With their second straight win, the Bears improved to 2-2 heading into their bye week.
“I’m proud of our guys,” said coach Ben Johnson. “They came through for us. We’re building something special here. I think they’re feeling it; just the belief they have in each other, the belief they have in this coaching staff. I thought it really showed. This is a huge win for our team. Finding a way in the fourth quarter to come out on top, I just thought was outstanding for us. Proud of our guys, proud of the locker room.”
Trailing 24-19 with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter, the Bears took over at their own 31. Williams proceeded to complete 4 of 5 passes for 42 yards and rush for 19 yards on two carries to set up Swift’s go-ahead touchdown.
“I remember talking to Caleb before he took the field and said, ‘This is what you’re built for,'” Johnson said. “These are the moments that he thrives in the most. That’s really been the story of his life, and I know he came through for us in a big way.”
Williams revealed that Johnson’s message reflected “a belief and confidence that he has in me and from there I went to the huddle, and I looked everybody in the eyes and [said], ‘This is the moment. This is where we go win the game.'”
After Swift’s TD, the Raiders’ Dylan Laube returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to his own 42. Las Vegas eventually reached the Bears’ 35 before safety Kevin Byard III dropped rookie running back Ashton Jeanty for a 1-yard loss on third-and-2, leading to Carlson’s field-goal attempt on the next play.
Blackwell, a value special teams contributor and reserve cornerback, burst off the edge and deflected the kick, enabling the Bears to escape with the thrilling victory.
“The last two I got so close, and I was like, ‘I’m going to jump [the snap] perfect this time,'” Blackwell said. “I got a good jump.”
“He came through for us when we needed it,” Johnson said. “I’m listening on the headset and coach [Richard] Hightower … is narrating it in real time and he’s like, ‘Yeah, Blackwell’s going to get this one for us. He’s going to come through.’ And sure enough, it came to light just like he thought.”
The Bears won despite scoring just one touchdown on four red-zone possessions and getting outrushed 240-69, with Jeanty running for 138 yards on 21 carries, highlighted by a 64-yard touchdown that gave the Raiders a 14-6 lead late in the first half.
Williams completed 22 of 37 passes for 212 yards with one TD, one interception and a 73.3 passer rating. Sacked only once, he did a masterful job of eluding pressure, especially from All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby, who had one interception, one forced fumble and three pass breakups. After the game, Williams called Crosby “probably the best player that I’ve played against so far in my career.”