Lake Forest, Ill. (NWN) — Justin Fields made sure to study Lamar Jackson last season as he prepared to make the jump from Ohio State to the NFL.
Now, he gets a personal lesson.
Jackson and the AFC north-leading Baltimore Ravens are looking to overcome a hard loss while visiting Fields and the Chicago Bears in a matchup between teams featuring double-threat quarterbacks.
“Last year, when I was in college, I’d turn on his highlights and study how he ran the reading option, how his legs were and the kind of start he had,” Fields said. “When he runs a read substitute, he swings his legs so that he is already in running position to run the ball after reading the defensive ends. So last year, I saw how he operated it .
Fields, the No. 11 overall draft pick, hopes to reach Jackson’s level. He will look to build on his best performance as the Bears (3-6) come out from their byes to break a four-game losing streak.
The Ravens (6-3), meanwhile, hope to return to victory after being beaten 22-10 Last week in Miami. He had a difficult time dealing with the onslaught of the Dolphins, and now coach John Harbaugh expects at least something similar from Chicago.
“Definitely have to be prepared for it,” Harbaugh said. “I would expect him to blitz based on what he saw (last) Thursday.”
Jackson, the 2019 MVP, was sacked four times by the Dolphins and was held for 39 yards. But the Ravens come off with 12 straight victories against NFC opponents, the NFL’s longest active interconference run.
For the Bears, it has been nothing but a loss since they defeated the Raiders on October 10 in Las Vegas. But at least the fields are showing progress.
He threw a career-high 291 yards against Pittsburgh in the lights on Monday night before the goodbye and helped the Bears take the lead in the closing minutes. The Steelers made it 29-27. pulled out ofChicago suffered at least four consecutive defeats, making it the third year in a row.
“The only way to go back to this is to say, ‘Okay, why is this going on? Coach Matt Nagy said. “It is no one else’s fault, except everyone else. Now we pick up the pieces and we get a chance to play a great football team that’s really well trained, and what are we going to do about it?
still on top
The Ravens caught a few breaks over the weekend when no one else won at AFC North. Pittsburgh played to a tie Winless with Detroit, and Cleveland lost big in New England. Cincinnati was closed.
There isn’t much of a difference in the division between Baltimore (6-3), Pittsburgh (5-3-1), Cincinnati (5-4) and Cleveland (5-5).
“It’s great that we are still in control of our destiny,” said Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. “That’s all you can really ask for, but it’s going to be a tough split.”
goodbye, loss
The last time the Bears won after a bye, Mark Trestmann was in his first season as their coach.
Chicago beat Green Bay at Lambeau Field in 2013 when Aaron Rodgers broke his left collarbone after being sacked by Shea McClellan in the Packers’ first series.
The Bears have dropped seven straight after the week, including three each under John Fox and Nagy.
“I know where I come from, he has a great record,” said Nagy, referring to mentor Andy Reid’s 19-3 regular-season record bye-bye. “I tried to follow it early in my career, and it didn’t work. It’s not like you have to change or anything like that. I think some of it is based on whether you’re part of a team.” Where are we in form. And that’s the route we went this year. I think people feel better mentally. But there’s nothing specific that I’m getting at, I think, ‘We It has to be done in full four years.'”
facing area
There is a danger of passing as well as walking the fields. Baltimore, of course, knows how difficult it can be to defend – the Ravens have Jackson.
Baltimore linebacker Justin Houston said, “If you run and you’re going wild back there, everything’s out of control and you don’t have any balance, you’re not going to get that.” “So you want to hurry up and be in control.”
head to head
The Bears have done well with a 4-2 record against the Ravens.
Chicago has won the last two meetings in overtime, most recently in 2017 in Baltimore. The Bears are also up 3-0 against the Ravens at Soldier Field.
is knowing
Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman is catching up fast after a late start to his rookie season due to injury issues. The number 27 player took 18 catches in four matches, including a career-high six last week.
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NWN Sportswriter Noah Trister in Baltimore contributed.
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