Raiders to Face Bears Top Defender T.J. Edwards

The Las Vegas Raiders will go on the road to take on the Chicago Bears and their top linebacker -- T.J. Edwards.

The Las Vegas Raiders are set to travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon.

The Raiders and Bears are teams trending in different directions. The Raiders have won their last two games and are looking to make it a third, and the Bears are 1-5 this season and will likely be without starting quarterback Justin Fields, who suffered a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand last Sunday.

The Bears have struggled in several areas this season, especially defensively. But one player who has been very good on that side of the ball has been linebacker T.J. Edwards, who was one of the Bears’ big free agent acquisitions.

Edwards signed a three-year, $19.5-million contract with the Bears in March. He was one of the top free agent linebackers available on the market. Edwards went undrafted in 2019 out of Wisconsin, but caught on with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In four years with Philadelphia, Edwards posted 389 total tackles, 20 tackles for losses, 13 passes defended, two interceptions and five sacks. He posted 159 tackles and 10 tackles for losses last season.

Edwards and fellow free agent acquisition Tremaine Edmunds have formed an elite linebacker duo. Edwards has posted 70 tackles, second in the NFL, and two tackles for losses this season.

Edwards currently has an 81.5 overall Pro Football Focus grade, highest on the Bears’ defense. He has recorded a sack in each of the last two games.

At 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, Edwards can play both linebacker positions and has the elite ability to stop the run and pressure the quarterback. He holds up well enough in coverage as well, making him one of the top linebackers in the NFL.

While the Bears’ defense has not played well, Edwards has had an excellent season. He and the Bears are hoping his stellar play can trickle down into other areas on that side of the ball.

When Coach Josh McDaniels of the Raiders is watching film on the Bears, he will have his eyes on No. 53. If he can create a plan to limit Edwards’ effectiveness, the Raiders’ offense will have an easier time with the Bears’ defense, because he can have a significant impact on the game.

The Silver and Black will head on the road to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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