Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Matchup Preview (12/19/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Matchup Preview (12/19/21)

The leaders of the AFC and NFC North divisions square off this weekend in a matchup between the Ravens and Packers that’s happened only six times before in NFL history. There’s plenty at stake for both teams in this one as we begin the home stretch of the NFL regular season with lots of jostling for playoff spots and seeds still to be done. The Packers can clinch the NFC North crown with either a win/tie against the Ravens on Sunday or with a Vikings loss/tie against the Bears. The Ravens, meanwhile, still need a lot to happen to secure the one seed in the AFC North. With a loss on Sunday, though, they risk falling to third place in their division as the entire AFC North is within a game and a half of each other. The Packers are coming off a 15 point win over the Bears on Sunday Night Football, while the Ravens are coming off a two point loss to the Browns in a game that saw Lamar Jackson on the sideline with an ankle injury for much of the second half.

Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Odds

Betting Trends

Packers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win
Packers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game
Packers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games
Ravens are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games in December
Ravens are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a home underdog
Ravens are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS win

The Pick

With Lamar Jackson hobbling into this weekend on an injured ankle, there’s no team more depleted right now than the Baltimore Ravens. John Harbaugh even acknowledged two weeks ago in describing his decision to go for two at the end of the game against the Steelers that his team simply didn’t have the personnel to go into overtime. Despite having one of the best run stopping defenses in the league, this Ravens team has not been able to catch a break on injuries, and, as the game goes on, this is going to be a massive edge for Green Bay.

The big matchup to watch in this one is Davante Adams vs the Baltimore secondary. Over the last three weeks the Green Bay offense is averaging over 38 points and 344 passing yards a game with Adams going for over 100 yards in each game. The Ravens secondary, meanwhile, is rated second worst in the league, giving up over 266 yards a game. The Packers’ ability to open things up in the middle of the field with Davante Adams is going to chip away at the Baltimore defensive backfield, and Green Bay’s ability to go play action and lean on their two elite running backs gives them even more of an advantage.

My Prediction: Packers win and cover 21-13, under hits (o43.5)

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, December, 19
Time: 4:25 PM ET
Location: M&T Bank Stadium — Baltimore, MD
TV Coverage: Fox

Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Live Stream

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Injuries

Green Bay Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers (Toe) Q, OT David Bakhtiari (Knee) O, CB Jaire Alexander (Shoulder) O, OLB Za’Darius Smith (Back) O, G Elgton Jenkins (Knee(ACL)) O, TE Robert Tonyan (Torn ACL) O, WR Randall Cobb (Groin) Q, OLB Whitney Mercilus (Bicep) O, DE LJ Scott (Quadriceps) Q
Baltimore Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson (Ankle) Q, CB Marlon Humphrey (Pectoral) O, DE Calaris Campbell (Foot) Q, OT Ronnie Stanley (Ankle) O, CB Marcus Peters (Knee) O, FS DeShon Elliott (Pectoral) O, FB Patrick Ricard (Foot/Thigh) Q, RB Gus Edwards (Knee) O, OLB LJ Fort (ACL) O, RB JK Dobbins (Knee(ACL)) O, DE Derek Wolfe (Back/Hip) O, OLB Pernell McPhee (Knee) O. TE Nick Boyle (Knee) Q, OL Patrick Mekari (Hand) Q

Green Bay Packers Analysis

At this point, it’s safe to wonder if getting Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith back off the IR is more of a luxury than a necessity for this Packers team. Twelve weeks with Aaron Rodgers, 10 covers, 10 wins, and a whole lot of swag. They’ve beaten the Cardinals, Rams, Bengals, and Steelers and are undefeated at home on the season. Their defense is a top 5 scoring defense in the league and the offensive line has improved steadily throughout the season Elgton Jenkins’ knee injury has stalled some progress in recent weeks. With David Bakhtiari planning to come back soon, this weekend’s matchup against Baltimore’s elite run defense will be a good litmus test for how good this line is against a playoff level front seven.

Behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon in the backfield, the Packers rank second in the NFL in time of possession, behind only Baltimore. They have the 13th ranked 4th quarter defense and the 18th ranked 4th quarter offense. They have one of the worst third down defenses in the league, ranked 25th overall, though they make up for it with the second highest turnover differential in the league at +12. Over the last 3 weeks there’s seemingly been a switch in identity for this team and how they’re winning games. Over the first 10 weeks of the season, the Packers were largely carried by their defense, going 8-2 despite only scoring more than 27 points twice. Over the last 3 weeks, however, they’ve gone 2-1 having given up more than 27 points in each of the last three games. As their offense has begun to gel more, their defense has faltered a bit, masking some potential areas of weakness in their defensive backfield. All told, getting Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith back in the lineup may be more of a necessity after all.

Green Bay Depth Chart

QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB1: AJ Dillon
RB2: Aaron Jones
WR1: Davante Adams
WR2: Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR3: Allen Lazard
TE1: Josiah Deguara

Baltimore Ravens Analysis

On paper this Baltimore defense is one of the best in the league. They rank first in punts forced per score, third in opponent red zone scoring percentage, second in third down defense, first in rushing yards allowed per game, and fifth in total first downs allowed per game. To complement it, they have the third best rushing offense in yards per game behind arguably the most elusive player in the league in Lamar Jackson. What’s hurt this team all season, though, has been their secondary. The Ravens have the second worst passing defense in the league and Aaron Rodgers is the best quarterback this team has faced all season. While a lot of their struggles in the passing game are attributable to injuries, it doesn’t change the fact that this one glaring weakness has been the sauce to beating this team all year.

On offense, this Ravens team has struggled to score over the last 5 weeks, averaging just 16.6 points a game and failing to score more than 22 once. Lamar hasn’t looked the same since he got sick and this presents a unique problem for Greg Roman and his offensive coaching staff who have developed a scheme entirely around Lamar’s strengths. Given this and the fact that both Baltimore and Green Bay love to control the clock, the under is a solid play in this one.

Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart

QB: Lamar Jackson
RB1: Devonta Freeman
RB2: Latavius Murray
RB3: Patrick Ricard
WR1: Sammy Watkins
WR2: Marquise Brown
WR3: Rashod Bateman
TE1: Mark Andrews

Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Picks

I know he’s expensive and I know it’s not a sexy under the radar pick, but Davante Adams is going to feast in this one. Baltimore ranks last in the league in opponent yards per completion and Green Bay ranks number 5 in offensive yards per completion. Going against a stout run defense, Green Bay is going to have to throw to score in this one and, without Randall Cobb, Aaron Rodgers is going to be looking to Davante Adams to find the openings. The WR is currently listed at $8,900 on DraftKings and $8,500 on FanDuel.