NFL Week 8 features a cross-conference clash between two teams heading in opposite directions. The Chicago Bears (4–2) — winners of four straight — travel east to face the struggling Baltimore Ravens (1–5) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
QB Lamar Jackson was expected to return after missing two games with a hamstring injury, giving the Ravens new life after an abysmal 17–3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams before their bye. But that changed Saturday with a new report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Despite practicing during the week, the Ravens have opted to hold out their MVP QB Lamar Jackson until at least Thursday night’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. That means QB Tyler “Snoop” Huntley will start against Chicago, giving the Ravens’ offense a familiar look.
Meanwhile, the Bears have ridden an opportunistic defense and a revived run game behind D’Andre Swift to climb into the NFC playoff picture.
Below, we’ll break down our Bears vs. Ravens preview and highlight the top PrizePicks player projections for Sunday’s matchup on the early slate.
Bears vs. Ravens Prediction, Preview for Week 8
Bears QB Caleb Williams looks to rebound after his worst performance of the season, while Jackson’s return could rejuvenate a Baltimore offense that ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring.
Chicago leads the all-time series 4–3, but the Ravens still enter well rested after the bye. LB Roquan Smith back in the lineup against his former team and RB Derrick Henry set to face a Bears defense ranked 28th against the run, this could turn into a grind-it-out, low-scoring affair.
Chicago Bears Preview vs. Ravens
The Bears have finally found their identity — run the football, take the ball away (+11 turnover differential, 1st in NFL), and protect their Year 2 quarterback. Chicago forced four turnovers in last week’s 26-14 win over the Saints, giving them 15 takeaways over the past four games.
Williams struggled (172 yards, 1 INT), but the Bears’ rushing attack exploded for 222 yards — their best performance of the season. Swift has been the catalyst, totaling 313 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns over his last two outings.
TE Cole Kmet has been ruled out, and the “iron man” will miss a game for the first time in his career. That will open way for rookie TE Colston Loveland to see an expanded role, as he played 67% of the snaps last week.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has this group playing fast and physical. EDGE Montez Sweat has emerged as a consistent disruptor, while Tremaine Edmunds continues to lead the linebacking corps with strong tackling and blitz discipline.
Still, Chicago ranks 25th in total defense (350.0 YPG) and 28th against the run (137.7 YPG), a glaring weakness against a mobile quarterback in Huntley and power runner like Henry.
Baltimore Ravens Preview
The Ravens enter desperate for a win. They’ve dropped four straight games while averaging just 11.0 points per game in their last three, but reinforcements are coming. With Jackson sidelined again, Huntley will make his first start of the season.
A 2022 Pro Bowl alternate, went 2–3 as a starter last year and brings familiarity with Baltimore’s system. However, the difference in production with and without Jackson is stark. Baltimore is 71–27 with Jackson as starter. The offense has averaged 32.8 PPG with Jackson this season versus 6.5 PPG without him.
That puts more pressure on Henry, who ran for 122 yards before the bye and could see 20+ carries against a soft Chicago front. Without Jackson, OC Todd Monken might try to simplify things for Huntley — RPOs, designed QB runs and play-action to Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers. Defensively, Baltimore ranks last in scoring defense (32.3 PPG).
Bears vs. Ravens, Week 8 Picks for PrizePicks
Below are three top Bears vs. Ravens picks for Sunday — Tyler Huntley, D'Andre Switt and Justice Hill are some same-game PrizePicks player projections to consider.
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley vs. Bears Projection: 171.5 Passing Yards
- Huntley has averaged 109.8 yards per game and a 64.7% completion rate in his career, showing efficient short-to-intermediate passing, particularly off designed rollouts and bootlegs.
- In 2025, Huntley has completed 10-of-15 passes for 68 yards, so the accuracy could translate to bigger numbers with more opportunity in Week 8 as the Ravens’ starter.
- Huntley excels when he’s given ample time in the pocket, completing 88% of passes when kept clean, per PFF.
- The Bears defense is tied for 21st in the NFL with 2.0 sacks per game this season.
- He’s 22nd in the NFL in 3rd-down passer rating (95.8%), showing he can sustain drives in manageable situations to keep Baltimore’s offense on schedule even if volume is more catered to Henry and the rushing attack.
Bears RB D’Andre Swift vs. Ravens Projection: 16.5 Receiving Yards
- Swift has managed 20+ receiving yards in three out of six appearances, showing explosive ability when catching check-downs or swing passes from Williams in HC Ben Johnson’s high-powered scheme.
- He’s sixth among NFL RBs in YPC (10.4), and second in YAC/reception (12.6), so he clearly isn’t wasting any of his targets.
- The Ravens previously allowed Rams RB Kyren Williams to turn 2 receptions into 37 yards, Chiefs RBs to combine for 6-53-1, Lions for 6-45, and Browns to combine for 11-46-1.
- Snap competition between backup RB Kyle Monangai has been noticeable, of late, but Swift’s target total (21) far exceeds the rookie’s (7).
Ravens RB Justice Hill Projection: 9.5 Rushing Yards
- Hill saw six carries for 16 yards against the Rams, his most rushing attempts of the season, highlighting an expanded role in Baltimore’s struggling offense.
- He also caught 5-of-6 targets for 28 yards, so most of his value lies as a receiving back on checkdowns and short-yardage situations.
- Hill accounted for 44% of the Ravens’ total yards from scrimmage in Week 6, emphasizing his involvement when the passing game stalled
- The Ravens may lean on the running backs more with Henry as the primary ball carrier, but Hill’s ability to contribute in passing situations keeps him relevant for low-volume production.
Make NFL Week 8 Picks on PrizePicks
Sunday afternoon brings us a battle between the surging Bears and a Ravens team hoping to get on track. Baltimore looks to stabilize its offense behind Tyler Huntley and Derrick Henry, while Chicago aims to continue its four-game winning streak behind Caleb Williams, D’Andre Swift and a revitalized defense.
With PrizePicks, you can turn these storylines into real-money wins — just pick players, predict More or Less on their stat lines, and cash in when you’re right.
