2025 NFC Wildcard — Packers at Bears

For Bears and Packers, wild-card game is a rare playoff matchup in NFL’s longest-running rivalry

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Green Bay (9-7-1) at Chicago (11-6)

DAY/TIME/TV: Saturday, 7 p.m. CST, Amazon Prime Video.

Series record: Packers lead 109-97-6.

Last meeting: Bears beat Packers 22-16 in OT at Chicago on Dec. 20

Last week: Packers lost at Minnesota 16-3; Bears lost to Detroit 19-16.

Packers offense: overall (15), rush (15), pass (17), scoring (16)

Packers defense: overall (12), rush (18), pass (11), scoring (11)

Bears offense: overall (6), rush (3), pass (10), scoring (9)

Bears defense: overall (29), rush (27), pass (22), scoring (23)

Turnover differential: Packers plus-1; Bears plus-22.

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have played each other more than any other two teams in the NFL. Playoff games, however, are a rarity. The Bears and Packers will add another chapter to the league’s longest rivalry when they meet in a wild-card game at Soldier Field on Saturday night. It’ll be just the third time the franchises of Halas and Lombardi have faced off in the postseason, and the significance wasn’t lost on the participants. “It’s a crazy rivalry, like, and the fact that we’re playing them in the playoffs too, it just magnifies it another notch, almost,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “And it makes it that much more important.” Bears tight end Cole Kmet grew up in the Chicago area and developed a strong rooting interest for any Green Bay opponent. He now has a personal tie to the Packers: His sister is dating defensive tackle Lukas Van Ness. “It means a lot,” Kmet said. “To be able to be at home against Green Bay, it’s going to be a special atmosphere, and it almost feels like we’ve played these guys like five or six times here in the past month. But I think that’ll just make the atmosphere in the battle that much more epic.”

The Bears (11-6) are hosting a playoff game for the first time since the 2018 season, when Cody Parkey’s double-doink missed field goal sealed a wild-card loss to Philadelphia. They’ve lost three straight playoff games since the 2010 team beat Seattle in the divisional round at Soldier Field, and the way that season ended remains a bitter memory for their fans. The Bears lost at home in the NFC championship game to Aaron Rodgers and the hated Packers. Green Bay (9-7-1) has dominated the rivalry in recent decades, but during the past two seasons, it’s been even. Last year, both games were decided on field-goal attempts by Chicago’s Cairo Santos — one was blocked and the other was successful. Both meetings this season were close, with Green Bay winning at Lambeau Field in Week 14 and Chicago prevailing in overtime two weeks later.

Johnson led turnaround for Bears

With coach Ben Johnson setting the tone in his first season and quarterback Caleb Williams making strides in his second year, the Bears went from finishing last in the NFC North to winning the division for the first time since 2018. They made the playoffs for the first time in five years and secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but they lost their last two games of the regular season — 42-38 at San Francisco and 19-16 to Detroit on a last-second field goal.

Packers’ defense struggles without Parsons

The Packers have lost four straight. With the No. 7 seed in the NFC locked up, they rested their top players last week at Minnesota. Limping into the postseason was not what the Packers envisioned when they season began. A trade with Dallas for star pass rusher Micah Parsons sent expectations soaring. The two-time All-Pro suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 15 loss at Denver, and the defense has struggled without him. Green Bay blew second-half leads against the Broncos and at Chicago the following week, and then gave up 307 yards rushing while falling 41-24 at home to Baltimore. The Packers expect to have quarterback Jordan Love back. He missed the final two regular-season games after exiting the loss at Chicago with a concussion.

Packers’ Nixon was a pivotal figure in both regular-season games

The Packers overtook the Bears for the NFC North lead with a 28-21 win in Week 14, hanging on thanks to an interception by Keisean Nixon in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining. Chicago had fourth-and-1 at the 14 and Williams badly underthrew Cole Kmet. Williams got some payback two weeks later by throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore in overtime for a 22-16 win. The Bears rallied from 10 points down in the final two minutes of regulation. Nixon had coverage on the winning TD, after he and Nate Hobbs left Jahdae Walker wide open on the tying score. Nixon was looking forward to playing the Bears again. “I didn’t want nobody else,” he said. “I wanted the Bears.”

