The Magnificent 7

Seven players who made the biggest difference in the Bears' 25-24 victory over the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas:

1. Josh Blackwell

The fourth-year undrafted free agent from Duke made just one impact play, but without it, the Bears likely would be lamenting the disappointing loss of a winnable game. Shades of Bryan Robinson against the Packers in 1999 the week that Walter Payton died, Blackwell blocked Daniel Carlson's 54-yard field goal attempt with 33 seconds left in regulation to secure the victory. Blackwell, who has started one game in his four NFL seasons (as part of a makeshift secondary that earned Aaron Rodgers' praise in a 28-19 loss to the Packers in his rookie season of 2022), has been a valuable emergency fill-in — and played on defense for the first time this season Sunday. But he's made his biggest impact on special teams and earned a two-hear, $6 million contract in the offseason befitting his status as a special teams ace. He earned his money again Sunday.

2. Kevin Byard

The unheralded veteran safety set the tone early and made plays big and small. Byard intercepted Geno Smith on the Raiders' first possession of the game and again in the second quarter. But he also stopped Tre Tucker one-yard short of a first down on a seemingly mundane first-and-10 on the Raiders' second possession, which eventually turned into a stop and takeaway on fourth-and-one when linebacker Noah Sewell stripped Ashton Jeanty on a five-yard loss and Tyrique Stevenson recovered.

He atoned for a whiff on Jeanty's 64-yard touchdown run by stopping Jeanty for a one-yard loss in the final minute to set up Carlson's 54-yard field goal attempt that Blackwell blocked to clinch the Bears' victory.

3. Maxx Crosby

Single-handedly increased the degree-of-difficulty for the Bears offense exponentially from the Dallas game by epitomizing the "game-wrecker" role he is know for. Crosby set a tone of his own by stopping D'Andre Swift for a four-yard loss on the Bears' first play after Byard's first interception, then batted a Caleb Williams pass on third down to force the Bears to settle for a field goal.

Crosby outdid himself moments later when, with the Bears threatening at the Raiders' 13-yard line, he deflected another Williams pass and intercepted it at the, with a 19-yard return to the 34 that set up a touchdown drive. He also stopped another drive when he tackled Williams for a five-yard loss and forced a fumble (that Williams recovered) to push the Bears out of field goal range — well, the Bears' field goal range, anyway. Tory Taylor punted on fourth-and-26 at the Raiders 40.

4. Caleb Williams

After winning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week Award with a standout performance with the wind at his back against the Cowboys last week, Williams was arguably more impressive Sunday when he was upstreaming throughout the game, but made the key plays on the final drive to win it. His numbers paled in comparison to last week — 22 of 37 (59.5%) for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 73.3 passer rating. Williams completed 4-of-5 passes for 42 yards and had two carries for 18 yards on the final drive, including a 17-yard pass to Rome Odunze to the Raiders' 13 on second-and-11 and a key six-yard rush to the Raiders 7-yard line that set up a makable third-and-four that Swift converted with a five-yard run. If there's a performance Williams can hang his hat on, this one said much more than last week's fun run against the Cowboys.

5. Ashton Jeanty

The rookie from Boise State was so good he even made Byard look bad on one of Byard's best days in the NFL. Jeanty, who had rushed for a modest 38, 43 and 68 yards in his first three NFL games, looked like he was building up to something and sure enough he predictably had his breakthrough against a Bears defense that still can't stop the run — 21 carries for 138 yards and a 64-yard touchdown. He added two receiving touchdowns (eight and nine yards) to give him three for the day — the first Raiders rookie to score three touchdowns in a game since the great Bo Jackson.

6. Rome Odunze

his wasn't Odunze's best game of his impressive start to his second NFL season, but his role as the security blanket for Williams continues to help the second-year quarterback navigate the sometimes treacherous road toward NFL success. Odunze had four receptions (on eight targets) for 69 yards and a 27-yard touchdown that gave the Bears. 16-14 lead with 11:38 left in the third quarter. It was his fifth touchdown catch of the season and the fourth consecutive game with a touchdown to start the season. He had a 10-yard reception on third-and-five that set up his touchdown catch. Odunze also had a 15-yard gain on third-and-two from midfield that set up a field goal.

7. Cairo Santos

The distance issue cropped up again when Ben Johnson disdained a 58-yard field goal and punted with the Bears facing a fourth-and-26 at the Raiders 40 in the second quarter (Tory Taylor's punt went into the end zone for a touchback and 20-yard net gain). But Santos' dependability on the kicks he did attempt was invaluable — especially considering the way this one ended. And he was rock solid when called upon — from 46, 43, 52 and 51 yards — to put the Bears in position to win the game.

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