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Bears Host Raiders Sunday; Bears Quarterbacks

The Oakland Raiders can match their win total from last season Sunday against a Chicago Bears team that's already begun reshaping the roster while trying to avoid its first 0-4 start in 15 seasons.

Oakland (2-1) hasn't had a winning season or been to the playoffs since 2002, but that didn't stop Del Rio from expecting things to change when he was hired in January.

One week after Derek Carr threw a go-ahead touchdown pass with 26 seconds left in a 37-33 win over Baltimore, Woodson's interception with 38 seconds remaining helped snap an 11-game road skid with last Sunday's 27-20 victory at Cleveland.

Oakland, which didn't post its third and final victory last season until Dec. 21, hasn't won three in a row overall or consecutive road contests since 2011. It last took three of its first four while going 4-0 in 2002.

Del Rio hopes the talented, young trio of Carr, Latavius Murray and rookie Amari Cooper continues to pace an offense that's made strides since being held to 246 yards in the opening 33-13 loss to Cincinnati.

Carr has thrown for 665 yards with five TDs and one interception in last two weeks while Cooper has 15 receptions for 243 yards and a score in those games. Murray gained 109 yards on 26 carries in the first two contests then ran for 139 on the same amount of attempts last Sunday.

Though the Bears are in danger of going 0-4 for the first time since 2000, they also seem to have an eye on the future.

This week, Chicago traded underachieving pass rusher Jared Allen to Carolina for a 2016 sixth-round pick, linebacker Jonathan Bostic to New England for an undisclosed pick and waived safety Brock Vereen. The Bears also signed safety Chris Prosinski and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds to perhaps bolster a special teams unit that's allowed a kickoff to be returned for a TD in each of the last two weeks.

In the final year of his contract, Matt Forte remains in Chicago for the time being. He'll look to rebound after following his 141-yard season-opening rushing effort against Green Bay by gaining 135 on 35 carries in the last two games.

Clausen, meanwhile, is 23 of 40 for 184 yards with an interception and has been sacked four times since replacing the injured Cutler in Week 2.

Regardless who is under center, the Bears might have a good chance to rebound against a Raiders defense that's last in the NFL allowing 414.7 yards per contest.

Chicago yields a league-high 35 points per contest, but could get a boost if nose tackle Jeremiah Ratliff is available. The veteran's three-week suspension for a league substance abuse violation has ended but it's uncertain if the ankle injury he suffered during the preseason will prolong his return.

Oakland won the most recent meeting, 25-20 at home Nov. 27, 2011.

 

>> Bears Quarterbacks

 

The Chicago Bears hope to get quarterback Jay Cutler back for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders and are preparing to go with Jimmy Clausen again if he is not ready.

Cutler practiced Thursday on a limited basis for the second consecutive day after sitting out last week's 26-0 loss at Seattle because of a pulled hamstring.

He responded "we'll see" when asked if he will play against the Raiders.

Cutler was injured trying to tackle Arizona's Tony Jefferson on a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first half of a 48-23 loss at Soldier Field on Sept. 20.

Clausen struggled in last week's 26-0 loss at Seattle - the first shutout against Chicago since 2002.

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