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With a 30-16 win over the Bears, the Ravens avoided the worst start in franchise history and a loss that would have effectively ended their season. Here are five things we learned: Hold off on writing the season’s obituary John Harbaugh started to smile as he described what was a “joyous” postgame locker room scene. The Ravens are finally back in the win column, a feeling they hadn’t celebrated in 42 days. Their coach, who two weeks ago stood at that same dais groaning about how tired he was of having the same conversation about another underwhelming performance, could finally show some teeth. Then he stopped himself. “We won one game,” Harbaugh said, allowing the emotion of a win to show for merely a moment before pounding his fist into the table to recenter on the bigger picture. That’s how many of his players felt. A convincing win over the Bears raised their playoff odds by a few percentage points. It stopped the bleeding of a four-game losing streak. And it means this breezy late-October afternoon in Baltimore, with the leaves showing newly vibrant hues and daylight savings time still a week out, is, in fact, too early to write the season’s obituary. Baltimore’s temperament showed a team keenly aware of where it stands. Running back Derrick Henry walked off the field and hugged his coach with a straight face. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton scoffed at the thought of this being a “sigh of relief.” Rather, “we didn’t just win the Super Bowl,” he said. “We won a regular-season game against a good team.” The Ravens have desperately needed a momentum swinger. Amidst the losing streaks, smart coaching decisions haven’t manifested into game-altering drives, and eye-popping plays haven’t snowballed. This time, with a narrow lead heading into the final frame, stadium speakers filled the bowl with the soothing sound of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.” Minutes later, Baltimore finally put the pieces together. The Ravens were in plus-territory with a fourth-and-5. Tyler Loop told special teams coach Randy Brown that he felt ready to try what would have been a 57-yard kick. Harbaugh entertained the idea of going for it. He landed on a fake play, with an outside chance of drawing the defense offsides, then punting — an overt show of confidence in the defense, which Hamilton said they might not have deserved a few weeks ago. Jordan Stout’s leg pinned Chicago at its own 4. Two plays later, cornerback Nate Wiggins undercut a throw to Rome Odunze for his second interception this season. Two plays after that, Tyler Huntley lofted an easy touchdown pass to tight end Charlie Kolar, stacking their lead from a field goal to two possessions. Kolar said a few were joking before the game that this was either a “must-win” or a “can’t lose.” Semantics didn’t matter. “God, we needed a win,” he said. Tyler Huntley outplayed his predecessor, Cooper Rush, and it wasn’t particularly close Huntley found out Saturday that he would be the starting quarterback for what many considered to be a win-or-go-home-caliber Ravens game. Thinking back to the emotions of finding out, the career backup shrugged, “Shoot, let’s do it,” he said. Such calm confidence translated fairly quickly to the big stage. So much so that, with the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard not to think about what might have been while watching Huntley orchestrate a Ravens offense with a pulse. Baltimore’s third-stringer, replacing the injured Lamar Jackson and benched Cooper Rush, threw for 186 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 22 passing. He was nearly perfect at the break. The Ravens took a lead into halftime for the first time since Week 2 versus Cleveland and walked off with their first win in the same time frame. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens look mediocre, but opponents are worse | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Tyler Huntley provides much-needed stability amid QB uncertainty Ravens’ defense finally finishes, slams the door vs. Bears | COMMENTARY Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains Lamar Jackson practice report, availability The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 30-16 win over Bears Harbaugh called it “one of those all-time great performances.” The kind that raises an eyebrow about the decision to stick with Rush for eight grueling quarters. Baltimore’s defense didn’t match Houston’s pace, so it probably wouldn’t have mattered who started under center. But a similar performance could have influenced the Rams’ loss. Either way, Harbaugh said starting Huntley this week, after finalizing Jackson’s status, “wasn’t a hard decision.” That was the contingency plan heading into bye week preparation. Huntley proved why — even if it came against a Bears defense missing its top three cornerbacks. They still fielded a proven safety duo responsible for half of their league-leading 11 interceptions. Nonetheless, Huntley overcame an ugly three-play first quarter to close out a must-win. He spread the ball around to seven pass catchers, picked up 53 yards on the eight rushing attempts and did the thing Rush couldn’t, which is not turn the ball over. The details of Huntley’s return to Baltimore have been largely swept over, for no reason other than the long shot he’d ever actually start a game from the practice squad. In short, Huntley was at home working out at the start of training camp when he texted his former coach, “I know you’re in camp, give me a call when you get a chance.” Harbaugh rang him right away, much quicker than the quarterback expected, he said with a laugh. The two daydreamed about a potential reunion. Huntley joined Baltimore’s practice squad weeks later. “We talked about if it does come to fruition, [I said], ‘You could win a football game for us,’” Harbaugh said. “And here we are. It’s one of those things that you just really could never predict, but it’s the way things work sometimes.” From ‘bend-then-break’ defense to ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ For much of the game’s opening drive, and in short spurts throughout the win, Baltimore’s defense looked no different than it had for the better part of this season. The Ravens were a rudderless ship in tempestuous waters, incapable of slowing down even the most middling of offenses, on the ground or through the air. Caleb Williams, a former first overall pick who isn’t the reason for Chicago’s four-game win streak, looked like a seasoned starter the way he picked apart this lost group. Fifteen-yard pass here, 10-yard rush there. Then Baltimore’s defense came alive, walling up in the red zone on back-to-back first quarter drives. Cornerback Nate Wiggins, right, defends Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, who fails to catch a pass during the fourth quarter of the Ravens' 30-16 win. Wiggins and the defense have held consecutive opponents under 20 points. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Asked about those two, which limited Chicago to six first-quarter points rather than 14, Harbaugh said simply, “That was massive,” and “that gave us life.” Chicago didn’t score another point until the fourth quarter. “Throughout the season,” Hamilton said, “we’ve been a bend-and-then-break team. We gave up long drives and then touchdowns. And I feel like just growing up throughout the season as a defense, we have become a bend-but-don’t-break team.” Roquan Smith led the Ravens in tackles (12) in his first game back from a Week 4 injury. Wiggins intercepted his second pass this year, Baltimore’s only picks in seven games. Mike Green logged his first career sack. A pair of near-sacks from Hamilton and Kyle Van Noy that forced Williams to chuck the ball aside, both times flagged for intentional grounding, all but dissolved a pair of second-quarter drives. Complementary football was a sticking point in Ravens meeting rooms this week. On Sunday, they did just that. Creating some semblance of a pass rush, while down multiple starters because of injury, was the “main focus” of Baltimore’s bye week, defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. They hit on that, too. Ravens coaches showed as much confidence in their defense as they have all season with the choice to take a delay of game penalty and punt, which yielded the Wiggins interception. “It feels good, just running on the field, knowing our head coach trusts us,” Wiggins said. “It just makes us want to go out, play harder, and get a stop.” For weeks, this defense has bemoaned their own inability to translate high-level practices to game day. Leaders diagnosed the issue as mountainous pressure from a wretched start, siphoning all the fun. On Sunday, Green said, “We just went out there, had fun, and that led to the victory.” Patrick Ricard had a ‘gut-wrenching’ rehab. He was a clear offensive boost. Patrick Ricard is like a snowplow. When the Ravens run the ball, the 300-pound All-Pro fullback and one of the last of his kind in the NFL, clears the roadway of other-jersey-colored obstructions. Without him, Baltimore’s run game more often looked like a car skidding through nasty conditions and ramming into barriers. At one point in the first half, he put a Bears linebacker on his butt. Ricard, who made his season debut after nursing a calf injury that put him out in mid-August, said that play “was worth everything.” Ricard acknowledged it has been “challenging” getting back on the field. He was gearing up to play Week 1 in Buffalo, then reinjured it. His rehab took longer than expected. Ricard did his best to stay patient. “If I tried to push through it when it was healing,” he said, speaking with reporters for the first time this season, “I maybe would’ve re-injured it again, and then maybe my whole season was over.” Without Ricard to help clear a path amidst Baltimore’s middling offensive line, Henry was held to 50 yards rushing or fewer in four games. Since Week 1, the Ravens collectively haven’t reached the 200-yard mark, a benchmark they cleared seven times last year. Ricard called it “gut-wrenching” to watch his teammates fall short. Sunday’s 177 yards on the ground marked their third-best showing of the year. Henry had 71 yards on 21 carries with two scores. And Keaton Mitchell broke off 43 yards with only four carries. The touchdown that extended Baltimore’s lead to double digits in a crucial spot was a perfect encapsulation of how Ricard can affect the game. Huntley lined up under center. Ricard was a step back and to his right. Henry was another step behind. When Huntley turned back to show handoff to Henry and Ricard stormed upfield looking for someone to block, Chicago’s entire defense bit. Four defensive backs stepped in that direction, Huntley turned back and tossed it to a wide-open Kolar the other direction. The Ravens ran for over 150 yards with fullback Patrick Ricard, shown warming up, back in the lineup after missing the first six games of the season with an injured calf. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) “Words can’t describe how good it felt to be back [with] the boys today,” Ricard posted on X. “[Shoutout Charlie Kolar] on the tuddy!!” Emotions piled up in the win. Ricard, again and again, reminded himself to be confident in the stability of his calf and to “just let it rip.” Center Tyler Linderbaum called Ricard’s physical presence a “game changer.” For a team that so often relies on the run game and expects to return their superstar dual-threat quarterback from injury in a few days, Ricard’s return is a major boost. Jackson’s injury designation snafu didn’t come back to bite Baltimore. They should have him back this week. Leading into Sunday’s game versus Chicago, folks inside and out of the Ravens practice facility in Owings Mills invoked the playoffs to convey the urgency of a win, avoiding a 1-6 pit so far beneath the Earth’s surface that no team in the last half-century has clawed out to reach the postseason. Much of the discourse spotlighted Baltimore’s two-time Most Valuable Player. Would Jackson play? Would the hamstring injury that limited him in practice be too much to overcome by the weekend? Harbaugh explained the team’s decision to retroactively change Jackson’s practice designation, which might have given more clarity on his availability a day prior, was “an honest mistake.” “I can tell you this; nobody is trying to hide anything,” said Harbaugh, who said it falls on the medical and public relations staffs. “There’s no advantage to be gained with that. He practiced, his status was what it was. … But, questionable or out? We weren’t going to say out because he wasn’t out until Saturday when that conversation was had on the medical side.” Kolar said to combat the challenge of not knowing for sure who the quarterback might be, they try to be present. “Who is the quarterback taking the rep right now? And then work with that,” he said. “We believe in that whole room.” The discourse loses steam when a third-string quarterback pilots 30 points of offense in a double-digit win. Either way, Harbaugh said he’s “hopeful” they’ll return Jackson for Thursday night in Miami. Beating Chicago settled the tide. They still have a long way to go. Any true shot at a season-saving run requires a healthy Jackson. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, center, congratulates teammate Tyler Huntley, left, in the fourth quarter. The team is hopeful Jackson can return to play Thursday against the Dolphins. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens needed a win. Any win. That happens when a team is 1-5 and scrounging to get into the postseason, so the 30-16 victory against the Chicago Bears was a big deal. The Ravens are now 2-5, and that abyss the team has been staring into since the season started doesn’t appear to be as deep or as dark. And once the Ravens beat Miami on Thursday night as expected, they are back in contention for the AFC North because no team, not even the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, is going to run away with the title. It’s a dog fight until the end. Well, it’s more of a chicken fight. Get used to it, because what was on display Sunday is what you will see for at least the next month or so because the NFL’s product is awful. There are maybe five good teams in the league right now, and the rest are pretty poor. Kansas City is again the top team with the best quarterback, followed by Philadelphia, Buffalo, Denver and possibly Detroit. Go ahead, you can pick the order, because it has become the standard modus operandi for the Ravens until the final two weeks of the season when they travel to Green Bay and Pittsburgh. The Ravens weren’t great Sunday, but their upcoming opponents are worse. The Ravens still have to play Cincinnati twice. The Bengals can score points because they have quarterback Joe Flacco and receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but they don’t have a defense, which is why they lost, 39-38, to the previously winless New York Jets. The Jets? The stinking, rotten Jets. They play the Ravens here in Baltimore on Nov. 23. The Ravens also face Cleveland again later this season and the Minnesota Vikings, both teams without a top starting quarterback, and the “Clowns” were a 32-13 loser to the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Ravens still have to play Pittsburgh twice, including the final day of the regular season, but the Steelers have too many older guys on their roster. They’ll fold like they did last season, when they lost their last four regular-season games and were eliminated by the Ravens, 28-14, in the wild-card round. That’s why, for all those who kept asking about whether Ravens coach John Harbaugh should be fired during the bye week, the answer was a resounding no. Related Articles Ravens’ Tyler Huntley provides much-needed stability amid QB uncertainty Ravens’ defense finally finishes, slams the door vs. Bears | COMMENTARY Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains Lamar Jackson practice report, availability The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 30-16 win over Bears Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid During the first six weeks, five of the opponents were in the playoffs last season, and it’s going to get easier, much like Sunday’s win against Chicago. The Bears are an ugly team but had won four straight. Then they turned into the Bears again. They are the only team that can get more penalties and finish with more turnovers than the Ravens. Baltimore had six penalties for 45 yards, and Chicago had 11 for 79. Ravens backup quarterback Tyler Huntley didn’t throw an interception despite almost turning it over twice in scoring position, but Bears quarterback Caleb Williams threw one in the fourth quarter that led to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Huntley to tight end Charlie Kolar. Running back Derrick Henry scored on a 2-yard run with 2:09 remaining to seal the win. This game was far from picturesque. Actually, it was dreadful, but that’s the state of the NFL these days. In five of the previous six games, the Ravens couldn’t run the ball, stop the run or keep their quarterback protected. But on Sunday, they rushed for 177 yards on 35 carries and had 355 yards of total offense. The Bears had 372 yards of total offense, and the Ravens looked lost at times in the secondary again, especially without a consistent pass rush. But they can get by for now on this schedule, especially playing on a short week against the Dolphins. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will play in that game because it is in his home state. It’s like a guarantee, sort of like death, taxes and Jackson playing in front of friends and relatives. It was intriguing how the Ravens, including Harbaugh, tried to downplay Jackson’s hamstring injury throughout the week, but it’s all about trying to stay one step ahead of the competition. Harbaugh wanted the Bears to spend the entire week preparing for Jackson, even though he took repetitions Friday with the scout team, which should have changed his participation to limited. Of course, the Ravens came out with a statement Saturday explaining the situation, but it’s clear what they attempted. They’ll face a fine or possibly lose a draft pick, but the Ravens accomplished a major goal. They won. Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar, right, celebrates his touchdown catch against the Bears. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) As for Jackson, it wouldn’t be surprising if he simply told the Ravens that he wasn’t going to play Saturday morning and that ended any future conversations. Jackson, a two-time league Most Valuable Player, might be the biggest enigma in the NFL. Whatever he wants, he gets from Harbaugh and this organization. But he’ll play Thursday night against the Dolphins, who have no defense. In the end, the Ravens needed to win after getting thrashed by Houston, 44-10, and then pushed around by the Los Angeles Rams, 17-3, nearly two weeks ago. They were previously 4-12 in games without Jackson being the starting quarterback since 2018, but now they might get on a mini roll. They’ll get Jackson back, and now they have middle linebacker Roquan Smith, safety Kyle Hamilton and left tackle Ronnie Stanley healthy again instead of shuffling them in and out of the starting lineup. That’s why winning Sunday was so important. They beat the Bears and should win against Miami. They’ll be on a two-game winning streak and they know that there isn’t a clear-cut favorite to win the AFC North. That’s why the Ravens were so happy Sunday. Actually, downright giddy. They didn’t play well, but they played well enough to win and saved their season. In this league, that’s good enough for now — and in the immediate future. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

