Even Raiders able to stop Bears' running game
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Bears still can't run the ball, even against the Raiders, who came in with the third-worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 152.5 yards per game.
The Bears needed 34 attempts to get 78 yards on the ground, staying in line with their 78.9-yard average.
"I'm sure they were pretty determined to pick up their run defense, (since) everybody's been getting good yards on them," said Cedric Benson, who got 29 carries but just 76 yards (2.6-yard average). "It's what most teams come in and do against them. We came in wanting to do the same thing. We didn't get the type of numbers we wanted, but we managed the game and stayed in it."
Keep-away from Hester: Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said early in the week his team would kick to Devin Hester, and they did, with great success.
The Raiders challenged Hester and the Bears' return team, and the Raiders won. The NFL's leading punt returner totaled 14 yards on 6 Shane Lechler punts, and he added just 34 yards on 2 kickoff returns. Hester heaped praise on the Raiders special teams after they heaped tacklers on him.
"It just seemed like they wanted it (more) than us," Hester said. "Every kickoff, every punt, their guys gave 110 percent. We've got to go in and watch film and see what our mistakes were and try to get better for next week."
Hester said he was surprised at first the Raiders went through with their challenge, and he said their early success gave them added confidence.
"The more their coverage teams showed that they could come down and contain our return game, I said (to myself), 'Well, they're going to continue to kick it to you.' They played better special teams game than we did."
The only time Hester was able to break free, on a 64-yard punt return late in the third quarter, it was called back because of a holding penalty on Brendon Ayanbadejo.
Bird's-eye view: Defensive coordinator Bob Babich moved from his usual spot on the sidelines to the press box, and the results were encouraging.
"I just wanted to get a different perspective on the game, and I thought it worked out really well and I enjoyed it, so from this point on, it looks like I'll be up there," Babich said. "We looked at everything in the bye week, every little thing we could. I thought for me, just seeing the game from a different angle, a different venue, I wanted to try it out and give it a look and see how it worked out."
The Bears allowed a season-low 193 total yards and 6 points.
Tidbits: The Raiders haven't won a game since defeating the Dolphins on Sept. 30, losing five straight, and they've also lost eight of their last nine homes games. .... The 2002 Jets were the last team to make the playoffs after a 3-5 start.
Sitting it out: Sunday's inactives were cornerback Nate Vasher (groin), safety Brandon McGowan (elbow), linebacker Rod Wilson (neck), wide receiver Mike Hass, defensive tackle Antonio Garay, guard Jose Beekman and fullback Lousaka Poulite.