5 Big Questions Revisited from Green Bay Packers Matchup with Ravens
By Paul Bretl
Q: How big of a role will special teams play in determining the outcome of this game for the Green Bay Packers?
A: Fortunately, not a ton, but it wasn’t good
While the Green Bay Packers have the worst special teams unit in football, the Ravens have the best. Baltimore has the best kicker in the game in Justin Tucker, Devin Duvernay is one of the more productive punt and kick returners in the NFL, and both kick and coverage units rank top-5 in average yards per return allowed.
Had the Packers had the same type of miscues as they did against Chicago, they would have lost this game. So I guess if you’re looking for a positive, they were better, but the bar was so low it would have been nearly impossible not to be. And just because it was “better” doesn’t mean that it was good; there were still too many mistakes, but fortunately, none that were too terribly costly.
Some of the miscues include running into the returner, a holding penalty on a kickoff, a nearly fumbled kickoff return, and a delay of game on a punt. At this point in the season, this Packers special teams unit are who they are, but hopefully, they can at least cut down on the mistakes somewhat because if they don’t, it could very well cost them in the playoffs.