The Baltimore Ravens dominated both sides of football for the majority of their Week 8 game against the Chicago Bears, winning 30-16.

The Ravens had a 1-5 record entering the week. They hoped to turn around their season by tweaking during the off-season and getting Lamar Jackson back and some other injured players. By Saturday, the Ravens were engulfed in controversy.

Two articles published during the week highlighted the frustration in the locker room and the apparent disconnect between offensive players and the coaching staff. Baltimore’s late update to its injury report changed Lamar Jackson’s status from ‘questionable to out’, attracting the NFL’s attention and placing Tyler Huntley into the starting lineup. The Ravens had to be prepared for a game that they needed to win, which furthered the impression that the team was in a state of disarray and scrambling to salvage their season.

They took a big step in achieving that goal on Sunday with a victory at all three phases. Under Huntley’s leadership, the offense scored 30 points and converted all three goal-to go opportunities. They also didn’t turnover the ball. After the Bears walked the field on their first two drive, the defense held firm in the red area and did not allow another point until fourth quarter. The Ravens were able to dominate the field position game with their special teams, including Jordan Stout’s perfect kick sequence and Tylan Wallace’s flawless punt.

Huntley, like he did in Week 6, was a spark for the offense. He completed 17 of 22 passes, totaling 186 yards, and had a career high passer rating of 116.9. On eight carries he added 53 yards and, crucially, he only had two sacks, compared to four in Week 6 when completing 21 dropbacks.

All of the rest of offense also seemed to be responding. Derrick Henry had a less than efficient game but still got the Ravens the yards they needed. Todd Monken finally incorporated Keaton Mitchel into the gameplan. The third-year back ran for 43 yards in four carries, along with a return of 39 yards. Patrick Ricard’s 2025 debut was marked by a series crunching, physical blocks that kept up the running game.

Huntley spread out the ball to his other pass-catchers, and they delivered when needed. Zay Flowers was dominant in the first half, and made some key plays during the fourth quarter. Mark Andrews, Rashod bateman, and Charlie Kolar all made explosive plays. DeAndre Hopkins, a veteran at the catch-point, converted a crucial third down.

Zach Orr, on the defensive side, continued to tweak his game plan from the Rams and included some great blitz packages in order to create pressure on Caleb Williams with little need for a four-man rush. The Bears may have dominated the first two possessions but only scored six points. This is a perfect example of how the Ravens’ past defenses adhered to the “bend but do not break” philosophy. Orr was clearly boosted by this, and as the game progressed he increased the pressure. Williams was only brought down twice by the Ravens, but they made him take two grounding penalties, which had the same impact, if no greater.

Each player also contributed to the defensive effort. The veterans are first. Kyle Hamilton, back in the slot, was as impressive as ever. Roquan returned after a two-game break and led the defense in tackles with 12, including several on crucial downs. Kyle Van Noy had a couple of pressures, and was strong against the run.

Baltimore’s young defensive players also had their moment in the sun. Mike Green’s first career sack came on a third down in the red zone that forced a Bears field goal. Nate Wiggins recovered from a difficult start to make a game-changing interception against Rome Odunze that led the Ravens to a fourth-quarter touchdown. Teddye Buchanan, who recorded six tackles including two for losses, continued to be a solid run-defense player. It was a positive performance for a defense which hasn’t been able to enjoy much success this season.

On Sunday, the Ravens’ focus on their special teams was key to their success. They have been criticized for it, but they were right. Stout-Wallace’s punt connection, as mentioned above, was only one of many plays that resulted in a clear advantage of field position. Keaton Mitchel and Rasheen Al both made long kick returns. Keondre Higgins and Keondre Jackson also made strong tackles in kick coverage. Tyler Loop was also six-for-six with three field goals, and three extra-points.

The Ravens won the game in all three phases, but it wasn’t a perfect victory. Bears, despite putting up 372 yards of total offense, helped their opponents by making mistakes and committing penalties. Veteran safety Kevin Byard dropped an interception. The Ravens’ confidence was boosted by scoring 30 points and holding the Ben Johnson-coached team to 16 points, even without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens’ playoff hopes may still be dependent on the return of their two-time MVP, but they are still in the race.