If the Green Bay Packers (5-4) are going to stay in the playoff race in the second half of the season, they can’t afford a stumble at Lambeau Field against the Baltimore Ravens (4-5) Sunday.
The game will be presented to you along with all the beer, pizza and chips you can stand by the CBS network and its affiliates across the country at 1 p.m. EST.
The Game: Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers (+2)
O/U: 38.0
The History
The Ravens and Packers have played just five times since 1998, with Green Bay holding a 4-1 advantage in the all time series.
They last met up on October 13, 2013 in a 19-17 Packers win. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco put on a passing clinic, with Rodgers going 17 for 32 for 315 yards, one touchdown and one pick. Flacco was 20 of 34 for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-5)
If you just looked at the box score, you’d think the Ravens come into this game after a nailbiter 23-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans last Sunday. But when you dig a littler deeper, you see that’s just not the case. Baltimore’s defense surrendered what turned out to be the game-losing touchdown with nearly four minutes left in the game, 23-13.
Faced with a two score deficit and 3:58 on the clock, Baltimore used 3:12 to score a touchdown, leaving them nothing but a hopeless onside kick attempt in the game’s final seconds. The Ravens should have won that game going away and dominated in every statistical category. They possesses the ball 32:22 minutes, outgained the Titans 341-257, had 24 first downs to Tennessee’s 14 and was 6-of-16 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth down. The Titans were 3-of-11 on third down in the game. You can’t even blame turnovers. Baltimore had two to the Titans’ one, but Tennessee only scored one touchdown off them. The Ravens evened that up with a touchdown from the Titans’ pick.
The defense held Tennessee to a total of 71 yards rushing and sacked Marcus Mariota three times. Nope. This was just a shitty loss all around. That’s who the Ravens are this season.
Terrell Suggs hasn’t practiced this week and his status for the game is still up in the air. Cornerback Jimmy Smith is officially questionable, though he too hasn’t suited up. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful and still in the concussion protocol.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-4)
The Packers biggest problem heading into this game is a loaded injury report of their own. Both the running backs they like to use, rookie Aaron Jones and converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery have been held out of practice this week. Safety Morgan Burnett and offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga too have been in sweats on the stationary bikes.
That means that rookies Jamaal Williams and Devante Mays will do the heavy lifting Sunday. Third year quarterback Brett Hundley will need them, especially in pass protection and blitz pick ups in the passing game.
Hundley was solid last week, halting a three game Green Bay losing streak with a 23-16 victory over the Chicago Bears., He finished 18 of 25 for 212 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for 16 yards. Hundley spread the ball around to nine different receievrs with Devante Adams getting the most love. Adams caught five passes for 90 yards and the TD.
Jordy Nelson still seems lost in the offense with Hundley at the trigger. He caught just three passes for 20 yards. I would say head coach and playcaller Mike McCarthy needs to get him more involved in the offense, but I’m not sure McCarthy has any clue how to do that. He definitely can’t draw up the play to make it happen. Without Rodgers’ improvisational skills, this is a high school offense.
The Pick
This line has actually ticked up from +1.5 to +2 in just a few hours Friday afternoon, so if you’re planning on doing anything financially here, strike quickly. Baltimore has been inconsistent all season and can’t seem to put anything but bad performances together in back to back weeks. Still, they come in as a sportsbook favorite thanks to no faith again in my man Hundley. I think he gets the job done again. Packers 24, Ravens 23
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 0-1
Last week
Straight up: 9-5
Against the spread: 6-8
Season
Straight up: 87-59
Against the spread: 75-70
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