NFL
By: Joey MacDonald
In Week 16, the Baltimore Ravens were in control against the New England Patriots, up 24-13, but couldn’t hold onto the lead, and they ended up losing 28-24. With that loss, the Ravens’ road to the Playoffs became even more difficult. Essentially, this is a do-or-die situation for the Ravens and their path to the postseason. Now, the Baltimore Ravens head to the tundra of Lambeau Field for a matchup with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night. With a loss on Saturday, the Ravens’ playoff hopes will end, and the Steelers will win the AFC North in 2025.
This week’s matchup features two teams still in the postseason hunt: the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers. This is only the 8th ever meeting between these two teams, dating back to 1998. The Packers lead this series with a 5-2 record against the Baltimore Ravens. Both the Ravens and the Packers are coming into this week off frustrating losses against their opponents. The Packers are coming off a tough loss against their archrivals, the Chicago Bears, 22-16 in overtime, while the Ravens are coming off another blown lead loss in the 4th quarter against the New England Patriots, 28-24. Both the Ravens and the Packers are still fighting for their postseason lives; the Packers are in a much better position to make the postseason, while the Ravens need a miracle in the next two weeks to reach the postseason.
The Baltimore Ravens, coming into this game in Week 17, need a miracle to think about playing in the postseason this season. In Week 16, the Ravens blew another lead in the 4th quarter to the New England Patriots, losing by the score of 28-24 after being up 11 points in the 4th quarter. The big star of the night was running back Derrick Henry, who ran for 128 yards on 18 carries. And then the Ravens made the controversial decision to sit Derrick Henry for the rest of the game after scoring his 2nd touchdown of the game. The Ravens this week might be without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is nursing a back injury and has missed 2 straight practices, and if he can’t go, then Tyler Huntley might get the nod to start against the Packers. The Ravens ‘game this week is a game that could either set up a week 18 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North title, or this game could end their season without making the playoffs for the 1st time since 2021.
Their opponents this week are the Green Bay Packers, a team coming off a tough loss to their arch rivals, the Chicago Bears, in overtime, 22-16, blowing a lead in the 4th quarter themselves. Their quarterback, Jordan Love, was also injured in their game, as he left the game with a left shoulder injury and a concussion, and Malik Willis ended up finishing the game for him. The Packers have a long injury report coming into this week’s game against the Ravens, and they might not have their quarterback, Jordan Love, who has been limited in practice with a shoulder injury. Also, the Packers are trying to remain in contention for the NFC North as they are 1 ½ games behind the Chicago Bears, and a loss and a Chicago Bears win, and the Chicago Bears win the NFC North, and the Packers will have to settle for a wild card in the NFC. And, the tie that the Packers had with the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the year could hurt them in winning the NFC North because of it. The Packers in this game, knowing that they will have more to play because of their record, and they will be in postseason regrets, either by winning the NFC North or making it as a wild card.
The Ravens this week know that a loss to the Green Bay Packers will end their chances of making the postseason for the season. The Players, and mostly the fans, have been frustrated with the way that the Ravens have been playing this season, and not making the playoffs could lead to many offseason changes, which could lead to the firing of John Harbaugh. This team needs a win and a Pittsburgh Steelers loss to set up a winner-take-all matchup in Week 18. And, the Ravens will do everything until their last breath to win this game, and I think they will, and hopefully, play for a division in Week 18 against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
