ExtremeRavens Posted Friday at 11:00 AM Posted Friday at 11:00 AM 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. “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 Quote
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