Following last Sunday’s 23-16 win over the Chicago Bears, there is suddenly renewed hope for the Green Bay Packers’ playoff hopes this year. There’s still a lot of work to do, but the team possesses a 5-4 record and there’s seven games remaining in the season. And keep in mind that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has reportedly been making progress when it comes to that collarbone injury that he suffered back in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings. Surgery put him on injured reserve but he could be activated in time for the final three games of the season.
That’s all fine and good. But the task at hand this Sunday is a visit from the Baltimore Ravens. What can we expect from this unpredictable 4-5 team?
Quote the Ravens
John Harbaugh is in his 10th season as the head coach of the Ravens and things have changed a lot since his first five seasons on the job. Those years, he was taking Baltimore to the playoffs each season. The club managed a combined 54-26 record, reached the AFC title game three times and won Super Bowl XLVII. Since 2013, the Ravens are a combined 35-38 and have made only one playoff appearance (2014). This season, Harbaugh’s team has been a rollercoaster and that’s an understatement. In four wins this season, Baltimore has outscored opponents a combined 114-27.
But in five setbacks, the Ravens have been outscored 144-76. Nevertheless, the Green Bay Packers must be very wary of the team loaded with experience players who still know a thing or two about winning.
What the Packers must do
As has been the case for a numbers of years now, the Green Bay Packers’ defense has had its issues and 2017 has been no exception.
And a look at the rankings show that this is a unit that still doesn’t strike a lot of fear into opponents. Mike McCarthy’s team ranks 24th in the NFL in fewest yards per game allowed. The club is 17th in the league against the run and 20th vs. the pass. But this week, they will face a Ravens’ team that is dead last in passing yards per contest.
And only the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins are gaining fewer total yards per game. Quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown eight touchdown passes but been picked off 10 times. On the other side of the ball, Harbaugh’s team is sixth in total defense and third against the pass. But don’t be fooled as only four teams in the NFL are giving up more rushing yards per game (125.9 average). And it’s here that Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams and company will be able to exploit these erratic Ravens.
