Ladies and gentleman, after six months of waiting, football is finally back.
Sure, it's a preseason game and you probably won't recognize roughly 50 percent of the players on the field, but it is football and there will be plenty of things to watch for when the Ravens battle the Bears in Canton, Ohio on Thursday night.
For one, there's a good chance that we're going to get our first look at Lamar Jackson. Although the Ravens have made it clear that Joe Flacco will be the team's starting quarterback this season, Flacco likely won't be playing against the Bears, which means we should see a heavy dose of Jackson and his electrifying skills.
During an interview this week, Jackson sounded a lot like he was expecting to play. The first-round pick said he wanted to use the Hall of Fame game to prove to America that he's "a quarterback."
"And just show the growth from college to my new chapter," Jackson said.
Besides Jackson, the Ravens also have another intriguing option at quarterback in Robert Griffin III, who you might remember more as the the last quarterback to lead the Browns to a win. Although we'll likely see both of those players in action, Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't reveal any details about who he plans to play in the game, despite knowing exactly who he plans to play.
"We have that set," Harbaugh said of the QB plans for the Hall of Fame game, via the AP. "I never really talk about that. We just go do it. But we have the quarterback rotation set, and then we'll organize the rest of it ... There'll be some guys who won't play in that game, probably you might guess the guys who haven't practiced as much that first week."
So why should you be excited for the Hall of Fame game?
Because Aston Kutcher's excited.
You know you’re excited about football when you wake up on Wednesday and get dressed for the game that doesn’t start until Thursday. pic.twitter.com/t0CdFZGtw7 — ashton kutcher (@aplusk) August 1, 2018
If that doesn't get you to watch, nothing will.
Here's your TV and streaming information.
How to watch
What: Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears
Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears When: Thursday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m. ET
Thursday, Aug. 2, 8 p.m. ET Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio TV: NBC Play-by-play: Al Michaels Color analyst: Cris Collinsworth
NBC
Bet all your money on the Ravens?
The return of football doesn't just mean the return of football this year, it also means you'll be getting your first chance to gamble on football since the Supreme Court paved the way in June for legalized gambling across the country.
With multiple states now accepting NFL bets, people can wager on anything and everything, including preseason football. If you're thinking on putting some money down on this game, history says you should probably go with the Ravens, who are currently a 2-point favorite. Not only have the Ravens won eight straight preseason games, but they've also covered in nine straight games dating back to their preseason finale in 2015.
The NFL Preseason kicks off Thursday with the Hall of Fame Game
Odds (@BovadaOfficial):
Bears +2
Ravens -2
OU 33
Trends:
1. The Ravens are 8-0 SU in their last 8 preseason games and 9-0 ATS in their last 9.
2. Favorites are 15-6 SU and 11-7-3 ATS in the last 21 HOF Games. pic.twitter.com/KQ3qLjx3F3 — OddsShark (@OddsShark) July 30, 2018
Of course, if you're not quite sold on the Ravens, we understand.
So which side of Bears-Ravens is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Hammerin' Hank Goldberg's Hall of Fame Game pointspread pick, all from the handicapping legend coming off another wildly profitable NFL season!
Why Ravens vs. Bears
Finally, if you're wondering why the Bears and Ravens were picked to play in the Hall of Fame game, there's an answer for that. The NFL generally picks two teams that both have a connection to Hall of Fame weekend, which made Chicago and Baltimore the perfect choices for 2018. Not only will the two teams be squaring off Thursday, but if fans stick around, they'll be able to see one former legend from each team enshrined into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.
For the Bears that will be linebacker Brian Urlacher. For the Ravens, that will be Ray Lewis.
The 2018 NFL preseason officially begins tonight with a highly anticipated Hall of Fame game between the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. It’s been six months since the Super Bowl and the long offseason stretch has had fans clamoring for pigskin action, something they can finally experience again this evening. This is also the first of many chances bettors will get to wager on pro football during the 2018 NFL season.
Oddsmakers are projecting a low-scoring, closely contested affair, installing the Ravens as the favorite in this preseason opener. Baltimore is currently going off as 2.5-point chalk, a small spread that coincides with one of the lowest totals you will see at this level. The over/under for points scored opened at a mere 32 points, and even then the over side of the bet looks to be a risky proposition. Considering four of the last six Hall of Fame matchups failed to eclipse the 30-point mark, there is a good chance that this one winds up playing in the 20s. It certainly would be fitting to see another defensive slugfest in the Hall of Fame game, especially with a pair of former star linebackers, Ray Lewis of the Ravens and Brian Urlacher of the Bears, on hand for their enshrinement in Canton this weekend.
Will defense once again take center stage tonight, or will offense somehow find a way to shine through in the first game of the preseason? Jon Price of SportsInformationTraders.com has a prediction on the outcome that you won’t want to miss. Before getting to the pro handicapper’s pick for this matchup—his first of plenty planned for the preseason—have a look at the complete schedule, start time, TV channel, live stream coverage and updated odds for the Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens. You can also find a breakdown of the matchup, relevant tweets, quotes from star players and more for the 2018 NFL Hall of Fame game.
