GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-5)
A week after letting Chicago’s Justin Fields run for 43 yards and throw for 174 and a touchdown, the Packers defense appears likely to catch a break. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t practice all week because of an ankle sprain and it’s expected the Packers will face backup Tyler Huntley, who has started one game and filled in after Jackson got hurt against Cleveland last week. Huntley isn’t a slouch and he’s not afraid to run the ball (16 carries for 95 yards). He has a good arm, but he coughed up the ball twice on sacks and so the Packers must put pressure on him without letting him escape the pocket.
2. Ravens could exploit Packers’ weakness with ‘Hollywood’ Brown
It started when Minnesota put receiver Justin Jefferson in the backfield and caused the Packers problems. The Los Angeles Rams saw that and put Cooper Kupp in the backfield the following week. Last week, Chicago put receiver Damiere Byrd in the backfield and set him up for a 54-yard touchdown. Opponents have found that by putting a receiver in the backfield, they can create a favorable matchup or cause confusion. Expect the Ravens to do the same thing with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, the 5-9, 180-pound dynamo who has 70 catches for 866 yards and six touchdowns.
3. Packers can overcome likely loss of Kenny Clark The Packers likely won’t have nose tackle Kenny Clark, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but his absence could be mitigated by injuries and poor play on the Ravens’ offensive line. Starting left tackle Alejandro Villanueva has been vulnerable to pass rushers all year, left guard Ben Powers has a foot injury and won’t play and the two guys who have been playing right tackle, Patrick Mekari and Tyre Phillips, are guards. Mekari (hand) might not play, and Phillips has been ill all week, so things aren’t looking good up front.
4. Packers will try to find a weakness in Ravens’ No. 1-ranked run defense
Either the Packers are going to pass the ball 50 times or they’re going to have to find a way to get Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon going against the Ravens’ topranked run defense. The Ravens allow an average of 85.5 yards per game, but they will be without defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who along with nose tackle Brandon Williams provides the run defense with 636 pounds of bulk in the middle. Even with Campbell banged up last week, the Ravens held Cleveland’s No. 4 rushing attack to 100 yards on 29 carries. That’s because they have two other 300-pounders they can work in with Justin Ellis (6-2, 350) and Broderick Washington (6-2, 305). If the Packers can’t run the ball behind their collection of mostly backups on the offensive line, it could be a tough day offensively.
5. Can Juwann Winfree be a big-play threat against Ravens’ secondary?
The Ravens will be without their shutdown corner, Marlon Humphrey (injured reserve), No. 2 corner Marcus Peters (injured reserve) and their starting strong safety, Chuck Clark (COVID list). They can try to match veteran Jimmy Smith with Davante Adams, but more than likely they’re going to have to double him at every turn. It’s not a bad proposition with Randall Cobb (core muscle) on injured reserve, Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion) doubtful and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) questionable. They’re going to want to take away Rodgers’ best option and put the game on the others’ shoulders. One under-the-radar option is Juwann Winfree, who was signed from the practice squad this week. Winfree played 54 snaps against Arizona when Adams, MVS and Allen Lazard were out and came close to breaking a long one.