NEWSLETTER
Sometimes, it matters less how you get from Point A to Point B because it’s of the utmost importance that you get to Point B.
At least, that’s how I feel about the Justin Fields Experience to this point.
We all knew Fields’ day would come. It was only a matter of time. As a college quarterback, Fields was a star who showcased incredible arm talent, athleticism, and leadership skills. After being chosen with the 11th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Fields displayed those skills throughout minicamps, training camp, and into the preseason. But now, the time has come to put into action all that he’s learned on his path to starting. There’s no looking over his shoulder. And no trying to do too much in an attempt to climb up the depth chart because a veteran is ahead of him. It’s Justin Fields’ time now. Full stop.
Fields doesn’t have to do it all today. And to be clear, he doesn’t have to do it by himself. So I hope his coaches and teammates drive that point home to him. But today is the first chapter in what will hopefully be a large book with a storybook ending. And Fields will be the author, just as we would’ve wanted back in April.
Game Info
Chicago Bears (2-2) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (3-1) – on CBS-TV (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn), WBBM-AM 780 and WCFS-FM 105.9 (Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, Mark Grote)
Kickoff time: 3:05 CT
Site: Allegiant Stadium; Las Vegas
Referee: Craig Wrolstad
Odds: Bears -+5.5 (-110), O/U 45.5 (via DraftKings Sports Book)
Game Thread (Week 5 Preview)
Your game thread is down in the comments, so let’s have some good, clean (safe-for-work) fun.
Hype Video
Coaches
Bears Matt Nagy (30-22) vs. Raiders Jon Gruden (117-111 overall, 60-56 with Raiders)
Starting Quarterbacks and Projected Game Stats
BEARS: Justin Fields: 21/33, 232 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 6 carries, 24 rushing yards
versus
RAIDERS: Derek Carr: 24/36, 285 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT; 3 carries, 8 yards
Projected stats via ESPN projections
Bears Offense (Projected Starters in Bold)
RB Damien Williams
Reserves: Khalil Herbert, Ryan Nall
WR Allen Robinson II, Darnell Mooney, Marquise Goodwin
Reserves: Damiere Byrd, Jakeem Grant
TE Cole Kmet
Reserves: Jimmy Graham, Jesper Horsted
LT Jason Peters
LG Cody Whitehair
C Sam Mustipher
RG James Daniels
RT Germain Ifedi
Reserves: Elijah Wilkinson, Alex Bars, Lachavious Simmons
Bears Defense
DT Angelo Blackson
NT Eddie Goldman
DE Bilal Nichols
Reserves: Khyiris Tonga
OLB Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn
Reserves: Jeremiah Attaochu, Trevis Gipson
ILB Roquan Smith, Alec Ogletree
Reserves: Christian Jones, Caleb Johnson, Danny Trevathan
CB Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor
Reserves: Duke Shelley, Xavier Crawford
S Eddie Jackson, Deon Bush
Reserves: Marqui Christian, DeAndre Houston-Carson
Bears Special Teams
Cairo Santos (kicker), Pat O’Donnell (punter), Patrick Scales (long-snapper), Khalil Herbert (kick returns), Jakeem Grant (punts)
Bears Inactives
Inactives for #CHIvsLV: pic.twitter.com/s77xBofTMP
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 10, 2021
Raiders Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Derek Carr
• RB Josh Jacobs
• WRs Henry Ruggs III, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow
• TEs Darren Waller
• LT Kolton Miller, LG John Simpson, C Andre James, RG Alex Leatherwood, RT Brandon Parker
Defense
• DEs Yannick Ngakoue, Maxx Crosby, DT Quinton Jefferson, NT Johnathan Hankins
• LBs Denzel Perryman, Nick Kwiatkowski
• LCB Amik Robertson, RCB Casey Hayward Jr., Nate Hobbs
• FS Tre’von Moehrig, SS Jonathan Abraham
Specialists
• Daniel Carlson (kicker), A.J. Cole (punter, holder), Trent Sieg (long snapper), Kenyan Drake, Hunter Renfrow (kick and punt returns)
Raiders Inactives
The following players are inactive for #CHIvsLV pic.twitter.com/SzTsO09ObW
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 10, 2021