Hall of Fame Game 2018 Viewing Guide
Time (ET) Matchup TV Live Stream Line Total 8 p.m. Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens* NBC NBC Sports Live BAL -2.5 32
*Matchup takes place at neutral site
Hall of Fame Game 2018 Preview and Predictions
Baltimore has been a good side to back in recent years during the exhibition slate, as the club has won all eight preseason games it has participated in dating back to 2016. Head coach John Harbaugh is an impressive 28-12 during preseason matchups since taking over the reins in 2008. His Chicago counterpart, Matt Nagy, will be making his head coaching debut after serving as the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator under Andy Reid for the past two seasons. Kansas City went 4-4 overall—2-2 in both 2016 and 2017—in the preseason with Nagy directing the offense.
Nagy will get the first of five chances to showcase his new offense tonight and fans in the Windy City will be hoping to see a big improvement over last year’s abysmal showing on that side of the ball. The Bears ranked amongst the worst in the league during the 2017 campaign in terms of total yards (287.4, 30th), passing yards (175.7, 32nd) and points (16.5, 29th) per game. They’ll have their work cut out against a tough Ravens defense that ranked sixth in points allowed (18.9) last year. The Ravens offense wasn’t much better than Chicago in terms of yardage—they averaged only 305.4 yards per game in 2017—but still managed to score at respectable rate and averaged 24.7 points per game, the ninth-best mark in the NFL last season.
Larry Myer noted a trend that should make Chicago fans happy that their team is involved in this game:
#Bears have made the playoffs each of the last three times they've played in the Hall of Fame Game: As a wildcard in 1977 and as a division champion in 1990 and 2005. — Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) July 31, 2018
It wouldn’t be wise to expect an explosion of offense in this game, especially with both coaches likely to keep things simple in terms of game planning and instead concentrate on evaluating talent. One player that is likely get a long look is Baltimore’s rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson. After nabbing tight end Hayden Hurst at No. 25 overall, the Ravens elected to trade back into the first round, acquiring the No. 32 pick from the Philadelphia Eagles and using it on the Heisman-winning Louisville signal-caller. The speedy, 6’2” rookie has been turning heads all offseason, putting together a series of exciting practices and workouts leading up to his preseason debut.
Veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs is impressed by what the 21-year-old quarterback has shown so far, as per the Associated Press (via Yahoo! Sports):
He likes to run, very fast. He's very exciting, a young talent, and he approaches the game with the kind of requirement that quarterbacks are held to in this league. He could have a promising career.
Sporting News tweeted a clip of Jackson throwing a touchdown pass to veteran QB Joe Flacco during practice:
Lamar Jackson to WR Joe Flacco.pic.twitter.com/RSMgG5fxwH — Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 28, 2018
The Bears could be debuting a number of key offseason acquisitions, including a slew of pass-catching options for second-year signal-caller Mitchell Trubisky. The organization was able to lure explosive receiver Allen Robinson away from the Jacksonville Jaguars, plus signed former Philadelphia tight end Trey Burton and Taylor Gabriel of the Atlanta Falcons. Chicago also added another skilled wideout in the draft, selecting Anthony Miller out of Memphis in the second round. These represent major improvements over last year’s receiving corps, a group that paced by a mediocre 59-catch, 614-yard, one-touchdown season from Kendall Wright, a player now with the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings.
Trubisky spoke about Nagy’s offense and coaching style ahead of the Hall of Fame game (via USA Today):
I mean, what's not to like about this offense? I love it. There's a lot of options. We throw the ball around a lot and we're going to balance it with a great running game. Lets me go out and play and be myself and not worry about mistakes. But we do go in the film room and correct them. There is a big emphasis on not making the same mistake twice. Just go out there and play freely and let your instincts take over. And then when we make mistakes, just go back and learn from it. It allows me to go out there and be myself and play freely.
Chris Emma thinks that the new Chicago offense will be a boon for the club’s receivers, with seventh-rounder Javon Wims turning some heads in practice:
This Bears offense is one that showcases its receivers well. Rookie Javon Wims, the seventh-round pick out of Georgia, has made a good impression in camp. — Chris Emma (@CEmma670) July 30, 2018
The Hall of Fame game is still one traditionally for young players and those battling for a spot on the final 55-man roster, so expectations should be tempered due to less-heralded talent taking the majority of snaps. Jon Price believes that points will be at a premium in this contest due to a lack of offensive cohesion and unfamiliarity amongst the players on the field. Defense tends to do better in these situations, as a quick glance at the score lines from every opening preseason game since 2010 will reveal. Here’s how the last six matchups in Canton have shaken out:
Hall of Fame Game Scores (2010-2017)
Year Result Total 2017 Cowboys 20 – Cardinals 18 38 2015 Vikings 14 – Steelers 3 17 2014 Giants 17 – Bills 13 30 2013 Cowboys 24 – Dolphins 20 44 2012 Saints 17 – Cardinals 10 27 2010 Cowboys 16 – Bengals 7 23
Please note that the Hall of Fame Game was not played in 2011 and 2016.
