The defense went into last week's game against the Bengals stressing the importance of turnovers, and that attitude paid off with a season-high three interceptions. The defense, specifically the secondary, talked about building off that performance. With backup quarterback Josh McCown getting the start for the Bears, the Ravens will be looking to pounce on any mistakes he makes.

Continued struggles in the running game have once again been a topic this week, and one question has been whether the Ravens would turn to second-year running back Bernard Pierce to take over for Ray Rice as the featured back. Head Coach John Harbaugh said that the player with the hot hand will play, but also said that he does not see a personnel change in the backfield as the key in fixing the problem. The Bears rank as the NFL's second-worst team at defending the run, so this could be a week to establish the ground game no matter who gets the carries.

As the running backs have come under intense scrutiny, so has the offensive line. Harbaugh was direct this week when he said, "the bottom line is we've got to block better." A rebound performance by the unit could go a long way in jump starting the offense on the ground and through the air. The Ravens have to clear holes for the running backs and also have to protect quarterback Joe Flacco, and both issues have been a challenge this season.

With McCown starting just his fourth game in the last five years, the Ravens will look to take advantage of the 34-year-old signal caller. McCown has played well for the Bears this season, throwing for 538 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Chicago's offensive line has protected McCown and starter Jay Cutler, allowing just 14 sacks this season. But the Ravens have one of the NFL's best pass rushes, and if they can bring pressure on McCown that could create opportunities for the secondary to get turnovers.

A strength of the Bears passing game is the big targets they have on the edge in wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. The duo has combined to catch 107 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns through the first nine games, the best marks in the NFL for a pair of receivers. Part of the advantage for Marshall (6-foot-4, 230 pounds) and Jeffery (6-3, 216) is they have a distinct size advantage over most defenders, and that will be a challenge for the Ravens secondary.

For as much attention as the Bears passing game receives, Harbaugh said that stopping running back Matt Forte is still the first key to stopping their offense. He is one of the best backs in the NFL, and he currently ranks sixth in the league with 691 rushing yards. Forte is also a threat out of the backfield, so the pressure will be on the linebackers to track him into the second level to keep him from breaking big gains in the passing game.

The weather does not look pretty for Chicago. The Windy City will live up to its name, as the forecast is calling for 20 mile per hour winds and a 70 percent chance of rain. The Bears have a natural grass surface at Soldier Field, which could make for sloppy conditions on Sunday. Nasty weather could limit both teams offensively and put even more pressure on the running game.

The Ravens rested some key defensive players during the week, as defensive linemen Haloti Ngata (knee) and Chris Canty (knee), and inside linebacker Daryl Smith (thigh) all missed practice time. They are three key defensive starters, and having them miss Sunday's game would be a significant blow for the unit.

Tight ends Ed Dickson and Dallas Clark both came up with some key catches in last week's win over the Bengals. Clark had a first-quarter touchdown and Dickson had a big catch in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal. Those plays could be a good sign for the offense, as Harbaugh indicated this week that he wants to see more production out of the tight ends.

Whether it was running a reverse with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, putting in Haloti Ngata for a goal-line package, or running a flea flicker, the Ravens showed some offensive trickery last week against Cincinnati. Those plays helped provide a spark to the struggling unit, and the Ravens hinted that there could be more in store in the coming weeks. What does Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell have up his sleeve this week?