Chicago Bears: 5 Players who must shine vs. Raiders in Week 5

The offensive line needs to get a push

So this first one is a group. The Chicago Bears offensive line needs to do a better job. The offense needs to do better in the running game, and that’s where the offensive line needs to help. They haven’t gotten the push the running backs need to find enough space to pick up chunks of yards. At 3.6 yards per rush, they rank just 25th.

David Montgomery has done a good job of getting the yards he has this season. Aside from a 25-yard run late in the Washington game, it’s been difficult for him to get yards. There are plays in which he made three moves and a spin move just to get three yards.

Long is still nursing a hip problem. He may not play again this week. Ted Larsen and Rashaad Coward did a good job stepping in for Long and should do so again if he misses another game. Charles Leno has suffered from committing too many penalties so he needs to get that fixed.

The line did a good job of protecting Chase Daniel, giving up just one sack. He had good time to find the receivers and he did, especially in the first half. Head coach Matt Nagy praised the line for their pass protection in Week 4.

"I was really, really happy with their pass pro. I thought they did a great job. That’s a pretty strong front that [the Vikings] have, that defensive line."

Even Nagy had to acknowledge that the line has room for improvement, however.

"I’ll never question our guys’ effort. We got a bunch of guys that play hard on the offensive line. I just feel again we’re feeling things out and every week it’s a little bit different of a scheme, but I like where we’re at. I know we can improve and I think we will."

Let’s hope the line does its job in run blocking to help get the running game going again. If they do, this will be a long game for the Raiders.