In late July or early August during training camp, when the days are still long and temperatures still exhausting, Tyler Huntley was at home in Florida, wondering if another chance would come, and he texted John Harbaugh. The well-traveled quarterback began the summer working out on his own and thought that a reunion in Baltimore, where Huntley got his start and established himself as a serviceable backup, was possible. “I know you’re in camp, give me a call when you get a chance,” Huntley said the message read. “He called right back. I didn’t expect him to call right back. And we just went on.” Huntley later signed with Cleveland but was released — the second time in 12 months he’d been cut by the AFC North bottom feeder — in late August. Four days later, Harbaugh brought him back to Baltimore. “Relationships last forever,” Huntley said Harbaugh told him. The quarterback has been intertwined with Lamar Jackson over the past five years, almost always on call to come off the bench when the two-time Most Valuable Player can’t play. Even stints with the Browns and Miami Dolphins didn’t sever that tie. Jackson was out again Sunday, the third consecutive game the starting quarterback missed with a hamstring injury that’s been the source of so much mystery and speculation. So to cap a week mired by misplaced updates, the Ravens again called on Huntley, who gave his team stability at quarterback they haven’t had since Jackson got hurt nearly a month ago to the day in a game they needed to keep dwindling playoff hopes alive. “If it does come to fruition, you could win a football game for us, right?” Harbaugh said he told Huntley then. “It’s one of those things you could never really predict, but it’s the way things work sometimes.” Huntley completed 17 of his 22 passes for 186 yards, a touchdown and no turnovers in the win. After going three-and-out on his opening possession, Huntley led two scoring drives in the second quarter to put the Ravens ahead, 10-6, entering halftime — their first lead at the break since Week 2. Another pair of field goal drives, the second highlighted by a 29-yard scramble by Huntley, put Baltimore ahead by two scores entering the fourth quarter. He threw his first touchdown pass of the day two plays after Nate Wiggins picked off Bears quarterback Caleb Williams deep in Ravens territory. And after a field goal by Chicago cut Baltimore’s lead to seven with five minutes to play, Huntley and the offense secured five first downs before Derrick Henry scored his second score of the game to hold on. “The way Tyler prepares, nobody’s surprised,” said DeAndre Hopkins, the recipient of a 14-yard completion on a third down during that final drive. “He’s played a lot of ball. He’s been here a while. Being in the room with someone like Lamar, you watch film with someone like Lamar, you learn certain tendencies. He can make plays with his legs. Not a lot of QBs in this league can go out and make those kinds of plays that Tyler and Lamar can make.” Huntley has bounced around the NFL since his last stint in Baltimore. After starting nine games for the Ravens from 2020 to 2023, he was signed and released two separate times by the Browns but never played a regular-season game for them. Huntley started five games for Miami last season filling in for an injured Tua Tagovailoa. Then he rekindled his on-again, off-again relationship with Baltimore and slowly climbed the depth chart. “It’s hard to move around the league and have to win some games,” said Zay Flowers, Huntley’s top target who finished with seven catches for 63 yards. “I’m super impressed. He knows I got his back. Whatever he’s with, I’m with — me, him, [Jackson], we all got a good relationship.” Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens look mediocre, but opponents are worse | COMMENTARY Ravens’ defense finally finishes, slams the door vs. Bears | COMMENTARY Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains Lamar Jackson practice report, availability The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 30-16 win over Bears Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid Huntley said that he found out he’d start against Chicago on Saturday, a day of confusion surrounding Jackson. He was initially listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice, then retroactively downgraded to limited Saturday afternoon after NFL Network reported that the quarterback worked exclusively with the Ravens’ scout team Friday. By league rules, a player of Jackson’s prominence working with the scout team and not the starting offense warrants a limited designation. “Nobody’s trying to hide anything,” said Harbaugh, who added that he didn’t know the rule and that the team’s medical staff and public relations department files injury designations, not coaches. In a statement to The Baltimore Sun, an NFL spokesperson said that the league will investigate the team’s handling of the situation. After the Ravens’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Harbaugh said, “our quarterback is going to be back” after the bye week. Asked to clarify his supposed certainty, the coach said, “I mean, for sure? I’m saying so, but I don’t know.” Like it has so often over Jackson’s career in Baltimore, that prognostication proved wrong. Harbaugh confirmed Friday that Huntley would start against the Bears if Jackson couldn’t go, and said Sunday that the decision was actually made before the bye week. Cooper Rush, who started the previous two games in Jackson’s absence and is making $3.1 million this year, threw for a combined 303 yards with four interceptions in those contests and was replaced by Huntley in the second half against the Rams. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, right, congratulates teammate Tyler Huntley during Sunday's win over the Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) “I felt like it was the best thing for our team and gave us the best chance to win,” Harbaugh said. “Just felt like the right thing to do. Nothing against Cooper. Great guy, played good football for us. But Tyler was the answer for today’s game.” “To be honest, we didn’t play well enough for Coop the last two weeks,” said Charlie Kolar, who caught Huntley’s lone touchdown pass. “I thought Snoop did a great job, I thought he took care of the football. He brings great energy.” Teammates say that Huntley’s personality is not far off from Jackson’s. That, along with his winding road to, from and back to Baltimore, garners respect in the locker room and aids in the transition whenever he’s called upon — better than Rush can replicate. The phone conversation that brought Huntley back was months ago now. Sunday, when Huntley backed the Ravens’ trust perhaps better than the backup ever has, was the day Harbaugh knew would eventually come. Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons. View the full article

Ryan Poles firmly clasped his hands when Roquan Smith’s name echoed through M&T Bank Stadium during pregame introductions. The Chicago Bears general manager sat still in the press box as Smith, the player he traded away nearly three years ago, jogged out of the tunnel as the Ravens’ final defensive starter. Chicago’s top football executive who moved on from Smith witnessed the opening act. What soon came after belonged to the five-time All-Pro linebacker he dealt to Baltimore. Smith’s fingerprints were all over the Ravens’ first win in more than a month. Smith, 28, returned from his two-game absence because of a hamstring injury and finished with a game-high 12 tackles in Baltimore’s 30-16 victory, serving as physical and emotional anchors to a defensive performance that finally looked like Ravens football again. In the team’s two wins this season, Smith has piled up 26 tackles. “It’s like new energy,” Smith said. “I feel like the team got a fresh start and we’re just going to show who we are.” The start wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing. Chicago’s second-year quarterback Caleb Williams diced through Baltimore’s defense on its first two possessions. But both drives stalled inside the red zone, each ending with a field goal. A few weeks ago, those drives probably would’ve resulted in touchdowns. But on Sunday, they were survival stands that helped the Ravens find their footing — and dare to say, reclaim their identity — against a surging Bears team that saw their four-game win streak come to an abrupt halt. In addition to Smith’s presence, fellow defensive leader and safety Kyle Hamilton added eight tackles, while rookie outside linebacker Mike Green registered his first career sack. The defense also forced Williams into committing a pair of intentional grounding penalties. “Let’s give credit to those guys over there,” Williams said. “They came out and played a hell of a game. It’s a hell of a team over there. I know their record doesn’t necessarily show it, but that’s a team that’s been in multiple championship games and playoff games. That game today was one of those games where they had to come out and try to win the game.” When the Bears mounted a late-game push, the Ravens responded emphatically. Cornerback Nate Wiggins jumped an in-breaking route by wide receiver Rome Odunze and picked off quarterback Williams in the fourth quarter, setting Baltimore up inside Chicago’s red zone. Just two plays later, Tyler Huntley hit tight end Charlie Kolar for a decisive 10-yard touchdown reception. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens look mediocre, but opponents are worse | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Tyler Huntley provides much-needed stability amid QB uncertainty Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains Lamar Jackson practice report, availability The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 30-16 win over Bears Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid The Bears had one final gasp after the defense gave up a long completion on the ensuing drive to wide receiver DJ Moore. Chicago ran four offensive plays inside Baltimore’s 3-yard line with under two minutes left that resulted in four big-time stops by Baltimore. As part of the sequence, Smith and fellow linebacker Teddye Buchanan crashed the interior to stonewall Williams’ quarterback sneak. Moments after the Ravens stuffed the Bears one last time, John Harbaugh sought out Smith for a long embrace, the coach-player duo knowing what this moment meant. Following a month-plus of spiraling through disappointment, Baltimore came out of the bye feeling rejuvenated. “We embraced each other, knowing the last month has been very tough,” Smith said. “I consider myself an eternal optimist, so it’s always like, we’ve got a shot to do whatever we want.” As Tyler Huntley sparked life into the offense, the Ravens’ defense slammed the door shut. Bears running back D’Andre Swift entered the Week 8 matchup with a whopping 232 rushing yards over his past two games (7 yards per carry average), but managed just 45 rushing yards across 11 carries (4.1 average) versus Baltimore. The Ravens also held the Bears to 6 of 13 on third down, 0-for-1 on fourth down, and 1-for-3 in the red zone. Wiggins’ interception marked the defense’s second straight game with a takeaway. The Ravens (2-5) improved to 15-3 after their bye week under Harbaugh, tied with Pittsburgh for the best overall record after the bye. Sunday represented a gritty and urgent performance from the Ravens, a team on the brink that needed to claw back into the win column. Over their past two games, the Ravens have held the Rams and Bears to their second-lowest and lowest point totals of the season, respectively. Baltimore faces a steep climb, but the team’s second victory felt like a reset. For the Ravens to make anything of this season, Smith and company will need to continue setting the tone. “I know what I bring to the table,” Smith said. “So it’s just more so about me echoing that each and every snap through my play.” Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan catches up to Bears running back Kyle Monangai, stopping him behind the line of scrimmage. The Ravens clamped down on the Bears in the red zone in Sunday's 30-16 win. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

