of course, you throw to him! After this, however, Hoyer basically shut down on Adams. Blame coverage or game plan, but the plan shifted and soon Hoyer locked in on Jakobi Meyers. The Raiders’ last drive of the half saw six targets to Jakobi Meyers. Hoyer made some good throws, but he couldn’t keep drives moving. On his first interception, Hoyer was throwing a screen to Josh Jacobs that was bobbled. The second pick was a bad decision: a throw to Davante Adams that was jumped and taken to the house. Hoyer had some near-scores that just didn’t quite work out.

Missed Opportunities

• Almost hit Josh Jacobs for a touchdown, but Jacobs only got one foot in bounds.
• Good throw to Davante Adams that Adams couldn’t haul in.

Aidan O’Connell: 10/13, 75 yards, TD, INT

Aidan O’Connell threw a pick on his first drive, underthrowing a deep ball. The Raiders were down 30-6 when O’Connell came in and he played mostly against prevent defense; I couldn’t take much away from it given the soft coverage.

Running Back

Josh Jacobs: 11 Carries, 35 Yards | 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards

Josh Jacobs did not show the pop we loved from him last season. He was mostly bottled up and Las Vegas struggled to get anything going today. Jacobs had a couple of chances in the passing game, but he bobbled one–which turned into an interception–and just missed on another–a near touchdown with only one foot in bounds.

Missed Opportunities

• Jacobs bobbled a screen pass that turned into a pick
• Jacobs had a touchdown but could only get one foot in.

Zamir White: 2 carries, 2 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 26 yards

Zamir White saw all three of his targets on the team’s final drive as Aidan O’Connell racked up easy passes. I wouldn’t read into these stats in any way.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Davante Adams: 12 Targets, 7 Receptions, 57 Yards

The day was looking good early for Davante Adams–who sometimes looks like he doesn’t want to be here. Adams was peppered with targets and piling up early stats. At one point, I remember seeing he was on pace for 20 receptions and almost 200 yards. Well, Adams was mostly quiet after the first two drives. Adams had a near-touchdown, but it looked like he lost it and it bounced off his hands. Adams was also targeted on the pick-six and he never had a chance at it. After that target, Adams wasn’t seen again: he was shown sitting on the bench alone as the Raiders’ offense finished the game. It looked like Adams was unhappy and I wonder how much longer he will be here. I will not be surprised if we get an Adams trade before the deadline (Oct 31). 

Missed Opportunity

• Near-TD that looked like a lapse in concentration

Jakobi Meyers: 13 Targets, 7 Receptions, 50 Yards, TD

Jakobi Meyers was quiet early, but he quickly became the favorite target after Brian Hoyer’s first pick. Meyers made a great catch on that drive and I wonder if Hoyer turned to Meyers because of something Adams did. Maybe I’m reading into things that aren’t there. Meyers’ touchdown came on the team’s last against the softest of coverage, but he still scored. I saw two near-misses to Meyers that could have boosted the day a little more. I just don’t think this offense is good enough to invest in multiple weapons; watch for anything with Adams and be ready with Meyers if it happens.

Austin Hooper:  2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 18 Yards

Tre Tucker: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

Hunter Renfrow: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards

Michael Mayer: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 13 yards

Rookie tight end Michael Mayer had a couple of catches, but nothing too memorable. Mayer was open deep on a play Hoyer took a sack on and it looked like it might have been there.

Jesper Horsted: target, reception, 4 yards

Chicago Bears

Quarterback

Tyson Bagent: 21/29, 162 Yards, TD, sack | 3 carries, 24 yards

The old axiom in Chicago is that everyone’s favorite QB is the backup. Days like today are why. Tyson Bagent was mostly asked to manage the game, and it was enough to grab the easy win. He started with a screen to DJ Moore and two plays later hit D’Onta Foreman on a screen that was dropped; Foreman had room to run but lapsed in concentration. Bagent had a nice rhythm on the next drive and mixed in a 10-yard scramble on the way to the endzone. Tyson Bagent had the next drive rolling along until he was chased by the Raiders’ pass rush when the O-line broke down. Bagent’s style today was to hit short, accurate passes and make quick decisions. He also wasn’t asked to take big shots; the pre-half Hail Mary saw the team pull Bagent for Nathan Peterman who ‘has a bigger arm’. This will work short-term, but smart coordinators will start to jump these short routes and turn them into picks. Still, Bagent has shown enough where I think all Bears fans must want another look; One more game like this and I know the QB controversy will be in full swing. The Secret Bagent Man has shown he deserves a spot in this league, and maybe even a starting job.

Running Back

D’Onta Foreman: 16 Carries, 89 Yards, 2 TD | 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 31 Yards, TD

D’Onta Foreman was a powerhouse today, and I loved watching him find the endzone three times. Foreman runs hard, happily inviting contact and running like he thinks each carry could go to the house. Foreman started shaky, funny enough, after dropping a screen on the first drive. It looked like he had a lot of room to move if he hauled it in. It was just a case of running before he caught it. Foreman made up for it on the next drive, picking up multiple gains of 10+ before a short plunge into the endzone. Foreman came back strong to start the second half, picking up 14 right after a penalty made it first-and-15. I love watching Foreman run and he is the second most impressive talent in this backfield behind Khalil Herbert. With some good play calling and blocking, Chicago can return to last year’s powerhouse rushing attack.

Darrynton Evans: 14 Carries, 48 Yards | 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards

Darrynton Evans saw a surprising amount of work and showed his fight on his lone reception–a play where he was stopped short of the first but somehow converted it anyway. Evans is just depth here while Herbert and RoJo are out, but he still carried himself well today.

Khari Blasingame: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards

Travis Homer: 1 target

Wide Receiver/Tight End

DJ Moore: 9 Targets, 8 Receptions, 54 Yards

DJ Moore was involved steadily today, but the game flow just didn’t require Chicago to be aggressive. Moore had a pair of near-scores: a short shovel that he nearly found the edge on and later a drop by Moore that could’ve been a score. Moore is still the clear alpha here and will go as far as the volume allows each week.

Darnell Mooney: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 32 Yards

Darnell Mooney pulled in everything thrown his way: four quick-hitting passes that kept drives moving. His best grab of the day was a sideline look that was thrown high, but he hauled it in regardless. Mooney is looking better after struggling recently to find a rhythm.

Tyler Scott: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards | 2 carries, 14 yards

Tyler Scott showed flashes on his four touches, and we aren’t far from the designed deep shot. Scott is fast and he is showing confidence with the ball in his hands. I want to see more plays dialed up for Scott.

Velus Jones Jr.: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 0 Yards

Marcedes Lewis: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Cole Kmet: nothing

I honestly don’t know what happened to Cole Kmet today. I never saw him mentioned and I didn’t notice him in this one: no targets and no mentions on the broadcast. My guess is the tight ends were called to help block, which was effective: Chicago allowed only one sack to Maxx Crosby and crew.