The Chicago Bears will look to end a 56-week drought without a home victory Sunday when they face the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field. The Bears are again underdogs, however, and will have to put forth a crisp and complete effort to get back on the winning track.
As kickoff nears, here are a dozen attention-grabbing facts and figures.
159
Passing touchdowns for quarterback Tyson Bagent during his career at Shepherd University, an NCAA record among all divisions. Bagent made 53 starts for the Rams between 2018 and 2022 and completed 1,400 passes for 17,034 yards, which is a Division II record. He threw for a career-high 518 yards in his college debut — a loss to Notre Dame College in 2018. Bagent threw for a career-high seven touchdowns in a win against West Virginia Wesleyan later that season.
6
Bagent passes targeted for DJ Moore during the second half of his NFL debut Sunday. Bagent threw 14 passes overall and connected four times with Moore for 44 yards. His final pass — an interception on the Bears’ final drive — also was intended for Moore but significantly underthrown. In the first five games, Moore was averaging seven targets from Justin Fields.
7
Starts missed because of illness or injury by Fields over the last three seasons. That number is expected to tick up to eight Sunday with Fields doubtful to play against the Raiders due to a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. As a rookie in 2021, Fields missed two games because of an injury to his ribs, two more with an ankle issue and another when he came down with COVID-19. Last season he missed the Week 12 game against the New York Jets with a separated shoulder as well as the season finale due to a hip injury.
4
Three-and-out possessions the Bears defense forced in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears allowed only 58 total yards and two first downs after halftime and didn’t allow the Vikings to convert any of their six third-down attempts in the second half. Coming into the game, the Bears had forced nine three-and-outs over 53 possessions.
8
The Bears’ league ranking in rushing yards allowed, with opponents averaging 89.5 yards per game through six weeks. The Bears limited the Vikings to 46 rushing yards on 22 attempts after limiting the Washington Commanders to 29 yards on 10 rushes in Week 5. A year ago, the Bears defense ranked 31st against the run, allowing 157.3 yards per game. No running back has topped 75 rushing yards against the Bears this season.
2.9
Yards per rush for Raiders running back Josh Jacobs through six games, a 41% dip from a season ago. In 2022, Jacobs led the league in rushing yards (1,653) and was a first-team All-Pro. He also had 12 touchdowns. So far this season, Jacobs ranks 20th in the NFL in rushing yards (312) and has reached the end zone just twice.
1,024
Career receiving yards against the Bears for Raiders standout Davante Adams. Adams played against the Bears 16 times during his eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers and amassed 81 catches while scoring 10 touchdowns. His biggest game came in 2016, when he contributed to a 26-10 Packers victory at Lambeau Field with 13 catches for 132 yards with two touchdowns.
335
Receiving yards this season by Jakobi Meyers, who signed with the Raiders in March on a three-year, $33 million deal with $21 million guaranteed. Meyers entered free agency widely considered the top receiver on the market in a class that included Robert Woods, Adam Thielen, D.J. Chark and Allen Lazard.
13
Consecutive field-goal attempts Bears kicker Cairo Santos has made, dating to December. Santos is 10-for-10 this season and has made all 12 of his point-after-touchdown kicks. His last missed field goal was a 40-yarder that the Packers blocked in Week 13 last season. In 57 career games with the Bears, Santos has made 90.7% of his field-goal attempts, a franchise record.
13-3
Record, in Bears games during the Matt Eberflus era, of the team that wins the turnover battle. This season the team with the turnover advantage is 5-0. The Bears and Kansas City Chiefs each had two takeaways in Week 3 in a 41-10 Chiefs victory. The three occasions last season in which the Bears won the turnover battle but still lost the game came against the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.
1-5
The Bears’ record through six weeks, the team’s worst start since 2016 and the 11th time they have started 1-5 or worse during the Super Bowl era. The 1969 Bears, under coach Jim Dooley, and the 1997 team with Dave Wannstedt at the helm each lost their first seven games. The Bears have yet to win consecutive games under Matt Eberflus, making them one of only two teams in the league not to have back-to-back victories over the last two seasons. The Arizona Cardinals are the other.
9
Bears quarterbacks who have started against the Raiders in the teams’ last 10 meetings, a list that includes Fields (2021), Chase Daniel (2019), Jay Cutler (2015), Caleb Hanie (2011), Brian Griese (2007), Kordell Stewart (2003), Shane Matthews (1999), Dave Krieg (1996) and Jim Harbaugh (1993 and 1990).
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