Ben Johnson has a tough decision to make when the Chicago Bears face the Baltimore Ravens.
The status of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is up in the air, and the team will have to decide whether to prepare to face him. While it is fair to prepare for multiple options, Johnson said he is preparing as if Jackson is healthy, and that is the innovative approach.
"We will approach it like he is starting."
Bears are preparing to play against Jackson
The Ravens can be coy about it, and it may truly end up a game-time decision. However, it takes one glance at a sports book to see that Jackson is expected to play. The Ravens, despite being 1-5, are 6.5-point favorites this weekend at home against the Bears. That is despite the Bears having a three-game lead in their records.
If Baltimore were starting a backup, there is no chance that they would be expected to win by about a touchdown. Baltimore was at home against the Los Angeles Rams last week, and the Rams were about seven-point favorites. The Rams covered that spread, too.
Chicago may not be quite as good as the Rams, but the Houston Texans were close to three-point favorites when they played the Ravens in Baltimore, and they won that game with ease as well. Most would say Houston and Chicago are on a similar tier, with Chicago higher. So, if Jackson were not expected to play, the Bears would be at least field goal favorites, not touchdown underdogs.
That shift of roughly 10 points is massive, but it does speak to the value of Lamar Jackson. It also speaks to why Johnson should devote all his time and energy to Jackson. Cooper Rush or Tyler Huntley are significant drop-offs that, even without the time to prepare, will be easier to handle than Jackson.
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Anytime they do not put in the effort to defend Jackson, it could end up biting them when he starts to get healthy and play his best. So, the Bears are not only cautious, they are being smart and playing the odds by preparing for Jackson.