After the Ravens’ handling of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s practice participation prompted an NFL investigation, coach John Harbaugh said that it was an “honest mistake.” Jackson didn’t play in Sunday’s 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears after initially being ruled questionable with a hamstring injury following Friday’s practice, in which he was listed as a full participant. But the Ravens clarified a day later that Jackson didn’t take starter reps in practice, so his participation was changed to limited and he was ruled out. Baltimore could be subject to discipline by the league for the error, which violates NFL rules. An NFL spokesperson told The Baltimore Sun that it “reviews any matter involving a change to a player’s status.” After Sunday’s win, Harbaugh said that he’s not involved in the injury designations, deferring to the team’s training staff and public relations staff. He said that he didn’t know the rules and that the Ravens “weren’t going to rule [Jackson] out until we had to.” “It’s an honest mistake,” Harbaugh said. “I can tell you this nobody’s trying to hide anything. There’s no advantage to be gained.” Huntley said that he learned Saturday night that he would be the starting quarterback Sunday. The 27-year-old, who began his career in Baltimore as an undrafted free agent, completed 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 53 yards on eight carries after supplanting backup Cooper Rush, who started the previous two games. The win halted a four-game losing streak and lifted the Ravens to 5-12 in games that Jackson has missed during his career. “I usually prepare every day like I’m the starter, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise,” said Huntley, who noted that he talks to Jackson “all the time.” Harbaugh said that the Ravens were planning during the bye week to start Huntley if Jackson was unavailable. As far as Jackson’s availability next week for the Ravens’ Thursday night matchup against the host Miami Dolphins, Harbaugh was not ready to make any declarations about the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. Jackson hasn’t played since suffering the injury in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28. “I’m hopeful. I’m just going to say that: I’m hopeful,” Harbaugh said. “As a coach, you ask, ‘How’s he doing?’ That’s about as much as you do. ‘What do you think?’ And then you get the guys ready that are going to play. And when the guys come back to practice, you put them in there. That’s how it works on the coaching side. The coaches aren’t involved with statuses or whether guys are playing or not.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. Related Articles The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Grades for 30-16 win over Bears Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-16 win over Bears Ravens vs. Bears, Oct. 26, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bears live updates: Postgame coverage, analysis from 30-16 win View the full article

Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 30-16 win over the Bears on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Quarterback Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley wasn’t great, but he was good enough to beat the lowly Bears. The Ravens took some shots downfield with Huntley, which they did not do in the past two games with Cooper Rush. Huntley completed 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown and finished with a passer rating of 116.9, but Chicago had to respect his running ability, especially on option plays and quarterback draws up the middle. Huntley did a decent job filling in for injured starter Lamar Jackson, and he at least kept the Bears from stacking the line of scrimmage with seven or eight players. But he nearly threw two interceptions in scoring position, which would have halted two drives. He had a long pass of 36 yards. Huntley should have been the team’s first option to back up Jackson instead of the $6 million dollar man, Mr. Rush. It’s not that hard. One can run and the other can’t. Neither is an exceptional thrower of the football. Grade: C+ Running backs Halfback Derrick Henry wasn’t sensational, but he was solid and made some nice cutback runs. The Ravens finally got backup Keaton Mitchell involved in some toss plays as he finished with 43 yards on four carries and was another reason why the Bears couldn’t stack the line of scrimmage. Henry finished with 71 yards on 21 attempts and had two 2-yard touchdown runs. The Ravens finished off their final touchdown drive of the game on a run by Henry to cap a nine-play, 66-yard scoring drive. It was a nice touch, but what took the Ravens so long to get Mitchell involved in the game plan? Just toss him the ball to the outside; it forces the defense to spread out. This was another easy decision as far as using key players. Grade: C+ Offensive line The Ravens rushed for 177 yards on 35 carries, and they controlled a Bears defensive front that came into the game allowing 137.7 yards rushing per game. Chicago didn’t disappoint, as the Bears had no definitive answers for Henry or Mitchell. The Ravens, though, still have problems pass blocking and need help in the middle, especially guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees. Both stand up or operate too high and allow smaller or shorter defensive linemen to get under their pads. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who missed time in recent weeks with an ankle injury, makes a big difference. Grade: C Receivers The Ravens finally started to use Zay Flowers more on jet screens, and it paid off. The Ravens also got a nice blend of running the ball and passing, which opened up their play-action passing game. Flowers led the receivers with seven catches for 63 yards, and tight end Mark Andrews had three catches for 34 yards. Rashod Bateman had two catches for 51 yards, including a long of 36. That catch seemed to get him going, and he was involved in the game plan. DeAndre Hopkins had only one catch for 14 yards but kept a touchdown drive alive in the fourth period with the reception. All he does is get open, and the Ravens need to get him more involved in the passing offense. The Bears played without two starting cornerbacks in Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson, and it showed. Grade: C Defensive line The Ravens held Chicago to 96 yards rushing on 23 carries, and they were aided by the injury to running back D’Andre Swift, who was slowed by a groin injury. Swift rushed only 11 times for 45 yards. The Ravens, though, played well up front with strong games from nose tackle John Jenkins (two tackles), C.J. Okoye (1) and Travis Jones (1). Most of the running lanes were shut down, especially inside the Ravens’ 20-yard line. Grade: C Related Articles Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains Lamar Jackson practice report, availability Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-16 win over Bears Ravens vs. Bears, Oct. 26, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bears live updates: Postgame coverage, analysis from 30-16 win Linebackers The Ravens started the game poorly, allowing too many rushing yards. The group rebounded well and continued to improve throughout the game, but the Ravens need to do a better job of keeping offensive linemen off their bodies and discarding blocks. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith looked lost early in the game, but finished as the team’s leading tackler with 12. Rookie Teddye Buchanan has improved in both run defense and pass coverage and finished with six tackles, four unassisted. The Ravens got very little pressure from outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo even though rookie outside linebacker Mike Green had the first sack of his career. Green, though, only had one tackle. Grade: C Secondary Despite very little pressure, this group held up well, much better than in recent weeks. The Bears, though, still moved the ball downfield consistently, and the middle of the field was wide-open again. But regardless of the starters on the back end, the Ravens need to get more pressure. They had only one sack and four hits on the quarterback. Second-year cornerback Nate Wiggins had an interception, which led to a Ravens touchdown in the fourth quarter, and they were good at reading the eyes of quarterback Caleb Williams, who was slow in delivering the ball. Safety Kyle Hamilton played well near the line of scrimmage and finished with nine tackles, while fellow safety Alohi Gilman had four. Tough guy award goes to Wiggins, who finished with seven tackles. Grade: C Special teams The Ravens roll the dice with special teams every week because you never know which of these units will play well or poorly. They were successful with kickoff returns, having one returned 34 yards by Rasheen Ali and another of 39 yards by Keaton Mitchell. Yet, they also allowed Devin Duvernay to return one for 49 yards and allowed an average of 26.2 yards on six kickoff returns. Rookie Tyler Loop converted field goal attempts of 42, 28 and 32 yards without a miss. Grade: C Coaching It’s hard to grade this game because the Bears are not a very good football team despite winning four games in a row. In some ways, it’s amazing the Ravens had to score 14 points in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. But at least offensive coordinator Todd Monken attempted to go downfield against a team without two starting cornerbacks. On defense, the Ravens managed some pressure on Williams, but the Bears’ left tackle, Theo Benedet, might be one of the worst in the game. At this time, Baltimore will take the win. Any win. Grade: C Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, right, and outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy pressure Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, left, in the fourth quarter. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green, left, celebrates with quarterback Tyler Huntley following a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 30-16 win over the Bears. The victory snapped the team's four-game losing streak. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

