Just when you thought it was impossible to make the Chicago Bears defense look like ballhawks, along came the Ravens last Sunday in Baltimore.
In their 27-24 overtime win, the Bears had not one, not two, but three takeaways. Yes, the Bears.
The same Bears who set a franchise-record low for takeaways in 2015 (14), broke that with an NFL-record low 11 last season and had only three through five games this season.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw two interceptions. He enters Sunday's game at U.S. Bank Stadium with eight interceptions and a 66.1 passer rating that ranks 31st, one spot ahead of Browns rookie DeShone Kizer.
Ouch.
But a look at Sunday's interceptions shows why Ravens coach John Harbaugh is more upset with his receivers than he is with the former Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
Third-and-four at the Baltimore 44. Ravens trail 3-0 with 3:54 left in the first half: Receiver Breshad Perriman finds a soft spot in the defense up the right sideline. Flacco delivers the ball right to Perriman's hands 23 yards downfield. The ball bounces off them as Perriman gets clobbered by the safety. Bryce Callahan dives for the deflected ball, makes the interception, gets up and returns the ball 52 yards. The ensuing two-play, 20-yard touchdown drives gives the Bears a 10-0 lead. Making matters worse: Perriman suffered a concussion on the play and has missed the first two days of practice this week.
Second-and-10 at the Chicago 30. Ravens trail 17-13 with 5:08 left in the fourth quarter: Backup receiver Chris Moore is lined up wide right. He is seeing more action because starter Jeremy Maclin was inactive (shoulder) and another starter, Perriman, was concussed. Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller is playing off coverage at six yards from the line of scrimmage. The Ravens motion left and run play-action that way. Flacco rolls right and throws 15 yards downfield to Moore. It wasn't the prettiest pass. And it wasn't one of those well-placed, back-shoulder deals that you see the great ones deliver. But Moore should have caught the ball. It hit him in the chest area. And he probably could have done a better job coming back to the ball, which would have helped prevent Fuller from playing the ball and the man perfectly. The ball deflected another five yards down the field. Adrian Amos grabbed it and weaved 90 yards the other way for a pick-six.