The Packers tied up a playoff spot on Christmas evening because of the rival Lions’ loss, however coach Matt LaFleur’s membership can attempt to enhance their NFC North hopes and extinguish the Ravens’ shot at crashing the AFC discipline when Baltimore visits Inexperienced Bay in prime time Saturday evening.
The Ravens (7-8) fumbled an opportunity to set the stage for a winner-take-all AFC North finale subsequent week at Pittsburgh. The Packers (9-5-1), largely with out Love as a result of a concussion within the first half, fell off the tempo of the NFC North-leading Bears in Chicago final weekend in a gut-wrenching time beyond regulation loss.
LaFleur mentioned Inexperienced Bay is “transferring previous” the frustration of final week’s inconceivable loss and centered solely on the following win.
“Our sole focus is on the Baltimore Ravens. And we have to discover a strategy to get a win. Backside line,” LaFleur mentioned.
Baltimore is more likely to take the sector with out two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who sustained a again contusion Sunday and missed follow all week. He was listed as uncertain on the staff’s remaining harm report Thursday.
Inexperienced Bay introduced Friday that beginning quarterback Jordan Love (concussion protocol, shoulder) will sit out Sunday.
Backup Malik Willis, who missed Wednesday’s follow (sickness) and was restricted on Tuesday and Thursday (shoulder), is anticipated to get the beginning.
“Malik Willis has been there for a yr or two now, and he is truly began video games for them,” Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr mentioned. “(Final week), the offense did not change. They have been nonetheless operating play motion, taking their photographs down the sector. This offense is well-built.”
Tyler Huntley, who gained his solely begin of the season towards the Bears in Week 8, would get the beginning if Jackson cannot play. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken was hopeful Jackson will heal up in time for Week 17. He mentioned the harm woes have been troublesome for Jackson.
“I am simply telling you. For a man that likes to play soccer and likes to be on the market together with his teammates, it has been exhausting,” Monken mentioned. “It has been a battle. As a result of, like several participant, to have the ability to shine, you need to really feel your finest. Particularly with lower-body accidents. When Lamar has the ball in his fingers, he is electrical. So I do know it has been actually troublesome for him.”
Willis performed nearly all of the 22-16 time beyond regulation loss to the Bears on Dec. 20. Love went out with a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit within the second quarter.
With Love and Jacobs, the Packers have been dynamic, main the NFL in explosive-play differential (plus-33) and tallying a minimum of 27 factors 9 occasions (8-0-1).
Quarterback accidents as prevailing storylines is well-worn territory for the Ravens. Jackson left Baltimore’s Week 16 loss and has been restricted by ankle, toe, hamstring and shoulder accidents this season, inspiring a “Commerce Lamar” column from a longtime Baltimore columnist that put coach John Harbaugh again on the defensive. Within the column revealed within the Baltimore Solar, questions have been raised concerning the coach-QB relationship and the conclusion fashioned was the Ravens want to maneuver on from the two-time NFL MVP.
“Speculating how I really feel — I am going to let you know how I really feel. All the blokes on this constructing will inform ya … I am proper up entrance,” Harbaugh mentioned. “That might be flawed to say that. That is not true. Had a superb dialog with Lamar this morning about just a few issues, soccer, how he is feeling. Our relationship is A-plus. I like him. All the time have, all the time will. … I do not want anyone talking for me.”
Jackson has 2,311 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions plus 340 yards with two scores dashing. Jackson has a cap determine of $74.5 million in 2026 and 2027, which might make him the highest-paid participant within the NFL each seasons.
With or with out Jackson on Saturday at Lambeau Area, the Ravens do not management their very own destiny. A win assures solely staying alive one other day with the Pittsburgh Steelers in place to clinch the division Sunday in Cleveland, which might bounce Baltimore from all playoff potentialities.
“We have got to win our sport first to offer ourselves an opportunity,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton mentioned. “We’ve to play that approach, have to arrange that approach. We nonetheless have a possibility.”
Packers operating again Josh Jacobs has been preventing by means of knee ache however carries no sport designation into the weekend. The Packers solely dominated out linebacker Kristian Welch (ankle) and guard John Williams (again).
An sickness popped up Thursday for huge receiver Christian Watson and guard Sean Rhyan, who’re thought-about questionable to play. Cornerback Bo Melton (sickness) didn’t take part all week; he is additionally questionable together with beginning proper sort out Zach Tom (again/knee) and security Evan Williams (knee).
The Ravens dominated out defensive sort out Taven Bryan (knee) and known as linebacker Jay Higgins IV (knee) questionable.
–Area Degree Media