No Lamar Jackson, no problem. With the Ravens’ season effectively on the line Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, quarterback Tyler Huntley started in place of the injured two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and filled in admirably, throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown and running for another 53 yards. Just as importantly, he was mistake-free in his first start for Baltimore since a painful playoff defeat in January 2023. Huntley’s performance helped set up Tyler Loop field goals from 42, 28 and 32 yards and two short Derrick Henry touchdown runs, while a Nate Wiggins interception led to a 9-yard scoring strike to tight end Charlie Kolar to seal a much-needed 30-16 victory. The win ends a four-game skid for Baltimore (2-5) and provides the first step toward the ultimate goal of making the playoffs. It also ended a six-game winless slide for the Ravens in which Jackson, who missed his third straight game because of a hamstring injury suffered in last month’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, had not started. Baltimore is now 5-12 in games that he has not played since taking over in 2018. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s beleaguered defense, which came into the week last in the NFL in points allowed per game but felt like it started to find a little something in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6, continued its upward trajectory, even if only slightly. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr said the biggest focus of the bye week was figuring out how to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. On Sunday, he finally found some. First, it was safety Kyle Hamilton racing through unblocked to force an intentional grounding penalty on a third down midway through the second quarter. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey did the same one series later. The two plays led to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (25 of 38 passing for 285 yards) throwing to no one and drawing flags to help spark a 10-6 Baltimore lead at the half. It was the Ravens’ first halftime lead since Week 2 — their only victory of the season coming into the game. The Ravens’ defense also kept Chicago, which entered Sunday on a four-game winning streak, out of the end zone on two first-half drives that stalled at Baltimore’s 14- and 22-yard lines with the Bears having to settle for a pair of Cairo Santos field goals. Early in the fourth quarter, Chicago finally found the end zone, capping an 11-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard run by D’Andre Swift (11 carries, 45 yards) and cut the deficit to 16-13, but that was as close as it would get. Kolar’s score pushed the lead back to 10, and Henry (71 yards, 21 carries) scored his second touchdown of the game from 2 yards out with 2:09 remaining. The two touchdowns were the 111th and 112th of his career, pushing him past Walter Payton for fifth all-time among running backs. The victory was also a moment of redemption for Huntley. The last time he had started a game this important for Baltimore was in January 2023. In that wild-card contest against the Bengals, the Ravens were on Cincinnati’s 1-yard line in the fourth quarter and on the cusp of breaking a 17-17 tie when he attempted to dive over the defense into the end zone. Instead, Huntley had the ball stripped by linebacker Logan Wilson, and defensive end Sam Hubbard returned it 98 yards for the game-clinching score. This time, there was no such heartache. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ 30-16 win over Bears Ravens vs. Bears, Oct. 26, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bears live updates: Postgame coverage, analysis from 30-16 win Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ruled out vs. Bears; NFL looking into status change Ravens leader Roquan Smith must deliver in revenge game | COMMENTARY More significantly, the performance kept Baltimore’s postseason hopes alive and was a dose of positivity after what had been a tumultuous week. Less than 24 hours earlier, the NFL said it was investigating the team’s handling of Jackson’s practice participation earlier in the week. Baltimore could be subject to discipline because the team originally listed the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player as a full participant in Friday’s practice. A day later, his practice participation was changed to limited. But that will be a problem for another day. The Ravens will next head to South Florida for a Thursday night prime-time showdown against the Miami Dolphins. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 8 of the NFL season on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium: Brian Wacker, reporter It was painfully obvious the Ravens’ offense had become stagnant and immobile with Cooper Rush starting in place of the injured Lamar Jackson, and the switch to the more agile Tyler Huntley paid off tremendously. He played under control and mistake-free in helping spark an offense that had been in search of a rhythm for weeks. On defense, coordinator Zach Orr dialed up a couple of key blitzes that pressured quarterback Caleb Williams and led to two intentional grounding penalties. Orr said that he felt like his defense found some aggression two weeks ago in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams and the unit seemed to pick up where it left off. The Bears are hardly a juggernaut, but they had won four in a row and the Ravens desperately needed a victory. Mission accomplished. Mike Preston, columnist The Ravens won a game Sunday and it didn’t matter who they beat. They needed a win badly and got it. These aren’t the Bears we have seen in recent years. Before Sunday, Chicago had won four games in a row. The Ravens are far from championship form, but they needed a win to get started and at least pretend like they are in contention. They also get the sorry Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, and they should win that game, too, establishing a winning streak. This win was far from perfect for the Ravens, but at this point they can’t be choosy. They will take anything they get right now, even a win over the woeful Bears. Fortunately, they will get basically the same quality of opponent for the next couple of weeks. That’s life, but that’s also the NFL. Josh Tolentino, columnist What took so long for the Ravens to start Tyler Huntley? The one-time Pro Bowl selection benefited from a full week of practice with the first-team offense and sparked life back into Baltimore’s season. Starting in place of the injured Lamar Jackson — after catapulting fellow backup Cooper Rush on the depth chart — Huntley gave the Ravens juice throughout Sunday’s much-needed victory over the Bears. He looked much more in rhythm with his pass catchers, completing 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown with a passer rating of 116.9. His presence in the backfield alongside tailback Derrick Henry also presented the Bears with an element of surprise and deception; Huntley added seven carries for 53 yards. The Ravens’ defense looked suspect to open the Week 8 contest, but Zach Orr’s unit buckled down and played smash-mouth football against a Bears team that brought a four-game winning streak into M&T Bank Stadium. Nate Wiggins’ interception off Caleb Williams in the fourth quarter served as the exclamation point, marking the defense’s second turnover in as many games. The Ravens now face a quick turnaround, along with a 1,000-mile road trip down to South Florida. But if Jackson indeed is slated to return from his three-game absence Thursday at Miami, there are reasons to be optimistic in Baltimore. The Ravens, no matter how ugly, needed this win against the Bears to keep their season alive. Related Articles Ravens beat Bears, 30-16, with Tyler Huntley to end 4-game losing skid Ravens vs. Bears, Oct. 26, 2025 | PHOTOS Ravens vs. Bears live updates: Postgame coverage, analysis from 30-16 win Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ruled out vs. Bears; NFL looking into status change Ravens leader Roquan Smith must deliver in revenge game | COMMENTARY Sam Cohn, reporter It feels like forever since M&T Bank Stadium felt this alive. Derrick Henry found the end zone, marking the first Ravens touchdown in 21 days, and fans inched forward in their seats. Nate Wiggins’ fourth-quarter interception lit the crowd on fire in a crucial spot. And Tyler Huntley’s touchdown pass to Charlie Kolar all but confirmed the Ravens could keep their season from completely sinking (what a weird sentence). The Bears aren’t a statement win, even though they arrived in Baltimore on a four-game winning streak, but this victory was about the Ravens finding themselves again. And proving to themselves, as much as anyone else, that they were still capable of playing winning football. There’s still a long road ahead to the postseason. But it had to start somewhere. Taylor Lyons, reporter The Ravens haven’t had stability at quarterback — on and off the field — in nearly a month. Tyler Huntley provided just that in Sunday’s win, which capped a tumultuous week for Baltimore quarterbacks ahead of as much of a must-win there can be in Week 8. The Ravens’ new No. 2 signal caller completed 77% of his passes with 186 yards and a touchdown — something former QB2 Cooper Rush never did in three games — while leading timely scoring drives and avoiding any turnovers. Sunday showed why Rush was never the best fit in Todd Monken’s offense and why Huntley, who’s bounced around since he was last in Baltimore, always was. The Ravens desperately needed this; starting 1-6 would almost certainly kill whatever hope this season still has. This Huntley-led victory keeps their postseason dreams alive for at least another week, when hopefully Lamar Jackson can return for “Thursday Night Football” in Miami. If he can’t, Huntley is surely capable of beating the lowly Dolphins anyway. C.J. Doon, editor Is that a heartbeat I hear in Baltimore? Despite all the drama surrounding Lamar Jackson and his will-he-won’t-he status entering Sunday’s game, the Ravens buckled down and found a way to grind out a win. With a 2-5 record and the Dolphins, Vikings, Browns and Jets up next, Baltimore could climb its way back into playoff contention before Thanksgiving. Imagine that. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Is Jackson really healthy enough to lead the Ravens to a long winning streak? Him sitting out Sunday after practicing all week is a bit concerning, especially given how crucial the game was. With a short turnaround before Thursday night’s trip to South Florida, it’s not a given that he’ll be ready to go. Trying to predict his playing status is a fool’s errand. At least for the moment, the most important thing is the Ravens have life. There’s still plenty to sort through between Jackson’s absence and the Ravens’ mysterious handling of it, which will determine how fans should manage expectations going forward. Whether it’s Jackson himself or coach John Harbaugh, somebody should explain what’s going on with his hamstring and why there’s so much uncertainty. “Competitive advantage” is not a good excuse when the season is hanging by a thread. Tim Schwartz, editor They needed that one, and they needed it badly. The Ravens did the little things right (finally) and managed to outscore Chicago 30-10 after digging themselves an early 6-0 hole. Holding the Bears to two field goals was crucial, because the fans would’ve turned against this team if it were down 14. They let Derrick Henry get his groove back and they even allowed Keaton Mitchell to touch the ball. Funny how that tends to work out so well for them. Most importantly, Baltimore’s defense looks closer to the elite level it promised to play at, and with Lamar Jackson likely back Thursday night against a bad Dolphins team, this is shaping up to be the week the Ravens turned their season around. Bennett Conlin, editor The Ravens saved their season. It doesn’t matter if it was pretty or impressive or even all that memorable. What matters is that Baltimore left M&T Bank Stadium with a win. And my goodness, the Ravens needed a win. They’re just 2-5 after this victory, but the four games before a Thanksgiving clash with the Bengals are against the Dolphins, Vikings, Browns and Jets. Assuming Lamar Jackson returns soon — his availability has been puzzling — the Ravens should be 5-6 or 6-5 entering that prime-time tilt with Cincinnati. That’s good enough to be back in the AFC North race, especially with the Steelers facing a tough schedule the rest of the year with games left against the Colts, Chargers, Bills and Lions, among others. Baltimore is back in the mix to make the postseason because Zach Orr’s defense stood tall and Tyler Huntley managed the game effectively at quarterback. The Ravens needed this badly. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Baltimore Ravens’ Tyler Huntley warmup prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens' Keondre Jackson stops Chicago Bears wide receiver Devin Duvernay on a punt return during the first quarter of NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green sweeps the feet of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams for a sack during the first quarter of NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan pressures Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams who throws an incomplete pass during the first quarter of NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Bears defensive end Montez Sweat sacks Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley during the first quarter of NFL football in Baltimore. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley talks with Lamar Jackson and coach Tee Martin during a break in the game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025, in Baltimore. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews catches a pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh celebrates with quarterback Tyler Huntley after the team scored in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry scores on a 2-yard run, his 111th career touchdown — the fifth most in NFL history. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry scores on a 2-yard run, his 111th career touchdown — the fifth most in NFL history. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry celebrate with Mark Andrews after scoring on a 2-yard run, his 111th career touchdown — the fifth most in NFL history. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, celebrates with left tackle Ronnie Stanley after scoring a touchdown against the Bears on Sunday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley passes during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens cornerback Keyon Martin smiles during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush takes a snap during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush hands off to running back Derrick Henry during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens safety Alohi Gilman stretches during pregame before playing the Chicago Bears. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens’ Tyler Huntley works with quarterback coach Tee Martin as he warmup prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Baltimore Ravens’ fullback Patrick Ricard warmup prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens return from their bye week to host the Chicago Bears (4-2) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore (1-5) is seeking to end a four-game losing streak and will be starting quarterback Tyler Huntley after Lamar Jackson was ruled out Saturday after initially being listed as a full participant at Friday’s practice, prompting an NFL investigation. Kickoff is 1 p.m. on CBS. Pregame updates View the full article

A day after Lamar Jackson practiced fully for the first time since injuring his hamstring last month, the Ravens on Saturday ruled the quarterback out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. “There has been an update to Lamar Jackson’s Friday practice and game status,” the Ravens posted on social media. “Jackson was downgraded from a full practice participant to limited, and he has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game vs. Chicago.” It marks the third straight game that Jackson, 28, will miss because of the injury, which he sustained during Baltimore’s Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He had been listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. Tyler Huntley will start in his place with Cooper Rush serving as the backup after Rush had started the previous two games. The Ravens, who are 1-5 and in last place in the AFC North, are 0-2 since the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player was injured and 4-12 in games in which he has not played since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018. Huntley was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Friday. He has a career 5-9 record as a starter. It will also mark Huntley’s second straight game seeing action. In the Ravens’ Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, he came off the bench and completed 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards but was sacked four times. He also ran three times for 39 yards. Huntley, 27, is in his third stint with Baltimore after spending 2024 briefly with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad and then the Dolphins, appearing in five games for Miami. For his career, he has completed 64.7% of his passes for 2,854 yards and 11 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He also has 144 career carries for 683 yards and five more scores. The Ravens are in a must-win situation with only one team in the modern era— the 1970 Bengals — to start a season 1-6 and still make the playoffs. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens leader Roquan Smith must deliver in revenge game | COMMENTARY Amid slow Ravens season, how can Baltimore bars hang on to business? Ravens vs. Bears staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens QB Lamar Jackson questionable vs. Bears; Tyler Huntley to start if necessary Ravens vs. Bears scouting report for Week 8: Who has the edge? View the full article

