LAS VEGAS — The Chicago Bears’ offense finally clicked—perfect timing to test the Las Vegas Raiders. Can Patrick Graham’s defensive unit respond in kind?
The Raiders’ defense is about to face its toughest challenge of the young season, and it comes in the form of a second-year quarterback who appears to be finding his rhythm. Bears star signal-caller Caleb Williams is coming off his best performance of the year against the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately for the Silver and Black, he is beginning to look like the player the Bears selected to transform their franchise.
Williams carved up the Cowboys in Week 3, finally showing poise and patience under first-year head coach Ben Johnson’s system. Following a challenging start to the season, the No. 1 overall pick from last year displayed a significantly more composed performance. Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, never one to hand out easy compliments, called it “arguably his best game as a pro.”
Raiders DC Patrick Graham should take note of this praise…
His unit has already struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks and now faces one who is both dangerous on the move and settling into a structured offense. As Warner noted, Williams is learning to resist the urge to play too fast, staying calmer in the pocket while still keeping defenses honest with his athleticism.
But it’s not just Williams that the Raiders need to worry about. Johnson’s offense finally had the breathing room to open the playbook last week. A flea flicker, creative motions, and timely play-calls showed flashes of the aggressive style Johnson built his reputation on. When the Bears establish an early lead, they can introduce unexpected strategies that challenge even the most disciplined defenses.
Las Vegas cannot afford another sluggish start on defense. Giving Williams confidence early could snowball into a long afternoon. The Raiders’ pass rush must force him off schedule, and their secondary has to stay disciplined against trick plays and layered route concepts.
Johnson remains skeptical about the hype surrounding the matchup. He pointed out to reporters this week that the Bears are entering Las Vegas as road underdogs. This underdog mentality could pose an increased threat if the Raiders underestimate them.
Ben Johnson taking note of the Bears being underdogs this week pic.twitter.com/eWJGPZgD4G
— br_betting (@br_betting) September 22, 2025
For Las Vegas, this matchup is straightforward: make Williams appear to be last year’s rookie once more. If they fail to do so, they risk becoming yet another defense to discover that Caleb Williams is no longer gradually transitioning into the NFL—he’s making his presence known. Naturally, this challenge is falling to the Raiders.
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*Top Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty