Green Bay Packers v. Ravens: Behind Enemy Lines
By Paul Bretl
On the flip side, where have they struggled–what areas could the Green Bay Packers exploit?
Justin: The Ravens had one of the best and deepest secondaries in football going into the year. But after losing Peters, Humphrey, Elliott, and other defensive backs for considerable lengths of time, the Ravens have one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL.
The offensive line, another unit hit hard by injuries, has also held the team back. There are legitimate holes at both tackle spots and left guard at the moment. The offense has scored 20 points just once in a game since Week 9. That’s partially due to Lamar Jackson’s struggles and partially due to the offensive line.
Takeaway: As has already been discussed, this secondary is ripe for the picking, ranking 30th in yards per pass attempt and 31st in passing yards per game given up.
So let’s move on the Baltimore offensive line that will have to deal with a red-hot Packers pass-rush. Currently, Green Bay ranks fourth in total pressures this season with 271, according to PFF ($$), with Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, and Kenny Clark leading the way–although the Packers may be without Clark on Sunday after he was placed on the reserve/COVID list.
With or without Jackson, you can expect Baltimore to rely heavily on the run game, just as they have all season. The Ravens average 31.3 rushing attempts per game–the third most in football, and average 4.6 yards per rush with Jackson, far and away, the team’s leading rusher.