Roquan Smith will resume his ever-important positions as the Ravens’ middle linebacker, defensive captain and vocal leader on Sunday afternoon, when Baltimore hosts the team that once labeled Smith its future. The Chicago Bears selected Smith with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Georgia, watched him blossom into a star and then traded him to Baltimore in October 2022. Nearly three years later, Smith finally gets his shot against his old team — and it comes at a tumultuous point of the season when the Ravens need their defensive leader most. Coming out of the bye week, the Ravens are 1-5, and Smith has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He’s one of many players who have been affected by injuries this season, but the team appears to be nearing full health on the defensive side with key pieces returning to practice this week, headlined by Smith. Baltimore’s defense has looked disjointed through its first seven games. As the regular season’s halfway mark approaches, Baltimore uncharacteristically has allowed the most points in the NFL (32.3 per game). Now, Smith, a five-time All-Pro selection, has a prime opportunity to channel the expected high level of emotions in his return against the same Bears team that didn’t believe he was worth the payday he received in Baltimore. A couple of months after the Ravens traded linebacker A.J. Klein plus second-round and fifth-round draft picks to Chicago in exchange for Smith, they signed him to a five-year extension worth $100 million with $60 million in total guarantees. At the time of the deal, it made Smith the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL. “I’m excited about the matchup, for sure. I haven’t gotten a chance to play Chicago since I’ve been here,” Smith said Monday. “I’m grateful for all of my time in Chicago. A lot of amazing people over there that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. “But you have to be the best version of yourself week in and week out, and it happens to be the Bears.” Across five memorable seasons in Chicago, he played 69 games (67 starts) and tallied 607 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 16 1/2 sacks, 20 passes defensed and seven interceptions. Related Articles Amid slow Ravens season, how can Baltimore bars hang on to business? Ravens vs. Bears staff picks: Who will win Sunday in Baltimore? Ravens QB Lamar Jackson questionable vs. Bears; Tyler Huntley to start if necessary Ravens vs. Bears scouting report for Week 8: Who has the edge? Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ But when the end of Smith’s rookie deal neared, Chicago balked at awarding him with an extension. Instead, Bears general manager Ryan Poles dedicated those resources elsewhere, signing linebackers Tremaine Edmunds (four-year deal worth $72 million) and T.J. Edwards (three years, $19.5 million) the ensuing offseason. Smith, 28, has maintained his high-road approach this week. But don’t forget three years ago, when his emotions were high and he said following the trade from Chicago to Baltimore: “Man, it makes me so happy just knowing my career is not going down the drain playing somewhere where I’m not truly competing for a title.” Speaking of contending for a Lombardi Trophy, Baltimore’s season is truly on the brink. No team in modern NFL history has made the playoffs following a 1-6 start. “It’s not about what’s happened in the past,” Smith said Monday. “It’s more so about what’s happening in the future. There have been many great stories, and there’s going to be another one coming soon, but obviously, it’s one game at a time, and it starts this [Sunday].” Added defensive coordinator Zach Orr: “Roquan Smith — he’s obviously one of the best linebackers in football, and you cannot take that away from him. He’s done that consistently over his career. I thought that he was playing really good football for us before he had the injury. … He’s ready to roll. I know deep down, just knowing him, that he wants this one.” Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is returning from injury just in time to face his former team. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Smith hasn’t slowed much since his arrival in Baltimore. Over three-plus seasons, he’s started all 45 games he’s appeared in, logging 432 tackles with five sacks, two forced fumbles, 15 passes defensed and three interceptions. Smith’s season-high 14 tackles during Baltimore’s lone win over Cleveland in Week 2 served as a reminder of how dominant the eighth-year linebacker can be when he’s healthy and fully locked in as the “quarterback of the defense,” as he’s commonly referred to by teammates. Three years ago, the Bears looked the other way while Baltimore invested in Smith to be the heartbeat of its defense. In his expected return from his two-game absence, Smith now gets the chance to deliver another performance worthy of that label … and maybe remind Chicago what it gave up on. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

This football season has left many Baltimoreans confused and disillusioned. These feelings, say some of the city’s sports bar owners, have made their way into the taproom. So far, Baltimore’s football team has secured only one win out of six games played, with performances that have caused local fans and athletes alike to ask, “What’s wrong with the Ravens?” Between lopsided losses, coaching criticism and a devastating injury to star quarterback Lamar Jackson, sports bars in the area are tasked with filling seats and encouraging guests to keep watching, eating and drinking against the odds. “It’s tough to get excited when you know your star quarterback’s not playing when you’re getting beat,” said Andrew Wheeler, owner of Locals Only, who said the team’s unfortunate season has affected business. The losses, he said, are far from negligible — when he was a partner at the former Federal Hill Mad River Bar & Grille, he estimated that a Ravens home loss “could swing sales $5,000 to $10,000.” After losing games, Wheeler said he has noticed a general decrease in business around Locals Only’s Federal Hill neighborhood, adding that several of his peers in the area are also seeing attendance “numbers [go] down significantly.” In Riverside, John Leonard, owner of Don’t Know Tavern, also reported seeing “a slight decrease in fan presence,” both at the bar and in the surrounding neighborhood. “It hasn’t impacted sales too much yet,” Leonard wrote in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “But I feel we could be a loss away from a big impact on business (which for me is the busiest time of year), the remainder of the season.” Lower attendance is only one part of the issue, according to Wheeler. Losing games, he said, also deters bargoers from staying out as late — a phenomenon that results in a dip in sales. “You’re much more inclined and likely to enjoy your Sunday fun day if your team wins. People are out, and everyone’s just happy,” he said. “When you lose, the first thing that’s going through your mind is it’s going to make work tomorrow miserable.” In other Baltimore neighborhoods, such as Fells Point, bar owners like Gail Furman of Max’s Taphouse have better news to share. “We’ve been through good seasons and bad seasons with the Ravens,” said Furman. “Thankfully, Ravens fans still support their Ravens. Even in bad times, they come out and enjoy it.” One way to keep fans coming through the door, said Furman and others, has been on-theme specials. Max’s has continued offering “Big Ass” 32-ounce drafts for the price of a regular draft during games. Similarly, during last week’s game showing at Fells Point’s Sláinte Irish Pub and Restaurant, “We did have folks watching (even though it was an awful game) and enjoying our food and beverage game day specials,” wrote owner Patrick Russell in a statement to The Sun. For bars that have managed to sustain business despite the Ravens’ poor performance, hope seems to play a role. Both Russell and his customers are still holding out for a comeback — “The Ravens,” he said, “have every opportunity to win the division and end strong leading into the playoffs.” “I think Baltimore fans are very supportive of all of their birds,” said Furman. “It’s been a very disappointing season so far with the Ravens, and definitely a major disappointment with the Orioles, but they’re true.” With the Ravens’ chances of advancing to the playoffs dwindling with every loss, the stakes of the team’s decline, said Wheeler, are higher than sports fandom. “Anyone, especially in the city, who says it’s not affecting small businesses is an absolute, complete liar,” he said. “We very heavily rely on the sports teams to be competitive. When they’re not, it’s not good for business at all.” Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @Jane.Craves. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 8 game between the Ravens and Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 20, Bears 17: If quarterback Lamar Jackson plays, the Ravens’ chances of victory increase exponentially. If not, things will be a struggle against a Bears team that has won four straight and has a respectable offense. What should help Baltimore, though, is having several of its players back from injury, including on a defense that seemed to steady a bit against the Los Angeles Rams thanks to the addition of safety Alohi Gilman, which has allowed Kyle Hamilton to play near the line of scrimmage. Add in John Harbaugh’s career record of 13-3 after a bye and the Ravens win a close one. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 24, Bears 13: Much of this game — really stating the obvious here — depends on Jackson’s status. So far this season, the Ravens’ offense hasn’t produced much of anything without him and topped the league with him. Jackson practiced in full Friday, which is a good sign for his availability, even if he isn’t at full strength. Chicago’s upswing run game will put points on the board, but Baltimore’s should find a groove behind a healthy Patrick Ricard, too. Every game this season has felt more and more like a must-win to get back on track. This one — at home, near full-health and with the season on the line — appears to be their final shot. It’s the kind of game a two-time MVP can go win them single-handedly. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 21, Bears 17: The Ravens should return several starters from injuries, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and middle linebacker Roquan Smith. Those should be two big upgrades on both sides of the ball. The Bears have won four straight with an offense that is ranked No. 12 overall and No. 8 in rushing, though running back D’Andre Swift is battling a groin injury. Despite its recent success, Chicago struggled last week in a 26-14 win against New Orleans and the Bears won’t be as successful this week against Baltimore. The Ravens should be able to unleash running back Derrick Henry against a run defense that is allowing 137.7 yards per game. Combined with the return of Jackson and a weak schedule during the next 11 weeks, the Ravens will begin a run that includes Miami on Thursday night. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 24, Bears 17: Chicago’s final injury report looks similar to Baltimore’s in recent weeks with multiple starters, including cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson and tight end Cole Kmet, ruled out for Sunday’s game. Additionally, surging running back D’Andre Swift is dealing with a groin injury. Pair those factors with a Ravens team on the mend, highlighted by Lamar Jackson’s return to on-field action, and that could finally spell the end of Baltimore’s four-game skid. Whether Jackson will suit up remains to be seen; he was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report. If he isn’t ready to return from his two-game absence, one-time Pro Bowl selection Tyler Huntley will start over backup Cooper Rush, coach John Harbaugh said. The desperate Ravens must win nine of their final 11 games to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Given all the scrutiny the Ravens have faced in recent weeks, there’s still hope across the locker room that the healthier team playing at home crawls back into the win column. Aside from Jackson, Week 8 also is a prime opportunity for former Bears star Roquan Smith to assert his All-Pro self at the middle level in his return from his two-game absence. C.J. Doon, editor Ravens 31, Bears 17: Assuming Lamar Jackson is healthy enough to play, the Ravens should be able to take care of business. While the Bears have won four straight, they barely scraped by the lowly Raiders, needed a late fumble to stun the Commanders and didn’t exactly look dominant in beating the woebegone Saints. With the Ravens coming off a bye and having what should be a respectable offense on the field for the first time in weeks, they should be able to build a big enough lead and keep Caleb Williams and company off schedule. Chicago’s banged-up secondary, which is missing three starting cornerbacks, is ripe for the picking. Jackson should be able to light up the scoreboard to help kick-start this midseason playoff push. Related Articles Ravens leader Roquan Smith must deliver in revenge game | COMMENTARY Amid slow Ravens season, how can Baltimore bars hang on to business? Ravens QB Lamar Jackson questionable vs. Bears; Tyler Huntley to start if necessary Ravens vs. Bears scouting report for Week 8: Who has the edge? Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 31, Bears 20: The Ravens desperately need a win to ignite hopes that a late-season playoff push is possible despite a rocky 1-5 start. With the team getting healthier than a few weeks ago, this should be a manageable game. The Bears are improving under new coach Ben Johnson, but they’re still a year or two away from being a postseason threat. Baltimore’s early season struggles coincided with a tough schedule, while Chicago’s success came against underwhelming opposition. This game and several others in the coming weeks offer a reprieve for Baltimore. If the Ravens can’t win this one, it might be time to start looking at draft prospects. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 24, Bears 21: The Ravens’ bye week came at a perfect time. They not only needed a break from all that losing; they needed time to get healthy. And that’s what’s happened. Lamar Jackson appears on track on play Sunday after missing two games, and they’ll need him to put on his Superman cape and carry them to victory to keep their postseason hopes alive. Only one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after starting 1-6, so — stop me if you’ve heard this before — this is as much of a must-win Week 8 game as there’s ever been. Baltimore needs to rediscover its mojo, and having its stars back on the field will only help. Time to learn how to win again. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 24, Bears 17: This is the week most of the injured players return for action. Historically the Ravens have been good at home, and this is the week to turn the season around. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fully practiced for the first time this week Friday in Owings Mills. Whether he’ll start Sunday against the Chicago Bears, however, remains up in the air. “We’ll see where we’re at going forward,” coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson (hamstring), who was listed as questionable on the final injury report. “I just think we’re gonna talk about it as we go and figure out what we gotta do to try to win the game.” Harbaugh did say, however, that if Jackson is unable to play that Tyler Huntley would start in his place. That’s a departure from the past two games when Cooper Rush started. Baltimore lost both, 41-10 to the Houston Texans and then 17-3 to the Los Angeles Rams, with Rush struggling mightily in both. Against the Rams, Rush, 31, completed just 57.9% of his passes and threw for a meager 72 yards with no touchdowns and one interception before Huntley relieved him. The week before against the Texans, he threw for 179 yards and no touchdowns with three interceptions. When Huntley entered in the fourth quarter against the Rams, he briefly energized the offense with three runs for 39 yards, but he also had had share of struggles, completing 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards and getting sacked four times. This is Huntley’s third stint with Baltimore. He spent his first four seasons with the Ravens after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He then spent 2024 with the Miami Dolphins after being on the Cleveland Browns’ and Ravens’ practice squads earlier that year. Huntley appeared in five games for the Dolphins and helped lead them to a 2-3 record last year. For his career, he has completed 64.7% of his passes for 2,854 yards and 11 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He also has 144 career carries for 683 yards and five more scores. Should he start Sunday, it also wouldn’t be his first time facing the Bears for an injured Jackson. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bears scouting report for Week 8: Who has the edge? Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Ravens Week 7 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start In November 2021, Huntley started in Jackson’s place and completed 26 of 36 passes for 219 yards in a 16-13 win in Chicago. Jackson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of last month’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, has missed each of the past two games. The Ravens have fallen to 1-5 in his absence this season and are 4-12 in games in which the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player has not played since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018. Besides their star quarterback, the Ravens enter Sunday’s game in relatively good health. Linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) are expected to play, as is left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), who missed Friday’s practice to rest. The Bears are not so fortunate, ruling out five players in starting defensive backs Kyler Gordon (groin/calf) and Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder), tight end Cole Kmet (back), left tackle Braxton Jones (knee) and running back Roschon Johnson (back). Starting running back D’Andre Swift (groin) and kicker Cairo Santos (right thigh) are questionable. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

