2025 Week 4: Chicago Bears 25, Las Vegas Raiders 24

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: October 13, 2025

We’re gonna be just fine. [Photo: CBS]

Player Grades

The grading scale goes from -2 to +2, in half-point increments, for each play. Screens are graded as runs. Penalties are counted in whatever phase they were committed. Pre- and post-snap penalties are in the “Misc.” column. “Short” throws are less than 15 yards, “Deep” is over 15 or more. Everything else (scrambles, throwaways, reads, etc.) is under “Miscellaneous.” Parentheses in a column denote grades/snaps from the opposite side of the ball and are not included in grades/snaps from the player’s usual side. Snap counts are from Pro Football Reference. Box score and other relevant info can be found at that link as well.

I thought Caleb was better than +9 live

Watching the game live, I thought the grade would end up being higher, but outside of a +2 throw to Odunze for a TD, Caleb’s tape was a lot of routine stuff and, unfortunately, and a few missed reads that hurt the grade. It should be encouraging that the offense looks as good as it does so soon, but we also need to be realistic and acknowledge that we’re not going to see anything resembling a finished product until next year. As it stands, though, it was another strong late-game performance by Caleb that gave the Bears a chance to win and this time, they found a way to hold on.

The defense tried to blow it, though

After Geno Smith threw his third pick, I asked myself why anyone with an even semi-competent run game would bother throwing against this team on anything other than 3rd and double digits, even with the pass rush being largely nonexistent. Even with Jaylon Johnson out, the coverage this year has been pretty good, Detroit debacle notwithstanding. The run defense, however, stinks out loud. Billings is getting moved way too easily. Odeyingbo’s inability to set the edge persisted and Tanoh Kpassagnon decided to make it clear that he stinks at it, too. Austin Booker should be back sooner rather than later – maybe Monday against Washington – maybe he can help. The word “maybe” is doing a lot of work there, though, as Booker struggled mightily in that area a year ago. In the end, they got enough of a stop that even if Blackwell hadn’t blocked that kick, Caleb would’ve had a puncher’s chance to lead the Bears down the field for a field goal of their own to win it.

The halftime interview thing

Ben was far nicer than I would’ve been. Ask a snarky question, get a snarky answer.

Monsters

Caleb put the team on his back at the end, Odunze continued his march toward superstardom, Thuney was great, Benedet had a strong first start, Byard’s two picks were huge, Brisker was solid, particularly in run support. This might sound crazy, but I’d see if he’d be willing to put on 25-ish pounds this next offseason and move to linebacker. Josh Blackwell sealed the win with the blocked kick. Tory Taylor pinned the Raiders inside their five in a key moment.

Chipmunks

All other defensive persons, save Edmunds and Sweat. Not that either of those guys were particularly good, but they weren’t bad enough to be named chipmunks. Kmet had a couple drops and whiffed multiple blocks. Jonah Jackson sucked again.

Four Stars of the Game

Kevin Byard