Bears vs. Raiders: Hue Jackson and Carson Palmer Face Must-Win Game

The Oakland Raiders host the Chicago Bears on Sunday Nov. 27 in a must-win game for the team to start its peak toward the AFC playoffs, and time for Carson Palmer to put his stamp on the Raiders’ offensive system.

The legendary Al Davis has been known for the Raiders statement of “Just Win, Baby,” but Hue Jackson needs to adjust that statement to “Must Win, Baby” if the team is going to position itself for a return to the postseason tournament, better known as the NFL Playoffs.

Jackson is in a position to separate the Raiders (6-4) from the rest of the AFC West division with a win against the Bears, but he must get the team's focus on game preparation, eliminating penalties and each man completing his assignment. 

His decision to trade for quarterback Palmer along with the price they paid with future draft picks has to start paying dividends in this game with the Bears, because Jackson acknowledged the trade was a major direction change for the future of the Raiders organization.

Jackson acknowledges the magnitude of the decision to bring in Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals in a recent press conference article by Bay Area News Group sportswriter Monte Poole.

“It took me some time to consider Carson,” Jackson said Wednesday, “Because I knew if I opened that vault, what I could be getting myself into—from the media scrutiny, to how Jason Campbell would feel, to how the fans would feel and how the team. I thought through it all.”

Palmer has to elevate the Raiders offense and be the leader in huddle that they brought him in to be this season, after starting quarterback Campbell was injured earlier in the season.

He has the knowledge and experience to lead the Raiders having thrown for 911 yards, six TDs and completing 58 percent of his passes, but he’s also thrown seven interceptions to go along with a quarterback passer rating 80.0, which is below the expectations the Raiders were seeking to see from the veteran quarterback.

The Bears (7-3) enter the game without their starting quarterback Jay Cutler this Sunday, who broke his thumb in their 31-20 victory on Nov. 20 over the San Diego Chargers.

Caleb Hanie will step into the starting quarterback role and replace Cutler for the Bears. The team will depend heavily on running back Matt Forte, who has been very explosive weapon for the team this season, with his league-leading 1,391 yards from scrimmage.

Special teams will also be a considerable factor in this game, as the Raiders face all-time NFL record-holder Devin Hester, who has returned 19 punts/kickoffs for touchdowns in his career.

“Just Win, Baby” was the motto of  Raiders owner Al Davis, but “Must Win, Baby” has to be direction of current head coach Hue Jackson, as he prepares his team to play a pivotal game against the Bears this Sunday.