LDN - Sports

Week 11 Game Scout: Ravens at Packers

[November 16, 2017] The Sports Xchange

BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-5) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-4)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lambeau Field. TV: Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon.

SERIES HISTORY: Sixth regular-season meeting. Packers lead series, 4-1. The Packers are also 3-0 at Lambeau Field. The teams last played in 2013, when the Packers won 19-17 at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore most previously played at Green Bay in 2009, losing 27-14 on "Monday Night Football."

KEYS TO THE GAME: Both the Ravens and Packers feel like they have an opportunity this week. Baltimore is 4-5 but is only a game out of the playoffs.

The Ravens, coming off their bye, need to establish an offensive identity -- and that means running the ball.

In a 23-20 loss to Tennessee, Baltimore, playing from behind for most of the game, ran the ball 22 times. A week earlier, running back Alex Collins rushed for 113 yards in 40-0 thrashing of the Dolphins.

Quarterback Joe Flacco attempted 52 passes in the loss and just 15 in the win.

The Packers will look for another efficient performance from quarterback Brett Hundley. And that will mean keeping him upright.

In Green Bay's 23-16 win in Chicago last week, Hundley was 18-for-25 for 212 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked five times.

The Packers also need to get wide receiver Jordy Nelson more involved. Since Aaron Rodgers was injured against Minnesota in Week 6, Nelson doesn't have more than 60 yards receiving in a game and hasn't scored. He had six touchdowns in the first five games of the season.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Packers QB Brett Hundley vs. Ravens secondary. Green Bay has gone 1-2 with Hundley as the starting quarterback. However, he led the Packers to a 23-16 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday and appears to be finding his footing. The Ravens already lost at home to Bears backup Mitchell Trubisky, so that could provide Hundley with some added confidence. Nonetheless, the Ravens want to force Hundley to throw the ball and potentially make mistakes. Baltimore has several playmakers in the secondary, including safety Eric Weddle and cornerback Brandon Carr, who are tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece. Hundley has thrown for 701 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

--Ravens RB Alex Collins vs. Packers LB Blake Martinez. Even though the Ravens will be healthier at running back, Collins should still get most of the carries. He is ranked 13th in the NFL with 521 yards. However, he has yet to score a touchdown on 93 carries. Martinez is tied for sixth in the league with 76 tackles. The Packers will look to shut down the ground game and force the Ravens to throw because quarterback Joe Flacco is prone to mistakes. Baltimore could lean heavily on Collins to extend drives and tire Green Bay's defense. The Packers are ranked 17th against the run.

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PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Ravens TE Nick Boyle. The 2015 fifth-round pick leaped to the top of the depth chart this season. He missed the previous game with a toe injury, but should be fully healthy for Green Bay. Boyle has dependable hands and exceptional blocking skills. He has played a key role in the Ravens' 10th-ranked rushing attack. Boyle has 18 receptions for 138 yards.

FAST FACTS: Ravens QB Joe Flacco passed for 342 yards and two TDs in the last meeting. He hasn't thrown an interception in three straight road games vs. NFC clubs. ... RB Alex Collins has 189 scrimmage yards (94.5 per game) in the past two games. He ranks second in the NFL at 5.6 yards per carry. ... WR Jeremy Maclin led the team with 98 receiving yards in Week 9. In the past two vs. Green Bay, he has 17 catches for 234 yards (117 per game) and two TDs. ... TE Benjamin Watson scored in his only career game at Green Bay (2006 with New England). He has 38 catches, tied for sixth among AFC tight ends. ... LB C.J. Mosley has 40 tackles (10 per game), four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and recovery in his past four vs. the NFC. He's the only NFL player with 75 tackles (76), two INTs and a sack. ... LB Matt Judon has seven TFL and three sacks in the past four games. ... S Lardarius Webb is the only NFL safety with 15 interceptions and 85 pass breakups since 2010. ... Packers QB Brett Hundley earned his first career win in Week 10. He competed 18 of 25 with a TD last week. ... RB Ty Montgomery had a career-long 37-yard rushing TD in Week 10, and rookie RB Jamaal Williams rushed for a career-high 67 yards. They will take over for Aaron Jones, who is out with an MCL injury. ... WR Davante Adams led the team with 90 yards and a TD last week. He has 233 receiving yards (77.7 per game) in his past three games vs. the AFC. Since 2016, Jordy Nelson (20) and Adams (18) rank first and second in the NFL in TD catches. ... LB Clay Matthews had two sacks in the last home meeting. He has seven sacks and two forced fumbles in seven career meetings vs. the AFC North. ... LB Nick Perry had a career-high three sacks in Week 10. He has 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and recovery in his past five games. He also has five sacks in the past five home games. ... CB Davon House has 23 tackles, a sack and an interception in the past three games. He has two INTs in three career meetings.

PREDICTION: The Packers rushed for 160 yards in their win over the Bears. If they can replicate that and limit the Baltimore pass rush, they can get another win as they await Aaron Rodgers' return.

OUR PICK: Packers, 20-13.

--Ched Whitney

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