Week 8 marks a crucial turning point for both the Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears as they face off at M&T Bank Stadium on October 26. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
The Bears enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak behind quarterback Caleb Williams, sitting at 4-2. Meanwhile, the Ravens are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and regain momentum after a difficult stretch.
However, the Ravens’ plans took another hit when Lamar Jackson was ruled out with a hamstring injury. His absence not only affects Sunday’s game but has also prompted a deeper look from the league into how Baltimore handled his injury report leading up to Week 8.
Fans hoping to watch the game without cable can stream it for free through DIRECTV Stream, which offers a five-day free trial including CBS and more than 90 live channels. Other options include Paramount+, where new users can sign up for a free seven-day trial, and fuboTV, which carries the full slate of NFL broadcasts.
NFL Investigates Baltimore Over Lamar Jackson Injury Report
The NFL has opened an investigation into how the Baltimore Ravens handled their reporting of Jackson’s practice participation before the Week 8 game. The team initially listed Jackson as a full participant during Friday’s practice but later changed his status to “limited.”
“The league will look into this,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told reporters Saturday, via ESPN. “The league reviews any matter involving a change to a player’s status.”
In a statement, the Ravens said: “Lamar Jackson was present for and participated fully in our entire Friday practice. Upon further evaluation today and after conferring with the league office, because Lamar didn’t take any starter reps in practice, we updated our report to reflect his practice participation.”
According to ESPN, a source confirmed Jackson ran the scout team during Friday’s session rather than taking reps with the starters. Under the NFL’s injury report policy, a player who participates in individual drills or scout-team work due to medical reasons must be listed as a “limited participant.”
The policy states: “Participation on the scout team, no matter how extensive, by a player whose normal repetitions would be with the starter but for his medical condition, would not alter the player’s proper designation as ‘limited participation.’”
If the Ravens are found to have violated this rule, the team could face a fine or other league discipline.
Bears vs. Ravens Odds, Predictions, and What to Expect
Without Jackson, the Ravens (1-5) will rely on backup quarterback Tyler Huntley to lead the offense against a Chicago team that has been one of the NFL’s hottest in recent weeks. The Bears (4-2) are coming off a 26-14 win over the New Orleans Saints and have averaged 25.3 points per game over their four-game win streak.
According to SportsLine consensus odds, Baltimore enters the matchup as a 2.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 45 points, down from the opening line of 49.5.
Running back D’Andre Swift has averaged 7.1 yards per carry with a touchdown over his last two games and could challenge a Ravens defense that has struggled to stop the run. Chicago’s defense, which allows 350 yards per game, may find success against a Baltimore offense that ranks 31st in turnover rate.
The SportsLine Projection Model predicts a close game, giving the Bears a 59% chance to cover the spread. Final score prediction: Ravens 26, Bears 24.
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