Sunday's game in Baltimore will feature two teams moving in different directions. The host Ravens have lost four in a row and sit at a disappointing 1-5, while the visiting Chicago Bears have won four in a row following an 0-2 start.
Due in part to the absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson for the last two games, Ravens running back Derrick Henry is not quite having one of his typical seasons thus far. But he is a unique force to reckoned with, with size and speed that have allowed him to defy the typical running back decline curve as he gets into his 30s. Advanced metrics are still pretty kind to him, so it may only be a matter of time before he starts hitting his normal stride on a consistent basis.
As ESPN revealed, Henry's 88 carries are his fewest through six games in a season since 2018, when he played for the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens' last game, Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, was his first 20-plus carry game this season and Week 1 is his only other game with more than 15 carries.
If Jackson is able to play on Sunday, he and Henry will bring a unique challenge for a Bears' run defense that has had some rough spots this season.
Dennis Allen offers simple plan for Bears to stop Derrick Henry
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen spoke to the media on Thursday, and he was asked what the coaching point is regarding getting Henry to the ground.
"Look, easier said than done,” Allen said. “I think the No. 1 coaching point is how many hats can we get around the ball. If we’re expecting one guy to get the ball on the ground all the time, that’s a tough proposition when you’re talking about this guy. You gotta be able to hit him, you gotta be able to wrap up. Essentially, you gotta be able to take his pistons away and take his legs away from him, in terms of his ability to drive through contact. I think more important than anything else, it’s like, how many hats can we get to the ball? I think that will be critical.”
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Allen isn't the first defensive coordinator to say getting more than one guy around Henry is the most critical key to stopping him, and he won't be the last. It is easier said than done, but making it simple can also make it easier to accomplish. It has also surely not gone unnoticed by Allen that Henry already has as many fumbles (three) as he had all of last season, as the Bears try to keep their league lead in takeaways when Week 8 is all said and done.