(670 The Score) The Bears are back, in the sense that they’re required to play a game this Sunday. They’re getting the Baltimore Ravens, a better team in basically every phase of the game. But don’t forget that the playoff run might start here. The good news is that four 3-6 teams in NFL history have made the playoffs. The slightly-less-good news is that literally every other 3-6 team in the 100-year history of the National Football League hasn't. Can the Bears turn a bottom-five offense and a bottom-10 defense around just in time to roar through a stacked NFC – leapfrogging eight other teams in the process – on their way to a *second* straight wild-card matchup?!? We’re about to find out! Here are the matchups to watch for Sunday at Soldier Field.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson vs. every player on Bears’ defense
Not only is the Bears’ defense no longer elite, most of the numbers would agree that this unit is actively bad. Pass DVOA? The Bears are 19th. Run DVOA? They're 21st. Outside of garbage time, they also rank 26th in EPA per play, 22nd in passing EPA per play, 23rd in rushing EPA per play, 29th in quarterback pressure percentage and 31st in quarterback hurry percentage. In the last four games – all losses, you’ll remember – the Bears have allowed 24, 38, 33 and 29 points, respectively. During that same stretch, they’ve forced two turnovers. Getting edge rusher Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson back would obviously help, but this certainly feels like something that’s only going to get worse before it gets better. Part of that comes with playing Jackson, who continues to be a stud while every talking head on television insists he’s not for like the 100th straight year. The Bears will only pull off the upset if Jackson has one of his career’s worst games. It’s that easy!
Bears OT Larry Borom vs. Ravens DE Calais Campbell
Give the fifth-round rookie Borom the credit that he’s due – he has been a pleasant surprise for an offensive line that has desperately needed one this season. In two starts at right tackle, Borom has handled the 49ers' Nick Bosa and the Steelers' T.J. Watt admirably. Up next is Campbell, who’s on track for one the best seasons of his 13-year career. Campbell’s overall PFF ranking (88.4) ranks No. 4 out of 128 eligible defensive linemen, and he has 17 hurries and nine quarterback hits in 228 pass rushes. He has been equally good against the run this season too. He’s far and away the best player on Baltimore's defensive line, so maybe Borom gets some chip help from tight ends and running backs. Or maybe he just goes one-on-one all afternoon, which the Bears have also seemed A-OK with at times.
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Bears WR Allen Robinson vs. Ravens CB Anthony Averett
It’s a big game for Robinson. Not only could the he use a get-right game, but for the Ravens, Sunday will bring a great look at their next big free-agent signing! (I’m kidding ... but less than you think.) Robinson may see significantly more of cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who’s pretty clearly the best player in the Ravens' secondary. Baltimore’s pass defense is pretty rough – the Ravens rank 24th in DVOA and have allowed more than 250 passing yards in five of their nine games. The days of hoping for a season-long turnaround from Robinson are probably coming to a close, but there’s definitely still one or two vintage A-Rob performances left in his Bears tenure.
Cam Ellis is a writer for 670 The Score and Audacy Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KingsleyEllis.