Windy City Gridiron
The Chicago Bears head to Maryland to face the Baltimore Ravens in a game that, if they win, means the Bears will have a flawless record for the month of October. Could the Bears extend their winning streak to five? What’s the status of Lamar Jackson? How would his presence (or absence) impact the game?
To get you set for this game, we sat down with Nikhil Mehta from Baltimore Beatdown (SB Nation’s Baltimore Ravens site) to get the Ravens’ perspective on this game. Check out the Q&A below.
1. 1-5 is a shocking record for a team most experts considered to be the league’s best before week one. What are your adjusted expectations for this team moving forward this season?
Getting Lamar Jackson back will do wonders for the Ravens’ offense, but their defense is still a serious liability until they prove otherwise. But Baltimore’s five losses were all to good teams, and they have an easier schedule for the rest of the year. It’s entirely possible they get back into the playoff race and even sneak in as a 10-7 or 9-8 wild card.
But based on how the Ravens have looked this year, they are not a Super Bowl contender. They may not even belong in the postseason. And some fans would even argue that an all-out collapse – including perhaps some sales at the deadline – would be best for the team to force a change in their coaching staff and give the franchise a chance at a truly elite prospect.
As a friend recently told me, the Ravens have a way of doing the most frustrating thing possible. So, that probably means a furious comeback in the second half of the season, only to just miss the playoffs or lose in the first round to keep them picking in the 20s or later.
2. Let’s discuss John Harbaugh. I know the injuries have been off the charts, but with the past failings that Harbaugh has had in the playoffs over the last five years or so, even if the Ravens recover and win 9 or 10 games, is it time the Ravens and Harbaugh part ways?
Fans have been calling for Harbaugh’s job for a while now, but the Ravens value stability and continuity too much to make that kind of a move during their recent success with Jackson. It was hard to make an argument for firing him after any individual season. 2020 was the COVID season, 2021 and 2022 were riddled with injuries (including two to Jackson), and 2023 featured the Ravens’ first AFC Championship Game with Jackson. 2024 featured an earlier playoff exit, but it was hard to blame that loss to the Bills on Harbaugh, given some of the players’ on-field miscues.
However, that has also raised expectations to ‘Super Bowl or bust,’ and it seems like the Ravens will do the latter. Assuming Jackson comes back this week or next, Baltimore probably has to make the playoffs and win...