Not much playoff history for these franchises

The last time Green Bay and Chicago met in the playoffs, Rodgers took a Lambeau leap out of Brett Favre’s shadow and the Packers knocked Jay Cutler out of the game with a knee injury on the way to a 21-14 victory. The Packers went on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks later in Dallas and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to “Titletown USA” for the first time since the 1996 team won it. In 1941, George Halas’ Bears beat Curly Lambeau’s Packers in the playoffs at Wrigley Field. Chicago then knocked off the New York Giants in the NFL championship game, also at Wrigley.

Packers seek to end skid

The Packers are the fourth team in NFL history to head into the playoffs on a losing streak of at least four games. The others were the 1986 New York Jets, 1999 Detroit Lions and 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers. Those Lions and Steelers both lost their playoff openers. The Jets won a wild-card game against Kansas City before losing to Cleveland in overtime in the divisional round.

Packers player to watch

QB Jordan Love: He hasn’t played in a game since a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker in the second quarter of the Dec. 20 Packers-Bears game sent him into concussion protocol. Love was cleared before Green Bay’s regular-season finale, but the Packers opted to rest him for the playoffs. Love has nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions in six games against the Bears.

Bears player to watch

QB Caleb Williams. The Bears envisioned deep playoff runs on a regular basis when they drafted Williams with the No. 1 overall pick last year. They hope this is just the start. Williams threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Though his completion percentage ranked last among qualifying leaders, he became more and more comfortable in coach Ben Johnson’s system.

Key matchup

Chicago’s running backs against Green Bay’s defensive line. Though the Bears’ run game emerged as one of the best this season behind a retooled line, it was hard to tell against Detroit. Chicago managed just 65 yards rushing, with D’Andre Swift held to 40 yards on 10 attempts and rookie Kyle Monangai finishing with 14 yards on six carries. With Swift running for 1,087 yards and Monangai adding 783, the Bears were the only team with two 750-yard rushers. Green Bay struggled to stop the run in recent weeks, with Devonte Wyatt (ankle) and then Micah Parsons (knee) suffering season-ending injuries. The Packers gave up 150 yards rushing to the Bears in their most recent meeting and then allowed Derrick Henry to run for 216 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-24 loss to Baltimore.

Key injuries

Packers: WR/CB Bo Melton (knee), CB Kamal Hadden (ankle), CB Nate Hobbs (knee), DL Jordon Riley (Achilles tendon) and S Zayne Anderson (ankle) have gone on injured reserve since the most recent Packers-Bears game… OT Zach Tom (knee) missed the Packers’ last three regular-season games and is questionable for Saturday. Also questionable are DL Warren Brinson (foot), S Javon Bullard (knee), LB Nick Niemann (pectoral), WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) and backup QB Malik Willis (shoulder/hamstring).

Bears: WR Rome Odunze (foot) expects to play after missing the final five regular-season games… CB Kyler Gordon (groin) is questionable as he attempts to return after being sidelined since Week 13. He has been limited to three games because of hamstring and groin injuries… CB C.J. Gardner-Johnson, LB Amen Ogbongbemiga and DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka have been ruled out because of concussions… OL Braxton Jones (knee) is questionable.

Series notes

The Packers are 30-7 against the Bears counting the playoffs since the start of the 2008 season, with the past four games coming down to the wire. In 2024, both came down to field-goal attempts by Chicago’s Cairo Santos on the final play — one that got blocked and one that was successful. This season, Green Bay hung on to win 28-21 in Week 14 at Lambeau Field when Keisean Nixon intercepted Williams in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining. Chicago returned the favor two weeks later, rallying from 10 down in the final two minutes of regulation before Williams threw a 46-yard touchdown to DJ Moore in overtime. This is the third playoff game between the longtime rivals — all in Chicago. The Bears won a Western Division playoff game over the Packers 33-14 at Wrigley Field on Dec. 14, 1941. The Packers beat the Bears 21-14 in an NFC championship game at Soldier Field on Jan. 23, 2011.

