A feared defense that nobody wants to face in December.

A running attack that takes control of the clock – and the game.

Sound familiar, Bears fans?

On Sunday, the Bears will see an image of what they once were when they step on the field against the Baltimore Ravens.

These are the Ravens who ran for 308 yards (second-hightest in team history) last week against a Detroit defense that gave up 121 yards rushing and a touchdown to Matt Forte on Oct. 4.

Rice Rice accounted for 166 of the Ravens' 308 yards rushing in Week 14 against Detroit.

These are the Ravens who rank eighth in the league in total defense and have given up only 97.8 yards rushing a game (sixth best in the league).

The 5-8 Bears have lost sight of who they are, but the Ravens have no such identity crisis. While Ron Turner and Pep Hamilton sort out how to misuse Jay Cutler, the Ravens veterans held a meeting with Coach John Harbaugh last week to discuss the team’s strategy for December.

The coach and veterans agreed on an idea brought up by linebacker Ray Lewis: Just run the damn ball, baby.

Last season, the Ravens did just that in December 2008, running all over the Dallas Cowboys in a key game down the stretch. They Ravens knew what they did well in December.  The Cowboys didn’t. Sound familiar, Bears fans?

Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli will no doubt be watching these highlights with the Bears’ front-7 this week in the film room. They might want to invite Forte and Co. into the film sessions so they can see what an effective running game looks like:

While Chicago ranks last in the league in rushing with an 85 yards per game average, the Ravens trio of Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain rank eighth with an average over 50 percent higher than the Bears. Rice, a second-year pro and emerging fantasy football darling, had 166 yards and a touchdown against the Lions last week.

Granted, the Lions aren’t exactly the Monsters of Motown. But you see the momentum the Ravens have in bullying their way to a playoff berth, and you wonder if the Bears are just another wimp they’ll push in the nearest snowbank.

So you think the Ravens will run against the Bears? This is one telling statistic: According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens are 7-1 this season when they run at least 28 times. Look for at least 40 carries – and a quick game – on Sunday.

Disagree with this preview? Have some suggestions? Write me on my Twitter account below.

-- MIKE REILLEY
 Follow him on Twitter @bearsblogblitz