The Chicago Bears got over the hump with a Week 3 win. Their next opportunity comes on the road.

The Bears take on the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:25 p.m. Sunday (CBS-2) in only their second visit to Allegiant Stadium, where they won 20-9 on Oct. 10, 2021.

The Bears (1-2) are coming off a 31-14 upset of the Dallas Cowboys, while the Raiders (1-2) have lost back-to-back games, the more recent a 41-24 demolition by the Washington Commanders.

Here’s what to watch in the Week 4 matchup — plus the Tribune’s predictions.

Player in the spotlight

Bears wide receiver and return specialist Luther Burden III

The rookie out of Missouri is third in kick-return average at 29.5 yards, his longest a 44-yard return against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.

Conversely, the Raiders haven’t been good in punt coverage, ranking 29th, and they’re even worse in kickoff coverage at 32nd.

So Burden should be in for a big day, right? Not so fast, says Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower.

“I’ve been in the division with (Raiders coach) Pete Carroll before,” he said, referring to stints as a special teams assistant and special teams coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers. “They’re always good on teams. We’re not going to fall for the banana in the tailpipe on any of that kind of stuff, where you say they’re not playing well.”

Burden’s not falling for the banana in the tailpipe either.

“They’re hungry just like us,” he said. “They got beat pretty bad last week, so they’re going to come in here with a point to prove. We have to come in with our best game and leave it out on the field.”

Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III catches a touchdown pass on a trick play in the first quarter against the Cowboys on Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Burden also has made his mark in the offensive phase. He had the highlight of the Cowboys game, nabbing a 65-yard touchdown off a flea-flicker.

“I’ve watched it a couple times,” he said. “It’s my first tuddy. I’ve got to look at that. It was fun.”

Burden has been targeted only six times in three games, but he leads the Bears in yards-after-catch over expected (plus-12). Despite flashing against the Cowboys with a game-high 101 yards on three receptions, Burden doesn’t believe he’ll draw more attention from defenses.

“I don’t look at it like that,” he said. “I just keep my head down and get back to work.”

Burden said he’s trying to make the most of extra meeting time and reps with Williams and be as coachable as possible.

“(Ben Johnson is) giving everybody a chance to go out and provide for the team,” Burden said. “He definitely tries to spread the ball around and get it in a lot of guys’ hands in different ways. He’s great.”

Keep an eye on …

The Bears secondary versus Geno Smith

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith looks for a receiver against the Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (Nick Wass/AP)

Smith, 34, has faced the Bears only twice in his career. The Raiders quarterback is 1-1 with a touchdown, two interceptions and a 78.9 rating. He was sacked six times in the two games.

The TD and two picks came in one matchup — with the New York Jets on Sept. 22, 2014 at MetLife Stadium. The Bears won 27-19.

Smith’s reputation as a bit of a gambler hasn’t diminished. His 3.8% interception rate — four interceptions in 106 attempts — ranked third-worst in the NFL after three weeks.

“That’s fair,” defensive back Josh Blackwell said when asked if Smith’s a gambler, adding it has been a topic of discussion in the position group. “He’ll test us a lot. … I think he’s really confident in his arm ability, and he’ll make some throws that we think that we might touch.”

Smith threw three interceptions and no touchdowns in a Week 2 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers in the Raiders’ 2025 home debut.

Pressing question

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) sacks Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Can the Bears pass rush get to Smith? 

For all the Raiders offensive line’s shortcomings in the run game, they’re a monster in protection.

Smith has the longest time to throw (3.2 seconds) among qualifiers this season, according to Next Gen Stats. Meanwhile, the Bears’ average time to pressure is 3.06 seconds, third-worst.

Not good.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who coached the Oakland Raiders from 2012-14, said Smith has speedy receivers and an “exceptional tight end” in Brock Bowers at his disposal.

“The quarterback has played well the last few years and he’s playing well again,” Allen said. “They’re leading the league in terms of explosive passes, so they’re able to get the ball down the field and create some explosive passes in the passing game.

“And then, I don’t know that they’ve gotten their run game unleashed like they want to, and yet, when you watch the tape, they’re one play away every time from being able to break a big one. So they present a lot of challenges offensively.”

A new nickname?

Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze greets broadcaster Tom Brady before a game against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

It’s typical to see Rome Odunze running around during pregame warmups, his giant bushy mane bobbing with each step.

“When I go to sleep, it’s like an extra pillow,” he said of his Afro.

A nickname emerged: Frome Odunze.

“DJ (Moore) said that to me, actually, and I’ve seen it on social media,” Odunze told the Tribune. “That was actually cool. Growing up with a one-syllable name, I never really got nicknames, so ‘Frome’ is pretty cool.”

He also has seen “Frodunze” making the rounds as well as other variations: “I’ve got to see which one sticks. … It’s all about the fandom.”

Odunze usually wears his hair braided.

“It’s an off-an-on thing, for sure,” he said. “People love the hair, you know what I mean? … I’ve got to get it down, but it’ll come out here and there.”

Predictions

Brad Biggs (1-2)

Both teams are at a unique place in their rebuilding efforts. Years of poor drafting and misses in free agency — the recent Christian Wilkins debacle is a great example — have put 74-year-old Pete Carroll, the first-year coach, at ground zero in an effort to return the Raiders to prominence. The defense, with the exception of edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, is largely a collection of castoffs. The back seven is particularly susceptible, and there should be plays all over the field for Caleb Williams to make. The Raiders have critical issues on their offensive line, particularly in the middle, and haven’t been able to run the ball at all. They were atrocious on special teams last week at Washington too. The Bears, even with their flaws, should handle business.

Bears 28, Raiders 20

Sean Hammond (2-1)

Much like the Dallas Cowboys defense last week, the Raiders look vulnerable through the air — even with Maxx Crosby rushing from the edge. The Bears might struggle to run the ball against a defense that’s top 10 in expected points added per rush, but the Raiders are among the worst in EPA per pass. Their offensive line is vulnerable, and this could be a get-right game for the Bears defensive line. Combine all that with what should be a homelike atmosphere in Vegas, where the Bears haven’t played since 2021, and I think the Bears will be feeling good about themselves heading into the bye.

Bears 27, Raiders 20

Phil Thompson (1-2)

On paper, most things about this matchup tell you the Bears should have the advantage. But when does that ever work out for Chicago? The Bears offensive line, whose cohesion is a work in progress, may have to throw a new body in the mix if Theo Benedet has to fill in for right tackle Darnell Wright (elbow). Maxx Crosby is going to find a way to make an impact, and either Ashton Jeanty or Brock Bowers is overdue for a breakout game. This feels like a game the Bears will survive more than outright win.

Bears 27, Raiders 24 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/26/chicago-bears-las-vegas-raiders-predictions/