After the Ravens stuffed the Chicago Bears on the goal line in the final minute of their 30-16 victory, linebacker Roquan Smith came to the sideline and hugged Head Coach John Harbaugh.
The Ravens had put the brakes on their four-game losing skid and a big reason was the return of their defensive leader.
In his first game back from a hamstring injury that cost him two games, Smith recorded the Ravens' highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) defensive grade by far with a 90.7. Smith made a game-high 12 tackles.
"You never want to be injured in this game of football because your best ability is your availability," Smith said. "That's what it all boils down to. [I am] grateful to be out there with my guys and to get a win here at M&T [Bank Stadium]."
The game had extra significance for Smith considering the Bears traded him to the Ravens midway through the 2023 season. It was Smith's first game against them since.
The Ravens ultimately signed Smith to a mega contract extension and the Bears inked linebacker T.J. Edwards the following year on a less costly deal. It's one game, but while Smith had a 90.7 grade, Edwards logged a 50.2.
Smith said he's long been over any feelings he had about the Bears trading him.
"At the end of the day, I'm comfortable with who I am as a person and who I am as a player, and I know what I bring to the table," Smith said.
Here are the other grades and snap counts from the Ravens' Week 8 win:
- Fullback Patrick Ricard played 14 snaps in his debut and logged one of the offense's highest grades (76.6). He destroyed Edwards on one block, sending the Bears linebacker flying onto his butt.
- Baltimore's new three-safety combination played nearly the entire game. Kyle Hamilton played every snap and aligned in the box on 61.3% of his defensive snaps, his highest rate in a game since 2022, per Next Gen Stats. In his second game, Alohi Gilman played all but one defensive snap and had a high 70.3 grade, and Malaki Starks played all but five snaps.
- Running back Keaton Mitchell made the most of his season-high seven snaps, taking four carries for 43 yards.
- Rookie Mike Green led the Ravens' three outside linebackers with 52 snaps (82%) and registered his first career sack, which held the Bears to a field goal on their opening drive.
- In his first game back from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two weeks, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie played just 20 snaps but had a strong 68.1 PFF grade. Marlon Humphrey played all but three snaps and had the defense's second-highest grade at 71.6.
- Elevated from the practice squad, defensive tackle Taven Bryan played 35% of the defensive snaps. He had more snaps than fellow defensive linemen Brent Urban and C.J. Okoye.
