Raiders face make-or-break ground game test vs. Bears

There have been various reasons given for the struggles of the Raiders' running game. However, today there can be no excuses for a poor performance. If they fail to deliver, changes may be necessary.

Jackson Powers-Johnson recently returned from a concussion, missing two games. His replacement, Alex Cappa, did not perform well. With JPJ back, improvement is expected.

The Raiders' offensive line has had time to play together, except for the right guard position. While it may be early to call them a strong unit, some progress should be visible by now.

Chicago has one of the worst run defenses, allowing 5.5 yards per carry. The Raiders, with the third worst run offense at 3.1 yards per carry, should aim to perform better against such a weak defense.

Chicago will be missing key defensive players in the upcoming game, further weakening their run defense. This presents an opportunity for the Raiders to exploit the situation.

The Raiders have a promising running back in Jeanty, who has shown potential when given the chance. If the offensive line can create openings for him, he has proven he can capitalize on them.

This game provides an ideal scenario for the Raiders' running game to shine. Failure to do so will raise more doubts and questions.

Questions have been raised about the coaching decisions regarding Powers-Johnson and Cappa. If the team fails to perform well today, these questions will intensify, possibly extending to the coaching staff.

A solid performance in this game could silence the critics, at least temporarily.