Stock up, stock down: Defense, running backs step up in win

The Chicago Bears earned their first road win this season and it also exorcised some old demons.

The win seemed to mean a lot more to the Bears than even their earlier wins this year over the Bengals (when they had to stave off a late Cincinnati rally) or last week’s win over the Lions.

Partially, it seems, is because the team had some lingering memory of the Raiders’ win over them in London two years ago. Partially because it felt like Khalil Mack got a redemption revenge game against his former team. And finally, because each phase of the team did it’s part.

It was ugly at points, sure. But the Raiders are a good team and the Bears beat them up and came out on top, just as their own schedule is taking a turn for the tougher.

Let’s a take a look at the good and bad from Sunday.

Stock up

Khalil Herbert, RB - A week ago I was pumping up Damian Williams in this space and I remain a big fan of how he helped the offense after David Montgomery went down, but Herbert deserves a spot this week. In what’s really his first extensive action of the season he averaged 4.2 yards per carry and led the team with 75 yards rushing.

James Daniels, G - The entire offensive line played a lot better, so it’s hard to just pick one player but come on, the play of Daniels absolutely dropping a Raiders linebacker was just so great it has to be acknowledged.

Trevis Gipson, DE - One sack, one TFL and one QB hit for the second year man and, perhaps most impressively, his sack came on a play with Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn on the sideline, so there’s no “well it was easy for him because better players were on the field.”

Stock down

Eddie Jackson, S - Yes, he’s here again. It wasn’t the highly paid safety making big plays and interceptions, it was DeAndre Houston-Carson, who is mostly a special teamer. Jackson was credited with 4 tackles, just two of which were solo.

Allen Robinson, WR - None of the receivers really impressed me much and while Robinson did come up with some third down catches, I’m still left wanting more. Maybe I’m being unfair here, maybe it’s the routes he’s getting called, but he’s just not open and making the plays I feel like we’re used to seeing.

Mario Edwards, DE - Edwards started the season being suspended for a PED violation and hasn’t done a ton in his return, but on Sunday he had just one tackle and two unnecessary roughness penalties in just 21 defensive snaps.

Who did I miss? Who did I get wrong? Sound off below or tweet at me @SamHouseholder