Ravens blank Packers on road
Hundley throws INTs on first two series; Pack drop fourth of last five.
GREEN BAY, WIS. — The Baltimore Ravens forced five turnovers in their third shutout of the season, blanking the Green Bay Packers 23-0 Sunday.
Baltimore last accomplished the feat when the Ray Lewis-led defense had four shutouts for the Super Bowl-winning team in 2000; the last NFL team to have three was New England in 2003. Jimmy Smith, Eric Weddle and Marlon Humphrey each picked off passes for Baltimore (5-5), which led the NFL in interceptions entering the weekend.
“It doesn’t mean (anything) if we don’t make the playoffs,” veteran edge rusher Terrell Suggs said. “If we don’t get in, you won’t remember them.”
A problematic offense couldn’t generate a touchdown drive until Joe Flacco’s perfect deep ball to Mike Wallace over two defenders for a 13-point lead nearly two minutes into the third quarter. Flacco threw for 183 yards, going 22 of 28 with an interception.
His lone touchdown pass was still enough of a cushion against a Packers team struggling without two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, out with a broken collarbone.
The Packers were last shut out on Nov. 19, 2006, when thenstarter Brett Favre left with an elbow injury in the first half of a 35-0 loss to New England. Rodgers, then in his second year, finished off that loss in relief.
Hundley, Rodgers’ replacement this season, didn’t fare any better.
He was 21 of 36 for 239 yards. But he threw interceptions on the Packers’ first two series. On the third drive, backup running back Devante Mays fumbled on his first carry of the season.
“Ourguys were playing so fast and covering so well, it just made it tough on” Hundley, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
Any big gains the rest of the day were negated by busted plays or penalties. The Packers (5-5) have lost four of their past five games.
“You have to take care of the football,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Offensively, that was way too much for us to overcome.”
Davante Adams was a lone bright spot, torching the Ravens for 126 yards on eight catches.