About six weeks ago, this matchup was circled as the game that signaled the Ravens had made it through the toughest part of their schedule. A grueling stretch versus five playoff-caliber teams ushered in the bye week then a softened schedule, starting with the Bears, prematurely penciled by many into Baltimore’s win column. That’s not the reality the Ravens live in anymore. This game, and every one the rest of the season “is a playoff game,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. Who will have the advantage Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Bears pass defense Let’s start with the obvious: this depends entirely on the health of Lamar Jackson. The superstar quarterback returned to practice this week after a hamstring injury sidelined him since Week 4. He’s been limited all week so his availability isn’t a certainty. With Jackson, the Ravens offense is one of the best in the NFL. Without Jackson, the Ravens are 4-12 since 2018. This year, left in the hands of either Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley, the Ravens have been outscored 61-13 in two losses. His value can’t be overstated. Meanwhile, Chicago’s defense is doing the thing Baltimore’s promised it would: force takeaways. The Bears’ 11 interceptions accounting for 16 total takeaways both lead the NFL. Comparatively, they’ve only coughed up the ball five times, which is better than all but five teams. “We’re ball hungry,” safety Jaquan Brisker told local reporters after a four-takeaway game in last week’s 26-14 win versus New Orleans. “Guys are hunting for the ball.” The Ravens’ 11 turnovers last season were the third fewest in the NFL. Through six games, they’ve already coughed it up 10 times. Baltimore’s ball security will certainly help decide this must-win. Having Jackson back under center mitigates those concerns. EDGE: Ravens Bears passing game vs. Ravens pass defense Caleb Williams hasn’t been the awe-inspiring former No. 1 overall pick many had hoped he would. He has amassed 1,351 passing yards on a measly 61.1 completion percentage. Chicago’s four-game win streak is a testament to the defense and run game. Williams has produced in spurts but hasn’t gone out and won his team a game. Pit that against a Ravens defense that played with more intensity than it has all season versus Los Angeles, added a safety that patched up schematic troubles and emerges from a bye week about as healthy as they’ve been since the start of the season and it might be tough for Williams to pilot multiple scoring drives. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Bears run defense Chicago had — past tense — one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. Before last week’s win versus New Orleans, the Bears let through 156.6 rushing yards per game. Their best outing of the season silenced lead back Alvin Kamara to 28 yards on 11 carries. Was that the sign of a corner turned, or an outlier plotting a downtrodden group? Either way, Baltimore’s run game is getting a big boost in All-Pro fullback Patrick Ricard. Derrick Henry flashed a wide grin when asked about getting reacquainted with his lead blocker, “He is a big, big reason why we had so much success last year, and we’re excited to have him back healthy and getting back going, so heck yes.” Henry hasn’t topped 50 yards rushing in four of six games. The run game has been a point of contention for an offense that desperately needs it. Henry hit 122 yards in a loss to the Rams, so adding Ricard could yield a productive day. EDGE: Ravens Bears running game vs. Ravens run defense The night Detroit pummeled the Ravens defense for 224 rushing yards will long be remembered as an indictment on the issues of this year’s front and the antithesis to everything Baltimore’s defense stands for. A month later, the Ravens’ run defense is somehow in even worse shape. They’re currently letting up the seventh most yards per game (after league-best marks in 2024) and the third most rushing touchdowns. Chicago wasn’t considered a premiere running team early in the year. But the latter half of the Bears’ four-game win streak is a credit to a pair of collective breakout performances. In their first four games, the Bears averaged 102.3 yards on the ground. They’re up to 183.5 averaging rushing yards in the two games since. That backfield belongs to D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai. Swift never ran for more than 65 yards through four weeks. Then he stacked two 100-plus-yard outings. Monangai combined for 81 yards through five games, then rushed for 81 on 13 carries last week. “We’re picking up steam,” Monangai said, “but there’s still a long way to go.” That could spell danger in Baltimore. EDGE: Bears Ravens special teams vs. Bears special teams Chicago has a kicking competition — kind of. Cairo Santos missed two games with a thigh injury so the Bears ran with Jake Moody. Santos is more accurate. Moody can boot it. But coach Ben Johnson has made it clear Santos is the guy when fully healthy. So between one accurate leg returning from injury and Baltimore’s rookie who was drafted on the merit of his distance kicks, Baltimore gets the edge. Tyler Loop is 9-for-10 on field goal tries with one 50-plus yarder. Although, Loop’s toughest test of the season may be on Sunday on a windy October afternoon. EDGE: Ravens Ravens intangibles vs. Bears intangibles For the Bears, this game is chance to build on a hot streak and prove they’re a team worth respecting in the ultra-competitive NFC North. For the Ravens, it’s do or die. They’re as healthy as they’ve been since Week 1, coming off the physical and emotional reset of a bye week, and desperate for a win. On the other hand, the Ravens needed it more against Los Angeles and after two failed tush pushes, center Tyler Linderbaum admitted the Rams “wanted it more.” They can’t afford to think that way on Sunday. Related Articles Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Ravens Week 7 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return “It is kind of a backs-against-the-wall mindset,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “I’ve never seen a boxer get out of the corner by not swinging or throwing any punches.” Baltimore gets the edge in the “Who has more to lose?” category. EDGE: Ravens Prediction If Lamar Jackson plays, flip these numbers. The Ravens’ defense is healthy and showed signs of life against the Rams, a better offense than Chicago’s. Baltimore should make the most of its ground game with Ricard in tow. Safety Alohi Gilman allows for the three-safety look where Hamilton is near the line of scrimmage and can, to some extent, mask issues up front. But if Jackson’s hamstring injury keeps him out another week, Baltimore’s defense won’t go win them this game. Bears 24, Ravens 13 Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr spent part of last Friday talking to his predecessor and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, the two former colleagues, separated by a handful of years and not much else given their overlapping tenures in Baltimore. They have remained close and talked family and football. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken, meanwhile, dove into “where we’re at now, what we’ve been doing personnel-wise and schematic-wise” and what they want to do moving forward. He said he doesn’t anticipate “too many” personnel changes this week and is glad to have fullback Patrick Ricard finally back after a long lingering calf injury as well as left tackle Ronnie Stanley healthy following a recent ankle injury. The bye week came at a useful time for players as much as coaches, who spent last week zeroing in on what to fix after a 1-5 start as well as preparing for this week’s opponent, the 4-2 Chicago Bears. “There [was] a lot of hard work, a lot of discernment, judgment, choices, things that you have to decide what direction you want to go, what’s best for us going forward, [so] that we can maximize and play our best football, really,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I’m really pleased with where we’re at. Now, we have to go put it into action.” That begins Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. For a defense that ranks 32nd in points allowed per game (32.3), 30th in yards per game (380.8) and tied for last in sacks (eight), reinforcements are at least on the way. All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith is expected to start Sunday for the first time since injuring his hamstring during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore also signed defensive end Carl Lawson to aid its beleaguered and short-staffed pass rush. Already, there was progress in other ways the last time the Ravens’ defense took the field, when it held the Los Angeles Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford to 17 points and just 241 total yards in Week 6. It helped that Alohi Gilman made a smooth transition after the Ravens traded underperforming and free-agent-in-waiting outside linebacker Odafe Oweh for the safety. With Gilman deployed mostly on the back end, that allowed Baltimore to utilize safety and “unicorn” defender Kyle Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage to get back to more three-safety looks. “That definitely helps,” Orr said of Gilman’s addition. “He’s an elite communicator, he’s seen a lot of football, and that helps us out. You always want to look at how you can get your best 11 on the field and where they fit at, and ‘Lo’ is one of our best 11 players.” As for where the pass rush will come from, Lawson should help, though he’ll need a quick ramp-up to play by Sunday. The Ravens can also use exotic schemes with simulated pressures and blitzes. However they do it, getting to the quarterback was the “main focus” of the bye week, Orr said. On the other side of the ball, the Rams game also offered a glimmer of what could come — especially if quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has missed the past two games and was limited with a hamstring injury for a second straight day of practice Thursday, is out again. Baltimore rushed for 179 yards against the Rams with 122 of those coming from Derrick Henry. It broke a string of four straight games in which the running back had been held to 50 or fewer yards. “In the moment, maybe we got some things going, but we lost,” Henry said. “So, that’s what I think about. We did some good things, but we still got a [loss].” His efforts this week, however, should be aided by the return of Ricard andStanley. “He’s a guy that doesn’t get dented,” Monken said of the bruising 300-pound Ricard. “He doesn’t overreact to what he sees as he is trying to fit up a run or on the line of scrimmage.” Ravens tight ends coach George Godsey talks to fullback Patrick Ricard during practice this week. Ricard's expected return should bolster the team's running game. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Of course, there would be no bigger return than Jackson’s. Baltimore’s offense has stagnated in his absence and since he was injured against the Chiefs last month. The Ravens have scored a combined 16 points in their past two games and struggled to move the ball consistently. Coaches have been mum about whether Jackson will be available Sunday, though. “It’s the player that really has to feel comfortable going out there and putting themselves in position to play,” Monken said. “He says he’s ready to go, I’m ready to go. I feel great. I don’t want to say — any great player that says they want to play, I’m all in. “It’s up to him, and I thought he looked really good today. I thought there were things he did out there today that he took another step forward.” Whether Jackson plays or not, though, there is one thing that is certain: The Ravens desperately need a win. Related Articles Ravens Week 7 high school football Coaches of the Week Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Only one team — the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals — has started a season 1-6 and gone on to make the playoffs. But that was during the first year of the AFL-NFL merger when there were just 26 teams. A fifth straight loss Sunday wouldn’t end Baltimore’s season but it would be crippling and players and coaches are acutely aware of that. This week is a de facto playoff game. “I don’t think we have to be perfect, but I think we have to have a sense of urgency, and I think we all know what is at stake to get what we want to get done,” Henry said. “And I think we know what we don’t need to do to put ourselves in positions to not be able to win. “You’ve got to play every game like it is your last.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Each week during the high school football season, The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Ravens will select one tackle football and one girls flag football Coach of the Week. Here are the winners for Week 7: Tackle football Ken Brinkman, Edgewood: Brinkman is in his first season as the Rams’ coach, but this is his second Ravens Coach of the Week honor (North Harford, 2010). Edgewood is undefeated and fresh off a shutout win against C. Milton Wright. Heading into a huge matchup with Fallston this weekend, the Rams are averaging 35 points per game on offense and only giving up 11.5 points per game on defense. Girls flag football Mike Free, Calvert: Free and the Calvert program have been on a tear in their inaugural season. The Cavaliers are 9-1 and unbeaten on the road. Their lone loss came to county rival Northern earlier this year. The Cavs are rolling as they head into the region playoffs next week. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Related Articles Ravens know the stakes vs. Bears: ‘Play every game like it is your last’ Ravens sign veteran DE Carl Lawson, adding pass rush depth READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY View the full article