Stats and stuff

The Packers have the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed for the third straight year. They reached the divisional round in 2023 and lost 22-10 at Philadelphia in the wild-card round last season… The Packers dropped their final four regular-season games… They’re the fourth team to enter the playoffs after losing at least four straight games to end the regular season. The others were the 1986 New York Jets, 1999 Detroit Lions and 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers. The only team in that group to win a playoff game was the 1986 Jets, who beat Kansas City in the wild-card round before losing to Cleveland in overtime in the divisional round… Packers DL Rashan Gary had 7½ sacks in Green Bay’s first seven games but doesn’t have any since… Packers RB Josh Jacobs had 13 touchdown runs this season, putting him in a tie for fourth place in the league. Jacobs didn’t play against the Vikings and had just 39 yards rushing on 16 carries over his final two regular-season games as he dealt with a knee issue… The Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020. They have lost three straight postseason games since the 2010 team beat Seattle in a divisional game at Soldier Field… The Bears dropped their final two regular-season games, losing to Detroit on a last-second field goal after coming up short in a 42-38 shootout at San Francisco. They gave up 433 yards against the Lions after the 49ers went off for 496… If Chicago beats Green Bay, Ben Johnson would become the franchise’s first coach to win a playoff game in their first season… The Bears led the league in interceptions (23), takeaways (33) and turnover differential (plus-22) while committing a league-low 11 turnovers… Chicago won six games after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter… With seven interceptions, S Kevin Byard led the league for the second time in his 10 seasons.

2025 Week 18 — Green Bay at Minnesota

Vikings’ McCarthy returns; Packers’ Tune gets 2nd career start

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Green Bay (9-6-1) at Minnesota (8-8)

Day/Time/TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS.

Series record: Packers lead 67-60-3.

Last week: Packers lost 41-24 to Ravens; Vikings beat Lions 23-10.

Last meeting: Packers beat Vikings 23-6 in Green Bay on Nov. 23.

Packers offense: overall (10), rush (17), pass (10), scoring (13).

Packers defense: overall (11), rush (15), pass (7), scoring (11).

Vikings offense: overall (29), rush (25), pass (31), scoring (26).

Vikings defense: overall (5), rush (22), pass (3), scoring (9T).

Turnover differential: Packers even; Vikings minus-8.

Justin Jefferson has hardly been admired more by the Minnesota Vikings than during this season of frustration for their once-potent offense, despite production by the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver that has lagged well behind his remarkable standard. Helping him hit the 1,000-yard mark — against the rival Green Bay Packers on Sunday — would be at least be a nice parting gift. “I want to leave this year off with a good note,” said Jefferson, who has the most yards receiving in NFL history over a player’s first six seasons.

The Vikings were eliminated from contention for the playoffs before they took the field in Week 15, their earliest exit from the race since 2014, with a predictably rocky debut for quarterback J.J. McCarthy the primary reason. Backups Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have also taken their turns struggling to keep afloat the down-field passing attack that has revolved around Jefferson since coach Kevin O’Connell his arrival in 2022.

Jefferson’s averages of 12.5 yards per reception and 59.2 yards per game are by far career lows, even though he has run his routes as well as ever and stayed healthy all season. But he has lived up to his role as a captain by never complaining, doing his best to encourage the developing McCarthy despite one of his prime years being squandered.

“It means a lot just to go out there and continue to compete, continue to give it my all and just show the effort,” said Jefferson, who needs 53 yards against the Packers to become the third receiver in league history to log 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons after Randy Moss and Mike Evans.

McCarthy, who missed the last game with a hand injury, will make just his 10th career start. His first one against the Packers on Nov. 23, was one of his worst.

