Sometimes, the major headline leading into an NFL game is up for debate. Other times, it’s obvious.
This would be a case of the latter.
The big news for Sunday’s Bears vs. Ravens game in Baltimore broke Saturday, when the Ravens ruled quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP and last year’s runner-up, out for Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Tyler Huntley, a backup with plenty of experience, will reportedly get the start under center for Baltimore on Sunday.
Jackson was initially listed as a full participant in practice Friday and questionable for Sunday’s game, but the Ravens then said he was actually limited Friday and will indeed miss his third consecutive game.
It’s been that kind of season so far for the Ravens, a popular preseason Super Bowl pick out of the AFC who enter Sunday’s game with a 1-5 record and their season teetering on the brink. With a win, they could gain some positive momentum for Jackson’s possible return soon. With a loss, their playoff chances would be virtually zero.
The Bears, on the other hand, are rolling heading into Sunday’s game, winning four straight after an 0-2 start to reach 4-2 through six games under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. It’s their first four-game winning streak since the 2018 NFC North championship team, and the Bears could join that team with a fifth consecutive victory Sunday.
While Jackson being out is the major headline, a subplot is that Sunday’s game is the first time linebacker Roquan Smith faces the Bears since they traded him to Baltimore in 2022. Smith, a first-round draft pick of the Bears in 2018, was at practice this week after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Here’s more on Sunday’s game:
Chicago (4-2) at Baltimore (1-5)
Sunday, Noon, CBS
BetMGM NFL Odds: Ravens by 2 (subject to change).
Against the spread: Bears 4-2; Ravens 1-5.
Series record: Bears lead 4-3.
Last meeting: Ravens beat Bears 16-13 on Nov. 21, 2021, at Chicago.
Last week: Bears beat Saints 26-14; Ravens were off.
Bears offense: overall (12), rush (8), pass (14), scoring (10)
Bears defense: overall (25), rush (28), pass (17), scoring (25)
Ravens offense: overall (22), rush (10), pass (28), scoring (16)
Ravens defense: overall (30), rush (26), pass (28), scoring (32)
Turnover differential: Bears plus-11; Ravens minus-7.
Injuries and inactives
The teams have announced their inactives for Sunday’s game.
Bears
Inactives for Sunday’s game are QB Case Keenum (third quarterback), DB Tyrique Stevenson, TE Cole Kmet, RB Roschon Johnson, LB Ruben Hyppolite II and DL Chris Williams.
Stevenson (shoulder), Kmet (back) and Johnson (back) had already been ruled on the team’s Friday injury report.
Additionally, CB Kyler Gordon (groin, calf) and LT Braxton Jones (knee) were placed on injured reserve Saturday. Gordon missed the first four games because of a hamstring injury. Jones started the first four before getting lifted during a Week 4 win at Las Vegas.
RB D’Andre Swift (groin), DL Austin Booker (knee), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (knee) and K Cairo Santos (right thigh), all listed as questionable Friday, are all active for Sunday’s game. Santos sat out the past two games, with Jake Moody filling in for him at kicker.
Meanwhile, DT Grady Jarrett (knee) was listed as a full participant in Friday’s practice and has no injury designation for Sunday after missing the past three games. Other players who were limited in practice earlier in the week but listed as full participants by Friday, with no injury designation, are LB Tremaine Edmunds (ankle), WR DJ Moore (hip), OL Joe Thuney (rest) and DB Nahshon Wright (hip).
Ravens
Obviously, Baltimore will be missing its most important player in Jackson. Also inactive are S Sanoussi Kane, CB Jaire Alexander, OL Emery Jones, OL Carson Vinson, WR Devontez Walker and DL Aeneas Peebles.
Aside from their quarterback, the Ravens come off their bye week healthy, with no other players given an injury designation in the team’s Friday injury report. They had all their top players at practice this week besides Jackson.
Bears player to watch
QB Caleb Williams. The Bears need more from their quarterback after the running game and defense bailed him out last week. Williams had his worst game of the season, setting season lows for yards (172), completion rate (57.7 percent) and passer rating (61.7). It was a big step back after he helped Chicago squeeze out 25-24 wins at both Las Vegas and Washington.
Ravens player to watch
LB Roquan Smith. He transformed Baltimore’s defense when he was traded from Chicago to the Ravens in 2022. And when he missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, the middle of the defense was in rough shape. Smith was able to practice this week.
Key matchup
Chicago’s defense vs. Baltimore’s running game. With Jackson out again, look for the Ravens to try to get Derrick Henry going. Although the Bears have won four straight, their defense isn’t as strong as some of the other teams Baltimore has faced.
Series notes
Four of the teams’ seven meetings have been decided by four points or fewer, including a pair of overtime games Chicago won in 2013 and 2017. … The Ravens won the most recent meeting four years ago, when Tyler Huntley played in place of Jackson. Huntley figures to get the start again Sunday.
Stats and stuff
The Bears have won four straight for the first time since the 2018 NFC North championship team closed the regular season on a four-game run. Chicago also won five straight late that season. … The Bears were 4-2 last season before going on a 10-game losing streak and firing former coach Matt Eberflus along the way. … Chicago leads the NFL with 16 takeaways — 15 in the past four games — and 11 interceptions. … The Bears rank sixth in the NFL with 454 penalty yards after getting flagged 19 times for 176 yards over the past two games. … Chicago is tied for 21st in red zone efficiency (50%) after scoring just two touchdowns on six trips inside the 20 last week. … Chicago had a season-best four sacks last week. … The Bears ran for by far a season high of 222 yards against New Orleans. … In the past two games, RB D’Andre Swift has delivered two of his best performances in two seasons with the Bears. He has run for 232 yards and a touchdown in that span to go with 81 yards receiving and a TD catch. … Baltimore is 14-3 in games immediately following its bye week under John Harbaugh. … The Ravens have an NFL-best four rushing touchdowns of at least 20 yards. … Baltimore’s Mark Andrews needs 74 yards receiving to become the team’s career leader. Derrick Mason holds the record with 5,777. … Henry needs 138 yards rushing to reach 12,000. … The Ravens have scored in 376 consecutive games, the NFL’s longest active streak without being shut out. But they managed only three points in their most recent game against the Los Angeles Rams. … Only four teams since the merger have made the playoffs after starting 1-5, which the Ravens are now trying to do. … Baltimore has lost 11 of its past 13 games when Jackson didn’t play. … Henry is tied with Walter Payton for fifth on the career list with 110 rushing touchdowns.
Fantasy tip
Henry has had some quiet games this season, but he surpassed 100 yards rushing against the Rams and seems like a good option for a productive day against this Chicago defense.