The Ravens are getting some much-needed help for their pass rush. Baltimore is signing free agent edge rusher Carl Lawson, he shared on social media. The Ravens also waived tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. Lawson’s signing comes after outside linebacker Odafe Oweh was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and and after outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was put on injured reserve this week after suffering a broken foot in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month. That had left Baltimore with just three outside linebackers on its 53-man roster: veteran Kyle Van Noy, rookie second-round pick Mike Green and fourth-year former second-round pick David Ojabo. On Monday, the Ravens hosted Lawson, 30, along with linebacker Jesse Luketa, for a visit. A seven-year veteran, Lawson spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys and registered five sacks in 15 games (3 starts). Prior to that, he played two seasons for the New York Jets, where he tallied 7 sacks and 38 tackles in 23 games. Lawson joining the Ravens also marks a return to the AFC North. A fourth-round pick out of Auburn by the Bengals in 2017, he spent his first four seasons in Cincinnati, where he had 20 sacks, including a career-high 8 1/2 as a rookie in 2017. The following year, however, he suffered a season-ending torn ACL midway through the season. In 2021, he signed a three-year, $45 million contract with Jets but ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers that August and missed the season. In August 2024, he signed with the Cowboys’ practice squad before being added to the active roster in early October. Now the Ravens hope he can help their beleaguered pass rush immediately. The Ravens’ eight sacks are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the fewest in the league, while their pass rush win rate (39%) ranks 19th, per ESPN analytics. For his career, Lawson has 32 sacks, 134 tackles, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles READERS RESPOND: Ravens fans say team will miss playoffs after 1-5 start Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ View the full article

We asked readers if they believe the Ravens (1-5) will make the playoffs. With quarterback Lamar Jackson getting healthier after missing two games because of a hamstring injury, there’s renewed optimism inside the locker room about making a playoff push. Do fans feel the same way? Here are the results from our online poll: No — 66% (353 votes) Yes, as a wild-card team — 19% (104 votes) Yes, as the AFC North champion — 15% (80 votes) Here’s what some fans said about Baltimore’s postseason chances (answers have been edited for clarity and grammar): Nope. It is ironic how similar the Orioles and Ravens seasons have gone. Each team started slow and had multiple injuries. The Orioles stayed optimistic and kept on saying they will improve as the season progresses. As it turns out, it did not happen. Now we hear the same about the Ravens. Since they have an allegedly weaker remaining schedule, and players returning from injury, their hopes for a playoff run improve. But the coaching and players remain the same. One good defensive game against the Rams does not absolve Zach Orr’s defensive coaching struggles. And even if Jackson returns, just how good will he be with that hamstring injury? Our backup quarterbacks leave a lot to be desired. General manager Eric DeCosta has to share much of the blame for the Ravens futility this season. And no matter what the players say, this team does not seem to be unified. — Robert No. There are too many deficiencies at offensive and defensive line. They struggle in pass blocking when they can’t run the ball and the pass rush on defense is nonexistent. It’s hard to see them going 8-3 or 9-2 down the stretch, which is likely what would be required to make the playoffs. They have ignored the trenches for too long and it is costing them big time. — Brian P. They will have a tough time winning games now vs. the Giants and Patriots and even Bengals, Steelers and Packers. So realistically, I foresee eight or nine wins at best. — William As Lloyd says to Mary in Dumb and Dumber … “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?” Those are about the Ravens’ odds of making the playoffs. Something has been missing from this team for the past few years, whether it’s coaching, lack of leadership or possibly just uncoachable players who want to do their own thing. — Dale S. 9-8 or 10-7 might be enough to win the division this year, it’s still possible. — Justin In my dreams, yes all day. But the reality is NO, I’m almost at the point of waiting for next year. — LaSonia I have a better chance of hitting the lottery. — John Krainer From Super Bowl contender to asking if they will make a playoffs? What is going on my Ravens! Time to wake up and fly my men. Let’s go! — Timothy Park The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To see results from previous sports polls, go to baltimoresun.com/sportspoll Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Mike Preston: Ravens’ Ozzie Newsome has a history lesson for fans | COMMENTARY Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness View the full article

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practiced again Thursday as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that kept him out the previous two games. Jackson returned to the field Wednesday in Owings Mills for the first time since suffering the injury during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28. The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player had missed 14 straight practices before jogging onto the field about 20 minutes into Wednesday’s session. Jackson then took part in team passing drills during the open portion of practice and was later listed as limited on the first injury report of the week. Jackson practicing for a second straight day is a good sign for his potential availability for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. Coach John Harbaugh declined to provide a potential return date for Jackson after Wednesday’s practice and is not scheduled to speak to reporters again until Friday when game statuses are announced. “It’s hard to put a number on it,” he said. “I don’t have any sharable injury intelligence at this point.” Cornerback Marlon Humphrey also returned to practice Thursday after being absent Wednesday with an illness. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was the only absence. Jackson has missed each of the past two games. The Ravens lost both, 44-10 to the Houston Texans and then 17-3 to the Los Angeles Rams, to fall to 1-5 on the season before last week’s bye. The Ravens have struggled mightily when Jackson has not played with a 4-12 record in those contests since he became the starting quarterback in 2018. This season, backups Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley have filled in during Jackson’s absence. Rush came off the bench against the Chiefs and has started each of the past two games, passing for a combined 303 yards and no touchdowns to go with four interceptions. Huntley came off the bench against the Rams and completed 10 of 15 passes for 68 yards and also ran three times for 39 yards. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ozzie Newsome grew up in Muscle Shoals near the birthplace of the civil rights movement in Alabama. He remembers the days of “colored fountains” and as a sixth grader being the only African American in a newly desegregated school. When the Cleveland NFL franchise first moved to Baltimore for the start of the 1996 season, Newsome was then the executive vice president of player personnel and remembers the Ravens winning only 16 games in their first three years. If there’s a recurring theme here, it’s patience. Newsome, 69, has learned to keep quiet but confident. So now, as the Ravens struggle through a 1-5 start, he urges the same calm approach for fans. The Ravens have a favorable remaining schedule, which includes teams without proven starting quarterbacks in the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. Plus, the Ravens face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals twice in their 11 remaining games. It might not be enough to get Baltimore into the postseason, but that wouldn’t be Ozzie Newsome. “We were developing and building in those first three years [in Baltimore]. We didn’t have a whole lot of resources, so we basically would have to build through the draft and we did that,” Newsome said. “And I think this team has been built through the draft, but you have to be patient. The thing about us thus far, we’ve only played one division game. “The goal every year is to win the division. So the outlook for me and how good I feel about it is based on what we did in those first three years. We can still win the division.” Talking to Newsome is like a stroll down memory lane. He gave few interviews when he was the Ravens’ general manager and even fewer now. The Ravens are celebrating their 30th season here and have had two owners in the late Art Modell and currently Steve Bisciotti, who became the majority owner in 2004. But no person is more synonymous with this franchise than Newsome, who helped lead the Ravens to two Super Bowl titles with two different coaches in 2000 and 2012. Twelve teams have yet to win the Super Bowl, and the Ravens, according to Newsome, are planning a 25-year reunion with the 2000 championship team and former defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Newsome’s new role, after he relinquished his previous post in 2019 to current general manager Eric DeCosta, is more about advising, consulting and watching game film. Few can break down video like Newsome, who was watching tape Wednesday of the Chicago Bears before passing on tidbits to coach John Harbaugh and his assistants. He cherishes the memories of three Hall of Fame players in left tackle Jonathan Ogden, middle linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, and the Ravens could be adding two more in outside linebacker Terrell Suggs and right guard Marshal Yanda. Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson practices again ahead of potential return Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Newsome still thinks Modell has a chance as well. “I sure hope so. He deserves to be in and it hurts me that he isn’t,” Newsome said. “As for the other two, once I got [inducted] in 1999, then I knew that in watching both of those players [that they] had a chance. I mean, J.O. was so effortless out there. And then Ray, I mean you just can’t describe the way that Ray was as a player, but as a leader. So once I got in and got a chance to be around the other Hall of Famers, I had the feeling that these guys would get in at some point or get the opportunity.” Newsome remembers how tough it was to watch and grade Reed on film as a player at the University of Miami. He talks about how he tried to work a trade to get out of the No. 24 slot that the Ravens used to pick Reed, but no other teams were pursuing him. The Ravens were stuck with a player who went on to earn the prized gold jacket and bronze bust. As for Suggs and Yanda, he believes both will eventually get there. “I think they both deserve to be in, but there is a backlog of players,” Newsome said. “And so the one thing about it, I waited four years, but when you get that call, whether you get it in the first year or the fourth year, it’s unbelievable. You can’t describe it.” Newsome has no problem talking about the coaches the Ravens have hired. Ted Marchibroda was a link to the past, having coached the old Baltimore Colts from 1975 to 1979. He had success here and provided a smooth transition on the move from Cleveland, even though the team had no money to sign high-priced free agents. When the team replaced Marchibroda with former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick in 1998, they got the fast-talking, car salesman type who was a bit arrogant. Billick and arrogance? Nah. Say it ain’t so. “Well, when we got Brian, he was a bit arrogant, but I mean we were a franchise that was just barely holding on,” Newsome said. “But Brian told them you can’t be scared, if you are scared, you can’t win in this league. To get Brian to come in and out talk everybody, it really gave us a little bit of an identity, The players brought into that and that helped us to get on that road that we got on.” From left, Ravens legends Ray Lewis, Ozzie Newsome and Johnathan Ogden are honored on the field during a game against the Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) After Billick, it was on to John Harbaugh in 2008. “John Harbaugh is all football,” Newsome said. “His dad is football, his brother is football, his sister married a basketball coach. So they are all about sports. And I knew about John because he had worked for my friend Ray Rhodes up in Philadelphia. And when we were looking for a coach, he had two things going for him. He had been a special teams coach and then [his last year with the Eagles] he went on the defensive side of the ball. So to have a coach that can walk in those two meetings and understand what needs to be done is huge. Then you just go up and you find somebody you trust with your offense.” It really does come back to patience again. Newsome was hired as the league’s first Black general manager in 2002 and remained in that capacity until 2018. When the Bears play at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, the president and CEO of the team, Kevin Warren, is Black and so is general manager Ryan Poles, special adviser Ted Crews and Ian Cunningham, the assistant general manager who worked in the Ravens’ front office from 2008 to 2016. Newsome didn’t see these changes coming so quickly. “No, but you just see how the climate has changed in the National Football League, in America,” Newsome said. “The climate has changed because I grew up in the 60s in Alabama and being able to go back to the school like I did last weekend and be able to enjoy it like I did in 2025, I could not have enjoyed that in 1965 or ’66 or when I went there in 1974. “It started on the field. I think 65 or 70 percent of the players are African-Americans right now, and then a lot of those players are staying in the game. I think we may have four or five coaches that all played the game at some level that are on our staff right now. So I think what has happened is that the more opportunities that guys have gotten to play has allowed for us to have more opportunities for the non-playing jobs.” That hope is what gives Newsome optimism about the Ravens this season. In 2000, they went five games without scoring a touchdown but still won the title because the defense was one of the greatest in NFL history. The Ravens were as cocky as Billick, and they talked so much trash. Ask Lewis or safety Rod Woodson what they needed to win, and they would say 10 points. Game over. During that season, they faced only three teams in the regular season that finished with a winning record. Are you noticing any similarities with the Ravens’ current schedule? In 2012, quarterback Joe Flacco just got hot in four playoff games. Few will ever put up those postseason numbers again. In retrospect, Newsome has done it all throughout his career, His college coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, once said that Newsome was the best receiver to ever attend Alabama. Like Bryant, Newsome points out some other great coaches he has worked with, including Bill Belichick, and adds that he has surrounded himself with some outstanding people, such as Jess Markison, DeCosta, George Kokinis and Joe Douglas, now senior personnel director with the Philadelphia Eagles. All franchises go through some struggling times, but the Ravens have something other teams don’t: Two Super Bowl trophies. “I have worked for two great owners,” Newsome said. “Art was here every day. Steve, he brought the franchise and has other things that he does in his life that he enjoys. He reads everything you write and everybody else will write. “So, he has questions, but you heard that song about moving on up? We have moved on up. Steve wants to have the best team, the best facilities, the best food, the best flights. So, I’m thankful that Steve has built what we call The Castle. We’ve had two different ways of winning, but you could enjoy the results just as much.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

