NFL
With the season hanging in the balance, the Baltimore Ravens went to Lambeau Field, not only beat them, but dominated the Packers on Saturday night. The Ravens employed their old-school formula in their win, playing defense and running the ball down their opponents’ throats. This win not only keeps their season afloat for at least one more day. But now the Ravens are hoping and praying that their season will come down to a week 18 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the AFC North title on the line.
The Baltimore Ravens, from the get-go, dominated two things in this game against the Green Bay Packers. First, they dominated the time of possession in this game by having the ball for 40 minutes compared to the Packers, who only had the ball for about 19 minutes. 4 of their touchdown drives in their victory were over 5 minutes long, and one thing that the Ravens also did in the game was not turning the ball over and making sure that they played safe football in the cold in Green Bay. The other factor that helped the Ravens in their victory was the way that the running game was being utilized. The running game of the Ravens throughout the game was dominated from start to finish. Derrick Henry was an absolute monster in this game as he ran for 216 yards on 36 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. Tyler Huntley, who started in place of Lamar Jackson, had a decent night in throwing and running the ball. Also, Zay Flowers had a touchdown in the 4th quarter that about put the game out of reach. Mainly, the Baltimore Ravens offense dominated the night by basically running the Green Bay Packers off the field and running them out of Lambeau Field.
The Ravens defense on the night, also had a decent night on the field. The defense forced 2 turnovers on the night, one by a botched snap by the Packers in the 2nd quarter, and another by an interception in the 4th quarter that put the game away for the Ravens. Also, one big play in the game that changed the momentum was the 4th and inches stop by Roquan Smith on the Packers’ side of the field, which turned the game around for the Ravens. Marlon Humphrey picked up his 3rd interception in the last three games. He gets beaten by certain wide receivers on big plays, but he is holding his own in coverage. Also, the pass rush was able to get 2 sacks against the Packers, 1.5 by Travis Jones, and the other half by Tavius Robinson. The defense did its job by not blowing another lead, as they have in most games during the season.
The Green Bay Packers needed this win to keep up with the Chicago Bears, who were 1 ½ games up on the Packers, who are trying to avoid going on the road again for the postseason. This game was a tough one for the Packers, who simply got outplayed by the Baltimore Ravens from start to finish, and they had to finish the game with their 3rd string quarterback. The Packers were missing their starting quarterback, Jordan Love, who is nursing a shoulder injury. Malik Willis was having a solid night passing, throwing for 288 yards on 18 of 21 passing, but left the game in the 4th quarter with a shoulder injury, and had to finish the game with 3rd string quarterback Clayton Tune. The Packers’ run defense was getting run over by the Baltimore Ravens’ running attack; the Packers gave up over 300 yards on the ground, and most of it was by Derrick Henry, who ran for 216 rushing yards. With this loss, the Chicago Bears clinched the NFC North, and now, for the 3rd straight season, the Green Bay Packers will have to go out on the road and try to win 3 road playoff games to get to a Super Bowl.
With this win, the Ravens will now wait and see if their game with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 will mean anything, because a win by the Steelers against the Cleveland Browns means the Steelers win the AFC North, and the Ravens will miss the postseason altogether. Also, if the Ravens miss the postseason, they will have to decide on the future of head coach John Harbaugh, because his seat has gotten really hot over the last few weeks. Missing the playoffs could mean the end of John Harbaugh as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Making it to the postseason could be the only thing that saves John Harbaugh from being fired in the offseason.
