Ravens and Packers Clash With Everything on the Line at Frozen Lambeau
Saturday night football doesn’t get much more dramatic than this. The Baltimore Ravens head into Lambeau Field to face the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, and while both teams are dealing with injuries and late-season uncertainty, the stakes couldn’t be higher. This game is about survival for Baltimore and positioning for Green Bay, all set against the frozen backdrop of one of the league’s toughest venues.
For the Ravens, it’s desperation time. Sitting at 7-8 and currently outside the playoff picture, their path is painfully narrow. A win in Green Bay is required, and it would also need to be paired with a Steelers loss to the Browns on Sunday. Only then would a winner-take-all AFC North showdown in Week 18 be set up. If the Ravens lose, the season ends right there, bringing closure to a wild year that started with a 1-5 stumble, surged through a five-game winning streak, and then unraveled again at the worst possible moment.
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Complicating matters further is the health of Lamar Jackson. He’s listed as doubtful after suffering a significant back contusion that forced him out of last week’s tough loss to New England. Whether it’s a limited Jackson or backup Tyler Huntley under center, Baltimore’s identity may need to be simplified. That’s where Derrick Henry comes in. The veteran bruiser has already crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh time in his career, and last week he looked unstoppable, pounding out 128 yards and two touchdowns. Yet surprisingly, he didn’t touch the ball in the final 12 minutes. In freezing conditions, against a Packers run defense that just allowed nearly six yards per carry, it feels like this game was built for Henry to take over.
On the other side, the Packers arrive with a 9-5-1 record and far less urgency, but not without pressure. Green Bay already clinched a playoff spot thanks to Detroit’s loss on Christmas, but a chance at the NFC North title is still technically alive if things break just right. More immediately, they’re trying to shake off a brutal collapse against the Bears that extended their losing streak to two games. Another loss would lock them into a road-heavy postseason path.
The Packers’ defense is the big question mark. Since losing Micah Parsons to a torn ACL, the pass rush has struggled to close games. Rashan Gary has been asked to carry the load, but help must come from somewhere else. Coverage breakdowns late against Chicago proved costly, and players like Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs are being counted on to respond. With injuries piling up and the playoffs looming, Green Bay knows this is about regaining confidence as much as securing a win.
So, as kickoff approaches, this game feels like a collision of urgency and expectation. For Baltimore, it’s win or go home. For Green Bay, it’s about proving they’re still a team to fear come January. In the cold silence of Lambeau Field, something has to give.
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