Ravens remain in postseason hunt with win over Packers
My Steel City Underground Podcast co-host Brian E. Roach had a great saying about Sunday’s Ravens/Packers game: it’s hard to watch the Ravens when they’re winning.
Playing on the road at Lambeau, the Baltimore Ravens surprised many with a 23-0 shutout victory over the Green Bay Packers this weekend. However, I wasn’t as surprised as others, as the Ravens, despite some hiccups (just like other teams, cough, the Steelers) have played solid defense all season. Facing a Packers team playing backup QB Brett Hundley in place of the injured perennial All-Pro Aaron Rodgers, I expected about as much from Baltimore. Green Bay’s running backs, a team weakness for several seasons, were already banged up heading into the game.
The Ravens secondary would’ve given even Rodgers a challenge, let alone Hundley. The backup posted a 43.6 QB rating following a three-interception day where he completed 21 of 36 passes for 239 yards. Baltimore also held Green Bay to 31% on 3rd down conversions while also limiting the beat-up Packers run game to 75 yards.
Ravens Pro Bowl kicker Justin Tucker excelled again when called upon with three field goals; but it was the Ravens offense which saw short work on Sunday, scoring two touchdowns but operating a mostly on Green Bay’s side of the field. The Ravens offense wasn’t good, however, punting seven times, while settling for those three field goals, all but knocking on the red zone door at the 14, 21, and 5 yard lines.
Ravens QB Joe Flacco was also picked off down at the Green Bay 24, killing another drive which was one of Baltimore’s best on the day (41 yards). Still, the Ravens were able to punch in a 21-yard Flacco to Mike Wallace TD and another short yardage score which started on the Packers 3-yard line following one of Hundley’s interceptions.
Where that leaves the Ravens is interesting. Currently sitting at a 5-5 record in the AFC North, Baltimore is anything but out of postseason contention. Their 4-3 conference record is only behind Tennessee’s 5-4 among AFC teams not currently leading their division. That could factor into tiebreakers further into December, but for now, Baltimore will regroup for back-to-back home games against the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions; each are teams who are also desperate to win to stay in the same playoff conversation.
Whether the Ravens can muster enough offense is the answer to their Wild Card question: otherwise their defense is plenty strong enough to keep them in contention.
