The Packers came into Sunday's cross-conference game knowing they would get the Ravens at less than 100-percent. They were met with a Baltimore club playing with plenty of fight.
Despite being without plenty of key personnel, the Ravens ran with the Packers for three quarters before turning the ball over on downs deep in their own territory. Then, up by 11 with the ball inside the Baltimore 10, the Packers' offense failed to put the game out of reach, settling for a field goal. Backup QB Tyler Huntley then staged a remarkable comeback attempt with back-to-back touchdown drives that put Baltimore within a point. But, a subpar pass by Huntley on the two-point try bailed the Packers out and vaulted them to a third-straight division title.
It wasn't all pretty, though.
Special teams errors permeated into yet another week. The units committed three penalties, including an inexcusable kick catch interference by Isaac Yiadom on a punt being fair caught. Despite some change in personnel, the performance wasn't in any way better than prior weeks, lending scrutiny to the coaching of coordinator Maurice Drayton. Without further adjustments to personnel or scheme, it's very possible that the sustained poor play could end up costing the Packers in the postseason.
On Offense
Despite getting off to another slow start, the Green Bay offense quickly found its rhythm in the second quarter. Behind an excellent balance of play calling by Matt LaFleur, the running game laid the foundation for the Packers' fourth-straight game scoring 29 or more points. Aaron Jones returned to his true self on the ground, accruing 58 yards on the ground usually without large running lanes in front of him.
Despite being the beneficiaries of some very generous penalties, the passing game was in tempo all game long. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, in particular, turned in one of his best performances of the 2021 season, which included a 10-yard slant route that the fourth-year wideout managed to turn into six by stretching the ball just beyond the goal line.
One under-appreciated aspect of the offense on Sunday was the performance of Adam Stenavich's offensive line, which was playing without its top four linemen. Despite one ugly sack that kept the Packers from getting points before half - and another that gave the Ravens the ball back with three minutes to play - the unit generally held up against a talented Baltimore front seven.
On Defense
Where the offense sparkled on Sunday, the defense underwhelmed. For most of the game, they allowed the Baltimore to sustain long, drives full of underneath passes that continually moved the chains. With the Packers playing without nose tackle Kenny Clark, Baltimore largely had their way when running the football, despite linebackers De'Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes playing with great discipline when meeting ball carriers in the flat.
Credit Huntley for efficient play as both a passer and runner that translated into big-time third down conversions. Even when Joe Barry brought pressure, Huntley didn't panic, managing to get through the game being sacked just once. On unusually suspect coverage by safety Darnell Savage, he regularly hooked up with tight end Mark Andrews, who finished the game with 136 yards receiving and two scores. Savage, however, got the last laugh when his tip on Huntley's pass during their late two-point try resulted in an incompletion.
Since shutting out the Seahawks in Week 10, the Packers' defense has allowed 28 or more points in three of their past four games. Despite having played several strong offenses during that stretch, it could be that the absences of key players are finally catching up to them. At the same time, the Packers' young talent has lacked playmaking ability down the stretch. EDGE rusher Rashan Gary has had difficulty consistently getting to the quarterback, often pursuing odd angles that take him out of the play. Savage, himself, has been around the ball plenty but has just one interception to show for it.
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