Bears vs. Ravens Prediction: Bears aim for fifth straight win |
Dustin Riese
· · 4 hours ago
It's official, the Ben Johnson Bears have finally arrived as Chicago has now become one of the hottest teams in football. Since dropping their first two games of the season in an ugly fashion, Chicago has not only turned things around but has done so at a frantic pace, winning four games in a row to pull within striking distance in the NFC North.
All that has come despite Caleb Williams not playing as well as he would like to, which has to give this team even more confidence going forward. We've been discussing this stretch for a while now, as the Bears are entering a run of games where, realistically, they should be 3-2, if not 4-1, after the next five. Should that happen, you can start talking about the postseason as the Bears are in a position to make some real noise. Of those games, week eight could be the one where the Bears falter, as they will be hitting the road to take on a rested and angry Baltimore Ravens squad that needs to get off the mat in a hurry. This team has been without Lamar Jackson for several weeks, and their performance has suffered as a result, as they have fallen into last place in the AFC North with a 1-5 record. Chicago knows the Ravens are going to give them their best shot, so they need to come ready to play as they look to make it five straight wins. Here are some key factors to consider, along with a prediction for this game in week eight:
There is no denying that when healthy, Jackson is one of the top three quarterbacks in this game and could easily be in the MVP conversation each year. From his ability to use his legs to make things happen to an ever-improving passing attack, Jackson has turned himself into an outstanding NFL quarterback, and one many felt wouldn't happen. As good as Jackson is, he has had some issues staying healthy, and this season has been a prime example of that, as he has missed the past few games with a hamstring injury, resulting in more losses for Baltimore. Hamstring injuries are generally the toughest to diagnose in the NFL, as recovery timelines are often uncertain. How healthy Jackson is remains to be seen, but if I'm Dennis Allen, I would put pressure on him early to test that mobility and see what can come of it. If he beats you, props to him, as he earned that. However, if he isn't as mobile as he usually is, the Bears can take advantage of this game, as Jackson may struggle. Update: Jackson is out against the Bears
It may have taken five weeks, but the Chicago Bears' rushing attack has finally gotten going, and that is a massive lift for this offense. Not only has D'Andre Swift gone off for at least 100 yards in back-to-back weeks, but Chicago racked up nearly 230 rushing yards as a team last week, which hasn't happened in a long time. Johnson knows the importance of a great rushing attack for an offense, as you can look back at his days in Detroit as proof of that. Granted, the Bears' running backs room is nowhere near as talented as the Lions' room, but they are still more than capable of shouldering the load for this offense, which you have started to see the last two weeks. The more carries they get, the less pressure will be on Williams, as Chicago wants to take as much pressure off their young quarterback as possible. Look for the Bears to pound the rock early to set the tone, hoping the Ravens' defense will wear down late.
Part of what has made the Dennis Allen defense so great over the years has been their ability to bend, but not break, which you have seen a lot of this season. Another significant reason for their success is their ability to turn the ball over, as the Bears' defense can strike out of nowhere to end a drive. You have started to see more of that during this winning streak, but it has been the past two weeks where the turnovers have stood out, as the Bears have forced nine turnovers over the past few weeks, including four more against the Saints on Sunday. Having that much success on the back end is going to make any defense, and chances are that a lot of those turnovers will kill drives, taking points off the board. No one is expecting the Bears to play at that level all season, but this is what this defense has been capable of, as they are finally coming into their own as a unit. Going up against a quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over a ton, the turnover game could come into play in this one, as that could decide the outcome of the game.
When you look at these teams on paper, some would say the Ravens have the better overall team with more talent across the board. While that may be true in some cases, you are what your record says you are, and the Ravens are a 1-5 football team struggling to find their way. As tough a spot as the Ravens are in, they are entering by far their softest portion of the schedule, with an opportunity to win five or six straight games. Should that happen, not only would the Ravens be right back in the playoff hunt, but it would make everyone forget about the horrible start this team got off to, as you want to be playing your best football at the end of the season. This is as close to a must-win game for the Ravens as one can be, as Baltimore can't afford to drop any more games. Knowing they are coming off a bye and just how important this game is to them, expect this to be a tightly contested game throughout, where points could be at a premium early. However, I do like the Bears in this one as they make just a few more plays to get the job done in what will be a 23-21 Chicago win.What to expect from Lamar Jackson
Continue to ride the rushing game
A turnover machine
Prediction: BEAR DOWN 23-21