Baltimore Sun staff writers and FOX45’s Patrice Sanders pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 8: Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.) Brian Wacker (14-1 last week, 76-31-1 overall): Chargers Sam Cohn (10-5 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers Mike Preston (11-4 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers Josh Tolentino (11-4 last week, 74-33-1 overall): Chargers C.J. Doon (11-4 last week, 69-38-1 overall): Chargers Bennett Conlin (13-2 last week, 70-37-1 overall): Chargers Tim Schwartz (9-6 last week, 62-45-1 overall): Chargers Patrice Sanders (9-6 last week, 65-42-1 overall): Chargers Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Falcons Cohn: Falcons Preston: Falcons Tolentino: Dolphins Doon: Falcons Conlin: Falcons Schwartz: Falcons Sanders: Falcons Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bills Cohn: Bills Preston: Bills Tolentino: Bills Doon: Bills Conlin: Bills Schwartz: Bills Sanders: Bills New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Bengals Cohn: Bengals Preston: Bengals Tolentino: Bengals Doon: Bengals Conlin: Bengals Schwartz: Bengals Sanders: Bengals San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: 49ers Cohn: Texans Preston: 49ers Tolentino: 49ers Doon: 49ers Conlin: 49ers Schwartz: 49ers Sanders: Texans Related Articles How can the Ravens’ defense save their season Sunday? ‘Letting it loose.’ Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Patriots Cohn: Patriots Preston: Patriots Tolentino: Patriots Doon: Patriots Conlin: Patriots Schwartz: Patriots Sanders: Patriots New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.) Wacker: Eagles Cohn: Eagles Preston: Eagles Tolentino: Eagles Doon: Eagles Conlin: Eagles Schwartz: Eagles Sanders: Eagles Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.) Wacker: Buccaneers Cohn: Buccaneers Preston: Buccaneers Tolentino: Buccaneers Doon: Buccaneers Conlin: Buccaneers Schwartz: Buccaneers Sanders: Buccaneers Dallas Cowboys vs. Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Cowboys Cohn: Broncos Preston: Broncos Tolentino: Broncos Doon: Cowboys Conlin: Broncos Schwartz: Broncos Sanders: Broncos Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.) Wacker: Colts Cohn: Colts Preston: Colts Tolentino: Colts Doon: Colts Conlin: Colts Schwartz: Colts Sanders: Titans Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.) Wacker: Packers Cohn: Packers Preston: Steelers Tolentino: Steelers Doon: Packers Conlin: Steelers Schwartz: Packers Sanders: Packers Washington Commanders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, 8:15 p.m.) Wacker: Chiefs Cohn: Chiefs Preston: Chiefs Tolentino: Chiefs Doon: Chiefs Conlin: Chiefs Schwartz: Chiefs Sanders: Chiefs Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

For the better part of six weeks, the Ravens’ defense couldn’t pinpoint why it was happening. Why — at full health or not — the spirited practices during the week didn’t translate to dominant performances on game day. “It’s not one thing in particular,” All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton said. Then he caught himself. “Actually, maybe one thing in particular.” When Baltimore toiled through the first third of its season, ranked last in the NFL in points allowed and third-to-last in yards allowed per game, they weren’t having fun. Even Hamilton felt guilty putting such damning figures in plain English. “I don’t want it to sound like it’s Little League football,” Hamilton said, but they believe the issues snowball from a fear of making mistakes. The Ravens have been ravaged by injuries. At one point, their defense took the field without four All-Pro players, thus propelling inexperienced guys into high-leverage spots. Couple that with the immense pressure of needing to turn the season around and outspits a defense that isn’t having any fun. “I think everybody on our defense has that in them,” Hamilton said, “it’s just a matter of letting it loose.” He’s vocalized the need to let loose before games. Running back Derrick Henry delivered the same message to his teammates days before seeing the Rams in Week 6. Hamilton admitted the fun in a full-throttle style of play “gets lost when you’re losing games.” It’s impossible to recover when they can’t make the necessary spark-plug plays. The Ravens are tied for the fewest team sacks and second-to-last in interceptions in the NFL. It has crippled the defense for the better part of this season. That is, until their respectable performance against the Rams, holding one of the league’s top offenses to 17 points and 241 total yards with a forced fumble. Los Angeles scored 20-plus points in the four games before flying into Baltimore. A week later, the Rams hung 35 on the Jaguars, who haven’t allowed that much offense all year. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr thought that loss was the “most intensity” he’d seen from them all year. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy acknowledged it was a step in the right direction, but called it “an OK game,” that they need to “step up another notch.” Now, the challenge becomes maintaining that level of “fun” when Sunday’s game versus Chicago has all the makings of a playoff game. No team in the modern NFL era has made the postseason after a 1-6 start. This weekend feels like win or go home for a team a stone’s throw from mathematical elimination. “You can’t ignore the past,” Hamilton said. “But we’re forward-thinking at this point. Kinda have to be. Everything for us is a playoff game. That’s how it feels.” There’s still belief in the locker room. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, shown playing against the Chiefs, says the defense needs to stop being afraid of mistakes. He hopes "letting loose" will help the unit perform well against the Bears on Sunday. (Reed Hoffmann/AP) Hamilton doesn’t think morale has gotten any lower. “We’re just eager to turn things around,” he said. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey said that if there’s one positive to glean from their torrid start, it’s that the locker room hasn’t splintered. He also said if there’s anyone on that roster thinking about anything other than beating the Bears, they should “meet with our mental health person.” All told, the Rams loss being the slightest sign of hope was more than just a downtrodden defense having fun again. Related Articles Staff picks for Week 8 of 2025 NFL season: Commanders vs. Chiefs, Giants vs. Eagles and more Ravens injury report: Marlon Humphrey misses practice with illness Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Newly acquired safety Alohi Gilman tightened up the back end of the defense while allowing Hamilton to play closer to the line of scrimmage, a well-documented quick-fix in Baltimore. They forced a turnover for the first time in a month, which Van Noy said can inject some juice. And the defense as a whole was healthier, having Hamilton and Humphrey back from injury. They should have linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie back for Sunday, too. However, outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was put on injured reserve Wednesday with a broken foot. If the Ravens are going to keep this season afloat, it’ll be a credit to “guys just not caring if you mess up,” Hamilton said. “It sounds kind of crazy saying that,” he continued. “It’s just a matter of letting it loose. Who cares if they catch a ball on me, get it down, tackle it and play another play. … Never seen a boxer get out of the corner by not punching.” Sunday’s prized fight kicks off at 1 p.m. By late afternoon, the Ravens season will either stand back up on two feet or the Bears will have left them face down on the canvas. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. View the full article

After being handcuffed by injuries on their way to a dreadful 1-5 start, the Ravens are exiting the bye week healthier than they’ve been in some time. Lamar Jackson returned to practice Wednesday and was listed as limited on the official injury report, and only Kyle Hamilton (groin) joined the quarterback with that designation. Marlon Humphrey, a surprise addition to the injury report after practicing Monday, did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of an illness and was the only player listed as such on the injury report. “Got a call at 4:18 this morning. He’s not doing well. We didn’t want him here,” coach John Harbaugh quipped. Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), Zay Flowers (shoulder), Patrick Ricard (calf), Roquan Smith (hamstring), Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and Devontez Walker (oblique) were all listed as full participants Wednesday. Elsewhere, Tavius Robinson was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. was activated off IR, the team announced after practice. Harbaugh previously said that Robinson would miss 6-8 weeks with his broken foot. Humphrey was one of a slew of Ravens defenders who missed time over the past month. The cornerback played in the Ravens’ final game before the week off and practiced in the days leading up to the contest after missing the prior game against the Houston Texans with a calf injury suffered against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s part of a core of defensive players in various stages of returning to action. Smith, who hasn’t played since the Chiefs game three weeks ago, participated in his second straight practice Wednesday, which was also the first time Ricard has been listed as a full participant. The fullback was limited in the team’s last practice before the Rams game and did not play, and along with Jackson and Jones will look to aid an offense that’s struggled to score in the quarterback’s absence. Jones said Wednesday he’s comfortable at either guard or tackle. He played both at LSU before being taken in the third round by the Ravens this April. Jones has yet to play in a game this season after undergoing shoulder shoulder in early 2025. Wednesday was the end of his 21-day window to either be activated off injured reserve or placed on season-ending IR. Harbaugh said Monday that Jones won’t play this week, while Jones said Wednesday he met with his doctors Tuesday and they cleared him to play. Baltimore’s offensive line has allowed the fifth-most sacks per game in the NFL this season with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele starting all six games at both guard positions. “It’s been hard watching the guys practice,” the rookie said. “I’ve just been coming in here, lifting, keeping my head down, doing what I need to do to get back on the field. We’re finally here. It’s been a long six or seven months.” Harbaugh added Wednesday that Nnamdi Madubuike, who is out for the remainder of the season with a neck injury and has not played since Week 2, has not yet had surgery. The coach did not clarify if a procedure is still on the table. The defensive lineman has not been made available for interviews since Harbaugh said “those are questions that would be best answered by him” when asked if the injury was potentially career ending. “It’s one of those deals that just, I’d like to share more and I’m sure we will be able to at some point,” Harbaugh said. “Maybe the club could figure out some way to express it. Just with HIPAA and things like that, I can’t share somebody else’s information. That’s all I can say.” Still, the Ravens are getting healthier, as was the hope with the timely bye week and limited room for error the rest of the way. “You prepare with the guys who are practicing, and then we’ll see how we get through the week,” Harbaugh said. We’ll get to the game and play with the guys who can play, just like we have been doing.” Related Articles Ravens QB Lamar Jackson returns to practice for first time since injury Ravens RB Justice Hill a steady force in turbulent season: ‘Gonna be muddy’ 5 things we learned about the Ravens through the bye week Ravens are beating themselves up. Time to beat someone else. | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens need to beat Bears, but it won’t be easy | COMMENTARY The Bears’ injury report includes a few notable absences. Tight end Cole Kmet (back), wide receiver DJ Moore (groin), running back D’Andre Swift (groin), defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) and running back Roschon Johnson (back) did not practice Wednesday. Swift leads the Bears in rushing yards with 419, and Moore ranks second on the team with 258 receiving yards. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, offensive lineman Braxton Jones, kicker Cairo Santos and defensive back Nashon Wright were limited participants. Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and defensive lineman Austin Booker were full participants, although each of those two players is on injured reserve and have yet to be activated. Booker must be activated this week or he’ll remain on IR for the duration of the season. Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons. New Ravens defensive lineman, David Olajiga, left, talks to teammate C.J. Okoye at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills. The Ravens are relatively healthy ahead of their Week 8 clash with the Bears. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article