Ben Johnson isn't about to make fatal mistake Bears could make vs. Ravens

To the credit of first-year head coach Ben Johnson, he is ensuring his Chicago Bears stay focused on the task at hand.

Before the Bears' first practice of their Week 8 preparation against the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson faced the media to answer questions about his opponents. He made it clear that this is a Ravens team that shouldn't be overlooked despite a 1-5 start to the season.

"Listen, it's a good team," Johnson said. "Their record really doesn't indicate what they are capable of doing. They can put up points in bunches and this defense is always, since (John) Harbaugh has been there, has always found a way to respond. So, even last year when they didn't start off hot they came back and they finished the season real strong. I know coming off a bye week here, they'll be fresh, they'll be rested, they'll be ripping and roaring, ready to go."

"We got to be on our stuff this week."

Potential trap game for the Bears as they focus on taking down the Ravens

The start of the 2025 season has been great for the Chicago Bears. After losing their first two games, they have rattled off four straight wins, including an impressive victory over the Washington Commanders two games ago.

Now the Bears face an interesting team in Baltimore that has lost four straight games and has been plagued with injuries, including their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson. The Ravens got good news as Jackson returned to practice for the first time since his Week 4 hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs.

While this doesn't necessarily mean Jackson will be playing in the game, it indicates that the Bears' defense will need to prepare as if he is going to be on the field. That's a tough challenge for Chicago with Jackson's ability to run and throw the ball.

The Bears are facing their own injuries as well, with key guys like Tyrique Stevenson, D'Andre Swift, DJ Moore, and Cole Kmet not practicing for the team. That might end up giving the Ravens a significant advantage if those guys can't play.

Johnson at least has the right mindset going into the game versus the Ravens. It's a matter of executing against one of the best teams in the NFL, even if the record doesn't reflect it.