Matt Forte and the Chicago Bears’ first team completely dominated the Oakland Raiders, and although the final score of the preseason game was reasonably close at 34-26, it doesn’t do justice to what the final score might have been if these two teams had met in the regular season.
Bears vs. Raiders results: Matt Forte, Bears crush Raiders, 34-26
The Oakland Raiders didn’t have an answer for Matt Forte and the Bears’ running game, as Chicago scored the first 27 points before Terrelle Pryor and Oakland’s backups made this preseason affair a one-score game.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Bears’ first four drives resulted in three touchdowns and a field goal to put them up 24-0. The Raiders’ first six drives resulted in three punts, two Matt Flynn interceptions and a missed field goal -- one they were only able to attempt because Jacoby Ford’s 62-yard kickoff return put them inside Chicago’s 40. The Bears entered the half 27-3 before a mainly sub-filled second half.
Chicago’s running game eviscerated Oakland’s defense, with Matt Forte going for 76 yards on six carries. Michael Bush had a pair of scores and Michael Ford had 58 yards on nine carries. Jay Cutler for once didn’t seem completely locked in on Brandon Marshall as the Bears look for other receiving options, but he was a modest 12-for-21 with 146 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders’ quarterback situation might be up for grabs after Terrelle Pryor outplayed Matt Flynn by a significant margin. Flynn only threw six passes, and two ended up in the hands of Bears defenders. Pryor went7-for-9 with a 19-yard touchdown to Nick Kasa. He also showed the mobility that made him an elite prospect in high school and college by scampering in for a 25-yard score. The Raiders scored 17 unanswered points with Pryor on the field, and it would be tough not to consider bumping him into some starting reps after the stinker Flynn played.
Fantasy studs and duds
Forte is a scary, scary man. The only thing worrisome about his performance is Michael Bush: The 245-pound backup only had 19 yards on 10 carries, but two of those were scores, making him a bona fide touchdown vulture.
As for duds, Brandon Marshall had zero receptions, but you have to expect him to lead the Bears in receiving by a wide margin. Alshon Jeffery made his name a bit, though, with 77 yards as Marshall’s No. 2.
Don’t draft any Oakland Raiders to your fantasy football team. Just don’t. Maybe Darren McFadden.
Injury report
Bears cornerback Zack Bowman injured his hamstring, reported by the AP to be a tear, which could be bad news. Bowman likely wasn’t pushing Peanut Tillman and Tim Jennings for a starting role.
For the Raiders, two wide receivers went down with injuries: Rod Streater has a concussion, and Brice Butler hurt his hamstring. Safety Usama Young hurt his hamstring and reserve cornerback Joselio Hanson hurt his groin.
Did they cover?
The game was pick’em, so the Bears covered by quite a bit.
What’s next?
Chicago heads back to Soldier Field for a final preseason game against the Browns next Thursday. Oakland will head up to the Pacific Northwest to play Seattle next Thursday, allowing Seahawks fans to marvel at how glad they are Russell Wilson beat out Flynn for the starting job in training camp last year.
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