Chicago Bears (1-4 SU, 3-2 ATS) vs. Baltimore Ravens (3-2 SU, 3-2 ATS)
Week 6 NFL
Date/Time: Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 1PM EST
Where: MT&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
TV: Fox
By Loot, NFL Football Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Point Spread: CHI +7/BAL -7
Over/Under Total: 40
The Chicago Bears come to MT&T Bank Stadium to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in week 6 action. The Ravens scored a key win on Sunday, going into Oakland and beating the Derek Carr-less Raiders, 30-17. They were able to spark a dormant offense and reverse some negative inertia after starting the season so well. They now turn their attention to the visiting Bears, who came up just short to the Vikings on MNF, losing 20-17. After being badly beaten in their two road games this season, they look for better this week against the Ravens.
The Ravens have been all over the place this season. After a 2-0 start where opponents scored a combined ten points, they fell on their face in London with a record-tying worst-ever loss to the Jaguars. They followed that with a lopsided loss to the Steelers at home, so coming up with a nice game this past Sunday was really critical. At 3-2, they have stabilized their condition and can approach the rest of the season with some optimism. But as they have shown this season, they can be all over the place and trying to peg what you're going to get from week-to-week can feel like a futile undertaking. And while one shouldn't besmirch their win last week, it did come against a compromised Raiders team that is a shadow of their peak selves without Carr behind center.
The Ravens' offense came out of their doldrums on Sunday, following a two-game stretch where they put up an anemic 16 combined points. Joe Flacco was finally able to stretch the field, as he hit Mike Wallace on a series of big throws. He was 19-for-26 on the day, with Wallace registering 133 receiving yards. Jeremy Maclin caught six balls. Coming out of the backfield, Javorious Allen and Alex Collins were effective with 128 rushing yards between the pair. They converted 7 third down attempts and didn't turn the ball over. More of the same could have the Ravens in good shape this week.
The Baltimore defense, so fearsome and impactful in the first two games of the season, returned to form to some degree on Sunday. The big plays were there, as Jimmy Smith returned a fumble for a touchdown. Terrell Suggs had a sack, as did Tony Jefferson out of the secondary. Safety Eric Weddle doesn't get enough credit for how active he is in this defense. CJ Mosley is a difference-maker at linebacker, as the defense has combined youth with a veteran touch to create a defense that could be among the best in the conference with more consistency and some good breaks on the injury front.
The Bears weren't that far off on Monday Night Football, with a Minnesota FG in the final seconds spoiling the debut of QB Mitchell Trubisky, 20-17. They sit at 1-4, with the prognosis not altogether rosy. Trubisky still showed enough flashes with his strong arm and nimble feet to give the offense a little hope for the future. Jordan Howard has been rounding into shape the last few weeks, as a viable run-game would do a young QB like Trubisky a lot of good. Still, with a TD coming on a fake punt, along with an early safety, the offense wasn't that impressive. And a key turnover late set up the Vikes for the go-ahead score.
At the end, Trubisky's turnovers were a key part of the loss on MNF, but some leash needs to be extended for a guy playing in his first NFL game. Chicago tried to make it easier for the youngster with the plays they ran, with mixed results. He offers more athleticism and a bigger arm than what the Bears have seen behind center in recent seasons. Again, good back play could help and Howard had 76 yards against Minnesota. A big tight end also helps and Trubisky was able to connect with Zach Miller on a TD. By the same token, Trubisky begins his NFL career with a cast of playmakers around him that is fairly humdrum.
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The Chicago defense hasn't been that bad, considering that they're gotten very little support at times on the other side of the ball. Up-front, they've been getting a decent run-stop and decent pass-rush from guys like Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, and others. On MNF, Floyd sacked Bradford for a safety. Nicks and Floyd both had two sacks on the night. Corners Bryce Callahan and Kyle Fuller, along with safeties Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos have been fairly adept at keeping opposing passing games in-check. So far this season, they've been pretty stingy at home, but less-effective in road games. We'll see what they can come up with this week against the Ravens.
The Ravens have been all over the map this season, as they are not impervious to laying an egg. At the same time, after a tough MNF loss, the Bears now have to pick up and go to a venue where a lot of Bears players have never played. A home Baltimore defense could make life hard on a Chicago offense that is working on different things with Trubisky behind center. The Ravens haven't had any close games this season, winning easily in their three victories and losing badly in their two defeats. I see this being a winning week for the Ravens, who I see pulling away late for the cover at home.
Loot's Prediction to Cover the Point Spread: I'm betting on the Baltimore Ravens minus 7 points. Tired of your credit card not working for sportsbook deposit? End that problem today and bet the Chicago vs. Baltimore game from home by signing up at Bovada Sportsbook where your credit card WILL work and where you'll receive a generous 50% sign-up bonus!