“It starts with that offseason work and building that connection and eliminating those habits that he had that we felt hindered him throughout the season,” Jefferson said this week, publicly expressing his desire to have McCarthy as the starter again in 2026. “He still has learning to do and growing to do, so that’s all part of the game, but it’s up to me to require more of him and to work with him more.”

Packers name Tune

With Jordan Love playing it safe on the sideline after a concussion two weeks ago and backup Malik Willis dealing with injuries, Clayton Tune will start at quarterback for Green Bay. His only other NFL start came as a rookie in 2023 with Arizona, when he was sacked seven times and threw two interceptions in a 27-0 loss to Cleveland. “Obviously in practice you try to prepare for the game as much as you can, but once you’re in it for real, that’s when you get the full sense of it,” said Tune, who was a fifth-round draft pick out of Houston. “I’m excited to be in there and trust the training I’ve put in.”

Balancing rest with rust

The Packers, who are locked into the last wild-card spot for the NFC playoffs for the third straight time, had a remote chance of bettering the No. 7 seed entering the regular-season finale last year when they lost to Chicago and lost wide receiver Christian Watson to a torn ACL. With the injuries to vital players taking their toll this season, the Packers can’t afford to lose another one and will likely hold more healthy starters out beyond Love. But they would also prefer not to take a fourth straight loss into the playoffs. According to Sportradar, only three teams in NFL history – the Jets (1986), the Lions (1999) and the Steelers (2024) — have entered the postseason with a four-game losing streak or longer. Only the Jets won their first playoff game from that group. “That’s what practice is all there for, and I think we’ve done a great job of amping it up this week,” Love said. “Guys have been flying around at practice. We’ve been doing a great job.”

Green Bay’s cornerback concerns

Not only will McCarthy and the Vikings’ offense not have to face star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL last month, but the Packers are hurting at cornerback, too. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine haven’t played particularly well during this late-season slump, and backups Kamal Hadden and Nate Hobbs went on injured reserve this week. The Packers claimed Trevon Diggs off waivers from Dallas this week, with the possibility the two-time Pro Bowl pick will play Sunday after just a few days of orientation. “The same coverages are same coverages,” said Diggs, who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in an All-Pro season in 2021. “It’s just different languages and different terminology. I feel like that’s just going to be the tough part.”

Melton’s two-way moment?

Another option at cornerback for Green Bay could be wide receiver Bo Melton, who has worked on defense in practice this season though all of his game action has been on offense and special teams. “I’m not going to take any opportunity and make it bigger than what it is — even though it could be, could not be,” Melton said. “At the end of the day, I’m going to go out there and be me.”

Packers player to watch

WR/CB Bo Melton: With the Packers planning to rest several top players with their spot in the playoffs secure as the No. 7 seed in the NFC, the versatile Melton could have a significant role. The fourth-year wide receiver, who has taken 83 snaps on offense and 176 on special teams, has actually spent the majority of this season working at cornerback in practice though he hasn’t seen any game action on defense. Injuries have thinned the secondary depth so much that Melton might get playing time on both offense and defense.

Vikings player to watch

FS Harrison Smith. The 14th-year player, who is again undecided about whether to return next season, has been performing as if he’s still in his prime down the stretch. Making many of the calls on the field for defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Smith won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award with three passes defensed, one sack and one interception last week against Detroit.

Key matchup

Flores against Packers QB Clayton Tune. With Jordan Love resting for the playoffs and backup Malik Willis dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries, Tune will get his second career NFL start. His first came as a rookie in 2023 with Arizona. One of the league’s best schemers of aggressive pass rushing and pre-snap disguises, Flores and his players will be a handful for Tune. The Vikings have 22 sacks and 12 takeaways over the past eight games, with just two passing touchdowns and an average of 143 passing yards per game allowed.

Key injuries

Packers: Love has cleared the concussion protocol and is available, but coach Matt LaFleur wants to hold him out. Willis was listed as questionable… CB Kamal Hadden (ankle), CB Nate Hobbs (knee), DL Jordan Riley (Achilles tendon) and S Zayne Anderson (ankle) went on injured reserve after they were hurt against Baltimore. There are 10 other players on IR, including standouts DE Micah Parsons (knee), TE Tucker Kraft (knee) and C Elgton Jenkins (lower leg)… WR Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) is doubtful to play after he was injured against the Ravens… RT Zach Tom (back/knee) didn’t play last week and is listed as questionable.

Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy (hand) will start after missing the previous game, and RT Brian O’Neill (heel) and RB Jordan Mason (ankle) will also return after being sidelined last week… TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) will miss his second straight game, and RB Aaron Jones (hip) and KR/WR Myles Price (ankle) are also out this week… Starters LT Christian Darrisaw (knee), C Ryan Kelly (concussion), OLB Jonathan Greenard (shoulder), S Josh Metellus (shoulder) have been shut down for the season.

Series notes

This is the first time since 2021 that Green Bay has finished the regular season on the road and the first time since 2021 that Minnesota has finished the schedule at home. The most recent time the division rivals met in the final game in Minnesota was 2012. The previous time they played in the final week was 2015… The Vikings have beaten the Packers in three of their past four meetings in Minnesota.

Stats and stuff

The Packers have the No. 7 seed for the third straight year. Every other team in the NFC North has won a division title since their most recent one in 2021… In Tune’s previous NFL start, he went 11 for 20 for 58 yards and two interceptions in a 27-0 loss to Cleveland… Packers WR Christian Watson’s six TD catches are one short of his career high as a rookie in 2022. His 611 receiving yards are nine off the career high he set last year. Watson has played in only 10 games… The 307 rushing yards the Packers allowed against Baltimore was the highest single-game total against them since Philadelphia (363) in 2022. Derrick Henry (216 rushing yards) had the most ever by a visiting player at Lambeau Field… Green Bay has only one sack over this three-game losing streak. DL Rashan Gary had 7½ sacks in the first seven games but has none in nine games since… The Vikings have won four straight games. This the largest spread with them as the favorite on the betting lines all season… Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, whose 8,379 receiving yards are the most in NFL history over a player’s first six years, needs 53 yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark this season. The only other players to do so in each of their first six seasons were Randy Moss and Mike Evans… The Vikings have multiple sacks in 14 of 16 games this season… Smith (202) has the third-most games started in Vikings history, behind Jim Marshall (270) and Mick Tingelhoff (240)… Vikings LB Blake Cashman is tied for ninth in the league with 137 tackles, despite missing four games early in the season with a hamstring strain. He has nine games with 10-plus tackles this season, the most by a Vikings player since 1987.

Those We Lost in 2025

As we close out 2025, we pay tribute to the Packers we lost this year.

Our annual commemoration of the 1967 NFL Championship game — the Ice Bowl — played on this date in Green Bay, Wis. Check out our 50th anniversary post HERE.

2025 Week 17 — Baltimore at Green Bay

Ravens and Packers enter Saturday matchup with uncertain QB situations

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Baltimore (7-8) at Green Bay (9-5-1)

Day/Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. EST, Peacock

Series record: Packers lead 5-2

Last meeting: Packers beat Ravens 31-30 in Baltimore on Dec. 21, 2021.

Last week: Ravens lost 28-24 at home to New England on Sunday; Packers lost 22-16 in overtime at Chicago on Saturday.

Ravens offense: overall (18), rush (3), pass (27), scoring (14-T)

Ravens defense: overall (27), rush (13), pass (28), scoring (16)

Packers offense: overall (12), rush (14), pass (12), scoring (12)

Packers defense: overall (6), rush (10-T), pass (9), scoring (9)

Turnover differential: Ravens minus-4; Packers plus-2

This is what it’s come down to for the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore will miss the playoffs for just the second time in the last eight years unless it wins its final two games on the road and the Pittsburgh Steelers lose Sunday at Cleveland. The Ravens (7-8) likely will be playing the first of those games Saturday night at Green Bay (9-5-1) without two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was listed as doubtful with a back injury. “There isn’t any added pressure,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. “We’ve played football our entire lives. Let’s go win.”

