Mark off another 2012 playoff squad for the Green Bay Packers when they take on the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The Ravens and Packers are two of only three NFL teams (the other being the New England Patriots) to make the playoffs each of the previous four seasons.
Baltimore Ravens (3-2) Analysis: Baltimore has been nothing but a roller-coaster since their Super Bowl win. They were trounced by Denver to open the season, yet followed the loss with two solid wins over Cleveland and Houston. Just when you thought they had it figured out, Joe Flacco goes to Buffalo and throws five interceptions in a loss. The ride went back up when the Ravens fended off a late Dolphins rally in Miami last week. Which way next?
Future Hall-of-Fame defensive studs Ray Lewis and Ed Reed may no longer be playing in Baltimore, but they made sure to leave a lasting reputation. The current Ravens’ defense is just as fierce, especially at home where they have yet to give up a touchdown. Shutting down the Browns’ Brandon Weeden and Texans’ Matt Schaub isn’t anything like going up against Aaron Rodgers, but it’s still impressive. The Ravens are particularly strong up front where they thrive on pressuring the quarterback.
For a team who won the Super Bowl with a whole ton of offense, it’s a bit of a surprise to see the Ravens’ struggle with finding their identity on that side of the ball. Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce have combined for a team average of 2.8 yards per carry which ranks near last in the league in most part due to an offensive line which has been dreadful. It’s not all on the o-line though as Rice and Pierce have both had fumble problems and just aren’t breaking tackles like they used to.
Green Bay Packers (2-2) Analysis: Green Bay came out of the bye week with a dominant 22-9 win over a Calvin Johnson-less Lions team. With Megatron in the game, who knows what kind of game would have ensued between the Packers and Lions. Nonetheless, the Packers jumped right back in the thick of the NFC North race as they now sit a half game back of the Lions and Bears.
The Packers defense most recently took a huge hit when they learned that All-Pro linebacker Clay Matthews will be forced to miss at least a month with surgery on his broken right thumb. It will be imperative for young linebackers Nick Perry and Mike Neal to build upon an impressive performance against the Lions (three sacks and nine QB hurries).
You won’t see it in the stat-line, but rookie running back Eddie Lacy was particularly strong last week with 51 of his 99 yards coming after contact. He’s a perfect fit for Green Bay’s offense because he forces defenses to stay honest. His upside is tremendous considering what he can do with minimal room in the running game. Rodgers deep ball is on point right now as he connected on five of his seven passes over 20 yards this past Sunday. He’s so good each week that there’s no point in trying to figure out how the Ravens can stop him (slowing him down is the only option).
Brutally Honest Prediction: Packers 24 Ravens 20
This will be one of those back-and-forth knock ’em out affairs. The Packers will lean on Lacy and the running game a lot more than usual and the Packers defense will need to make Flacco beat them through the air. The Ravens would have a better chance at winning this game if their run blocking wasn’t so porous right now.
TV Coverage: 12:00 PM CT FOX has Kenny Alberts (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (color) and Tony Siragusa (sidelines)
*No Troy Aikman and Joe Buck on a FOX Packers game again, NO WAY!
Betting Lines: Green Bay favored by 1 and over/under at 48.5
2013 Record straight up: 3-1
2013 Record against the spread: 2-2
2013 Record in over/under: 2-2
Week 5 Pick Redux: Predicted GB 34 DET 24 (actually GB 22 DET 9); Hit straight up and spread (-7), missed over/under 53.5.
Will Green Bay travel to Baltimore prepared and score their first road win of the year? Let me know by commenting below.
Nick Grays is a senior writer at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. He also enjoys sharing Fantasy Advice and pretends to be a Golf expert from time-to-time. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best. If social media is not your thing, shoot him an email at grays@uwalumni.com.
*Pictures obtained from madison.com and ravens.com