Raiders Fall Short Despite Dominant Ground Game in Heartbreaking 25–24 Loss to Bears

Football is a game of inches; a painful truth the Raiders learned the hard way Sunday afternoon. Despite racking up 240 rushing yards and a breakout performance from rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, the Silver and Black couldn't overcome self-inflicted wounds in a narrow 25–24 loss to the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium.

The game marked yet another example of missed opportunities and costly turnovers undoing a promising effort. Three interceptions by quarterback Geno Smith all intended for Jakobi Meyers and a critical fumble on fourth-and-one turned what could have been a statement win into another frustrating defeat.

The Raiders' first two offensive possessions went about as poorly as possible. Smith was picked off by Bears safety Kevin Byard III on the opening drive, and on the next possession, a fourth-and-short gamble backfired as Jeanty was met in the backfield and coughed up the ball the first fumble of his young NFL career. Fortunately, the defense held strong early. Maxx Crosby was a disruptive force throughout, tipping a Caleb Williams pass at the line to secure the first interception of his career. He also recorded three tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble in one of his most complete performances to date.

Raider's rookie Ashton Jeanty remained the Raiders' brightest spot, contributing in both the run and pass game. He added two receiving touchdowns, one an eight-yard flat route and another a tough, tackle-breaking effort near the goal line finishing with 155 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns. Despite the explosive rushing attack and a resilient second-half performance, the Raiders couldn’t seal the deal. A late drive stalled in the red zone, forcing them to settle for a 29-yard Daniel Carlson field goal instead of a potential game-clinching touchdown.

That decision loomed large after the Bears answered with a 69-yard drive capped by a two-yard D’Andre Swift rushing score. Though Chicago failed to convert the two-point attempt, they trailed by just one point with under two minutes remaining. With the game on the line, Carlson lined up for a 54-yard attempt but Josh Blackwell burst through the line to block it, sealing a gut-wrenching loss for Las Vegas.

The Raiders now sit at 1–3 on the season and will need to clean up their execution if they hope to compete in a loaded AFC. While Jeanty’s emergence offers hope, the offense’s inability to finish drives and protect the football remains a pressing concern. With divisional matchups looming, every inch will matter even more.