Baltimore hardly expected to be in this position after going a combined 25-9 and winning the AFC North the last two seasons. If the Ravens win Saturday and the Steelers lose Sunday, their Jan. 4 matchup in Pittsburgh would determine the division champion. Tyler Huntley likely will start at quarterback for Baltimore after Jackson got hurt in the second quarter of a 28-24 loss to New England last week.

The Ravens do get a break in that they’re playing a Green Bay team that already is guaranteed a playoff spot and won’t have its starting quarterback. Green Bay has ruled out Jordan Love after a concussion sidelined him in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime defeat at Chicago. Backup Malik Willis hurt his shoulder later in that game, leaving him questionable for this game. “It’s the situation, so you just prepare the best you can and try to lay out a great plan for whoever’s out there and go play,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.

Green Bay clinched a playoff spot when the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 at Minnesota on Thursday, but the Packers still have incentive to improve their seeding. The Packers would grab the NFC North title if they win their final two games and Chicago loses its last two games. Both teams have been struggling to finish lately. Baltimore blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Patriots. Green Bay led 23-14 in the third quarter of a 34-26 loss at Denver and followed that by squandering a 10-point advantage in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter in Chicago.

The collapse in Chicago caused Green Bay to lose control of its destiny in the NFC North race. “I think the vibes are still high,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “The energy is still high. Obviously, we didn’t want to lose the game, but things happen. So, you’ve got to be able to put it to bed. You can’t dwell on it. We’ve still got an opportunity to do what we want to do, so I think that’s really the biggest thing.”

The Ravens also still have an opportunity to reach their goals, but they’re going to need some help. “Like you guys said, it’s a must-win game,’ Huntley said. “We’ve had a lot of games where the defense played great, and then we had games where the offense played great (or) special teams played great. Well, we just want the whole game to be everybody playing great.”

Packers quarterback Malik Willis says his throwing shoulder is feeling better and that he expects to be available for Saturday’s game against Baltimore if starter Jordan Love remains in the concussion protocol (UPDATE: Jordan Love will not play vs. the Ravens). “I try to take it one day at a time, but I would assume that I’m going to be ready,” Willis said Tuesday. The Packers held a walk-through on Tuesday, and Love and Willis were both limited participants. Willis took over for the injured Love in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago last weekend. He landed on his right shoulder while getting sacked on the final play of the fourth quarter. Willis stayed in the game and connected with Jayden Reed for a 31-yard completion in overtime, though the Packers eventually turned the ball over on downs. “The adrenaline’s pumping and, you know, we got to get in,” Willis said of playing through the injury. “We don’t have anybody else, so we’ve got to keep going. It was fun.”

The Packers may need Willis again on Saturday as they try to secure a playoff spot. The Packers (9-5-1) would lock up an NFC playoff berth if they win one of their final two games or the Detroit Lions lose one of their last two. The Lions visit Minnesota on Thursday. Baltimore has its own uncertain quarterback situation after a back bruise knocked two-time MVP Lamar Jackson out of the Ravens’ 28-24 loss to New England on Sunday night. The Ravens would be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss. 

This matchup could mean plenty for Willis, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The 2022 third-round pick out of Liberty has made the most of his limited opportunities with Green Bay. Willis played well against the Bears, going 9 of 11 for 121 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 44 yards on 10 carries. The 26-year-old has completed 76.5% of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions since the Packers acquired him from Tennessee before the 2024 season. Willis completed 53% of his passes with three interceptions and no touchdowns in two seasons with the Titans. Green Bay won both of Willis’ two starts last season, including a 30-14 victory at Tennessee. “I think he’s done a hell of a job, man,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think it’s all about his approach, how he came in here, how open he was to being coached. We were pretty hard on him and his footwork, and he’s done an outstanding job. I feel like the more he plays, the better he’s gotten. It’s great to have a guy like him you have so much confidence in.”

