Ravens and Packers enter Saturday matchup with uncertain QB situations
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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.