Only one team, the Dallas Cowboys in 2013, even managed to eclipse the 20-point mark during the last six Hall of Fame games. In that span, only two games have surpassed a total of 30 points, while one score has decided the winner in four of the last six contests. With many key veterans on both squads expected to be sidelined for all or most of this game, more of the same should be in store. Price suggests bettors back the under tonight, foregoing the point spread in a bout that could realistically go either way since neither side has an incentive to win.
For those in picks pools or wanting to select make a bet against the spread, the Vegas expert believes that the Ravens have a slightly better chance of covering. The Bears underwent a major offseason makeover, drastically reshaping the roster and coaching staff. They’ll need time to gel, while the Ravens have kept their core together, which means they should play better together right out of the gate due to an increased level of familiarity. Don’t be afraid to lay the points, but get ready for a low scoring evening to open the 2018 NFL season.
Pick: Under 32
Prediction: Ravens 17 – Bears 14
Basics
Kickoff: 8 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio)
TV: NBC (Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) / WBAL Ch. 11 (Baltimore)
Radio: WBAL (1019 AM) & 98 Rock (97.9 FM)
Stakes
The Ravens have talked about building momentum throughout a strong offseason. They want to keep that rolling with a win in their opening preseason game. Baltimore’s players are tired of hitting each other and ready to show what they can do against another team.
History
The Ravens have never played in the Hall of Fame game. It’s their second preseason meeting with the Chicago Bears, with the Ravens winning the last one, 19-14, in Chicago in 1998.
Key Storylines
Lamar Jackson’s Debut
The most exciting part of Thursday night’s game will be seeing first-round quarterback Lamar Jackson in game action. Jackson was a dynamic playmaker in college, but will the Heisman Trophy winner be able to pull off the same moves in the NFL? It’s also a chance to see how far Jackson has developed in terms of handling the offense/huddle/play calls and as a pocket passer.
Robert Griffin III’s Comeback
The other big Ravens story is also at quarterback, as it will be the first time veteran quarterback Robert Griffin III has played an NFL game in 19 months. The 2012 No. 2-overall pick was once in Jackson’s shoes as the hyped-up rookie, but after a bitter end in Washington, one-year stay in Cleveland and one year out of the NFL altogether, this is his first chance to show that he can return to prominence.
Defense Is Playing for Ray
Ray Lewis will be the star of the show watching his team from the sidelines. Under new Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale, who was Lewis’ linebackers coach in 2012, the Ravens have a prideful defense that wants to play with Lewis’ tenacity and effort in front of their former leader.
Players to Watch (other than the QBs)
WR Tim White
Just like last year, White has made a splash in training camp and rolls into the preseason with a lot of momentum. He’ll look to finish this first game healthier than last year, however. White suffered a season-ending hand injury in his preseason debut last season (he still caught a touchdown pass later in the game). White needs to play well at both returner and receiver to ensure his spot on the final roster.
RT Orlando Brown Jr.
The Ravens’ starting right tackle spot is perhaps the biggest domino of all the Ravens’ competition battles. Brown will likely get plenty of reps to prove himself. Baltimore wants the rookie third-round pick to show that he can handle both speed and power on the edge. Brown’s college tape was stellar. Let’s see if he turns it on in a game setting.
LB Kenny Young
The rookie fourth-round pick is competing with third-year veteran Patrick Onwuasor for the inside linebacker job next to C.J. Mosley. Onwuasor has the lead, but Young has been impressive in practice with the way he flies around the field. If he can show out in preseason action, he has a real chance at being a Week 1 starter.
Hey everyone, there’s a real NFL football game on tonight!
The annual Pro Football Hall of Fame game — which serves as the kickoff to the preseason — is set to feature the Chicago Bears and the Baltimore Ravens. The teams will face off against each other at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
This contest will hardly be all that interesting since it’s just going to be a bunch of backup players. Still, any football is better than no football.
There are no real interesting Eagles angles to this game. The best I can come up with is that a lot of people seem to think the Bears can be the next Eagles. As far as the Ravens go, the Eagles will be rooting against their success in 2018 since they own Baltimore’s 2018 second-round pick.
The more interesting angle to Hall of Fame week, of course, is the enshrinement ceremony that’ll take place this weekend. Brian Dawkins will OFFICIALLY become a member of the Hall of Fame on Saturday. Same for Terrell Owens.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game if you do plan on watching.
Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens Game Information
TV Schedule
Date: August 2, 2018
Start time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV Channel: NBC
Location: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
Online Streaming
Live stream: NBC Sports Live | NFL Game Pass | fuboTV
If you’re betting on the Hall of Fame game, please stop.
SB Nation Blogs
Windy City Gridiron | Baltimore Beatdown
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