Willis says there’s a “night and day” difference in his comfort level with Green Bay’s offense compared with last season. “You’re just trying to learn the game plan each week and make sure you know what to do with the ball and how to get us lined up,” Willis said. “Now you can more focus on — you know why we’re calling these plays. Now you can focus more on the defense and how you want to attack them and just doing all the little things that help you be successful day in and day out.”

Last stand?

It’s clear if Baltimore misses the playoffs, there will be many fans demanding recriminations. Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about his own job security Monday and then defended his relationship with star quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is again taking heat over Henry’s usage after the veteran running back didn’t touch the ball on the Ravens’ final two drives against the Patriots.

Letting it slip

The Ravens have lost 12 fumbles this season, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Henry’s fumble last weekend cost Baltimore some early momentum, and then a fumble by receiver Zay Flowers ended the team’s final drive. “The thing about Zay is that he works really, really hard at practice, and he focuses on those things,” Harbaugh said. “And yet, man, the ball gets punched out from a blind spot. So, we’ve just got to keep on working on catching it and putting it away and getting up field and protecting the football when you’re in traffic like that.”

Misfiring in red zone

Green Bay has driven inside the opponent’s 20-yard line nine times during its two-game skid, but the Packers have just one touchdown to show for it. The Packers didn’t reach the end zone on any of their five red-zone possessions against Chicago. The Packers had ranked second in the league red-zone touchdown efficiency before these last two games.

Missing Parsons

The Packers haven’t recorded a single sack over their last two games. That includes one game without Parsons and another game in which he tore his ACL in the third quarter.

Ravens player to watch

RB Derrick Henry has rushed for at least 94 yards in each of the past three games, although his lack of usage late in last weekend’s loss left Baltimore’s coaching staff under scrutiny. Even at age 31, Henry has surpassed 1,200 yards rushing this season and is averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.

Packers player to watch

WR Romeo Doubs got plenty of unwanted attention after the Packers’ overtime loss at Chicago because his inability to recover a onside kick put the Bears in position to score the tying touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter, but he had a productive game up until that point. Doubs caught five passes for 84 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown. His eagerness to make amends for his costly mistake on the onside kick could enable him to have a big performance Saturday.

Key matchup

Ravens pass protection vs. Packers pass rush. Green Bay hasn’t had a single sack during its two-game skid as the Packers struggle without Pro Bowl selection Micah Parsons, who is out for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a 34-26 loss at Denver on Dec. 14. The Packers must find a way to get in the backfield and bother the quarterback more often, whether it’s Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley taking the snaps for Baltimore.

What’s working

Green Bay controlled possession for nearly 39 minutes in a game that lasted just over 65 minutes. The Packers had a season-high 192 yards rushing, their sixth straight game with at least 115 yards on the ground. In their first full game without Parsons, the Packers kept the Bears out of the end zone for the first 59½minutes of the game.

What needs help

Green Bay reached the red zone on five separate occasions and failed to convert any of those opportunities into touchdowns. The Packers also blew a 10-point lead one week after squandering a nine-point, second-half advantage in a 34-26 loss at Denver. The Packers have been outscored 44-20 after halftime over their last two games. A team that has occasionally been prone to special teams breakdowns had its worst mistake of the season when Romeo Doubs was unable to hang on to an onside kick, setting the Bears up for their tying touchdown in the last minute of regulation. Without Parsons on the field, the Packers failed to produce a single sack for a second straight game.

Stock up

Willis. He again showed he’s one of the NFL’s most reliable backup quarterbacks. Willis, who went 2-0 as a starter last season, played the majority of this game and guided a ball-control offense that had the Packers in position to win for most of the night even as they struggled to turn scoring opportunities into touchdowns.

Stock down

While playing through a knee injury, Jacobs mustered just 48 yards from scrimmage (36 rushing, 12 receiving) and lost a fumble on first-and-goal from the 4 in the third quarter. He didn’t have another carry the rest of the night.

WR Matthew Golden didn’t catch a pass for the second time in three games. The rookie first-round pick had no receptions in either of Green Bay’s two game with the Bears.

