ClutchPoints
Both the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens are in a precarious position in Week 8. At 4-2 and on a four game win streak, the Bears want to keep the good times rolling. As for the 1-5 Ravens, they’re hoping a potential Lamar Jackson return can provide a spark.
If Jackson were to play, and he has practiced on a limited basis twice heading into Friday, it’ll be a much more difficult test for the Bears. Even if he isn’t all full capacity, Jackson is one of the most explosive players in the NFL. It’d be a different type of quarterback challenge for Chicago.
But if the Bears can pull it off, they’d make a major statement. Wins against teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints don’t inspire much confidence. But taking down the Ravens, even with their injury concerns, would prove the Bears are ready to compete.
It’ll still be an uphill battle for Chicago, as they are +6.5 point underdogs on DraftKings Sportsbook. Will the Bears be up for the challenge? It’s time for our Week 8 bold predictions.
Over their last two games, the Bears have watched their rushing attack show massive improvements. Chicago gained 145 yards on the ground against the Washington Commanders before exploding for 222 against the Saints.
The catalyst has been veteran D’Andre Swift, who many wrote off this offseason. Against Washington, Swift ran for 108 yards, adding 67 receiving yards and a touchdown. Then versus New Orleans, the running back gained 124 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Swift has a strong understanding of Ben Johnson’s offense and is getting more involved weekly.
Coming out of their Week 7 bye, the Ravens rank 26th in rushing defense, allowing 134.3 yards per game. While they were able to hold the Los Angeles Rams to 74 rushing yards in Week 6, Baltimore gave up 167 yards on the ground to the Houston Texans in Week 5. The Kansas City Chiefs gained 118 in Week 4.
All of these are great teams, so it was going to be a difficult challenge regardless. However, the Ravens have struggled to stop the run against all competition in 2025. That won’t change in Week 8, as the Bears gain over 200 yards on the ground.
On the other side of the coin, the Bears haven’t been great at stopping the run either; partially due to the injury absence of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Heading into Week 8, Chicago ranks 28th in rushing defense, allowing 137.7 yards per game. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Ravens rely on star running back Derrick Henry throughout the contest.
However, one area the Bears do excel in is forcing turnovers. Chicago has already come away with 16 total takeaways, 11 interceptions and five fumbles. As Jackson makes his return to the field, Chicago is likely going to force him to beat them through the pass...
