SPOILER ROLE STARTS NOW FOR Bears

After dispatching the hapless Detroit Lions with a 48-3 win Sunday, the Ravens are preparing to battle a third straight NFC North opponent in the Bears .

The Bears can play the role of playoff spoiler because Baltimore (7-6) needs a win to stay in the AFC wild-card hunt. The top two teams in the race, Denver and Jacksonville, both lost Sunday. The Ravens don't control their own destiny, but they'll finish the regular season against three teams below .500: the Bears (5-8), at the Steelers (6-7) and at the Raiders (4-9).

On Sunday, the Ravens and Ray Rice enjoyed a record-setting day. Rice ran for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore built a 20-3 halftime lead behind Rice, who had 155 yards rushing in the first half on only nine carries and four catches for 53 yards. His 59-yard touchdown run made it 17-3, and the Ravens cruised to the finish in handing the Lions (2-11) their 19th straight road loss.

Baltimore set team records in total yardage (548) and rushing touchdowns (five). The 48 points tied the franchise mark, set in 2005 against Green Bay.

Rice reached a personal high with 219 total yards and topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career. He has 1,041 yards on the ground and a team-high 68 catches for 652 yards.

Ravens CHEAT SHEET

- Baltimore seeks its 7th consecutive win against NFC at home.

- QB Joe Flacco has a 11-4 record (.733) at home and has completed 260 of 421 (61.7 pct.) for 3,065 yards with 12 TD passes.

- Before Sunday, the Ravens had been held to 20 points or fewer in five consecutive games.

- Under coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore is 11-4 at home (5-2 in '09) and has won 9 of its last 12 home games.