CB Keisean Nixon had the coverage on Caleb Williams’ 46-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore in overtime. An apparent miscommunication between Nixon and CB Nate Hobbs allowed Jahdae Walker to get free for a tying 6-yard touchdown catch on a fourth-and-4 play with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Injuries

The Packers have a major lack of depth at tight end after John FitzPatrick injured his Achilles tendon in a game that Josh Whyle didn’t play due to a concussion. Green Bay already is missing Tucker Kraft, who was having a Pro Bowl-caliber season before tearing his ACL last month. RT Zach Tom and S Evan Williams didn’t play due to knee injuries.

Key number

4 for 48 — NFL teams had successfully converted just four of their 48 onside kick attempts this season, according to Sportradar, before the Bears managed to recover theirs during their comeback Saturday. Chicago’s recovery improved the success rate for the season from 8.3% to 10.2%.

Key injuries

Ravens: Jackson (back) did not practice this week and was listed as doubtful for the game. CB Chidobe Awuzie (foot), G Andrew Vorhees (foot) and RB Keaton Mitchell (calf) were full participants Thursday.

Packers: Love won’t play because of a concussion that knocked him out of the Bears game in the second quarter. QB Malik Willis (shoulder/illness) is questionable. G Aaron Banks (neck/illness), CB/WR Bo Melton (illness), C Sean Rhyan (knee/illness), OT Zach Tom (back/knee), WR Christian Watson (shoulder/illness), S Evan Williams (knee) and WR Savion Williams (foot/illness) also are questionable. LB Kristian Welch (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday’s game.

Series notes

The Ravens won 23-0 in 2017 when they last played at Lambeau Field, but they’ve lost in their other three visits to Green Bay. Brett Hundley threw three interceptions and the Packers had five overall turnovers in that 2017 game. When the Ravens and Packers faced off in 2021, Huntley started for Baltimore and threw two touchdown passes while running for two more scores in the Ravens’ one-point loss. That game was decided by a missed 2-point conversion in the final minute.

Stats and stuff

Baltimore would be eliminated from the playoff race with a loss this weekend. In order to make the postseason, the Ravens need to win their last two games and have Pittsburgh lose to Cleveland this weekend… The Ravens have won four straight road games, and they’ve won 15 of their past 16 on the road against NFC teams… Baltimore has a league-high 20 rushes of at least 20 yards. Buffalo and Miami are second with 15… Baltimore’s Jordan Stout is No. 1 in the NFL in net punting average at 44.9 yards… Henry needs 64 yards rushing to pass Tony Dorsett (12,739) for 10th on the NFL’s career list. He needs two rushing TDs to tie Adrian Peterson (120) for fourth… Chicago and Green Bay are the only teams Jackson hasn’t played against — aside from the Ravens, obviously. The only time Baltimore has faced the Packers since Jackson was drafted was in 2021… Zay Flowers of the Ravens needs 40 yards receiving to reach 3,000… Baltimore went 1-2 without Jackson earlier this season, with Huntley beating the Bears in Week 8… Green Bay clinched a playoff berth when Detroit lost 23-10 at Minnesota on Thursday. The Packers still could win the NFC North if they win their last two games and Chicago loses its last two games… Parsons was Green Bay’s lone Pro Bowl selection, meaning the Packers don’t have any healthy players who earned that honor this season… The Packers have scored just one touchdown out of nine trips to the red zone during their two-game skid. Green Bay was ranked second in red zone touchdown percentage before this slide… Over their past two games, the Packers have been outscored 42-20 after halftime… The Packers have allowed no more than 21 points in each of their seven home games. This is the first time since 1996 that Green Bay has allowed 21 points or fewer in each of its first seven home games… Packers RB Josh Jacobs has 13 touchdown runs this season to match Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs for second in the league. Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor has 17… Packers DL Rashan Gary had 7½ sacks in his first seven games of the season, but he has none in his past eight… Evan Williams and Packers LB Isaiah McDuffie are the only pair of teammates in the NFL to have at least 65 tackles on defense and 10 on special teams.