It’s been a rough two weeks for the Green Bay Packers. Injuries decimated their chances against Denver, and then Chicago pulled a 2014 part II and stole a game they had no business winning. On top of that all Jordan Love and Malik Willis are both hurt. It really does feel like the sky is falling right?

In the words of Lee Corso, not so fast my friends.

The Packers are one win away from the playoffs right now, and a very likely rematch with those same Chicago Bears. There are a lot of reasons to think Green Bay should want that chance.

For starters, the Packers have not trailed the Bears for a single minute of regulation this season. That’s eight quarters of football, and only five against a healthy Jordan Love. This Packers team has proven it can move the ball against the Bears, and for the most part keep Caleb Williams contained. Nothing is guaranteed in this league, but Packers fans should feel plenty confident if Green Bay has another trip to Soldier Field on the docket.

Of course for any of that to matter, the Packers need another win. While technically they can get in if Detroit drops another game, lets focus on how they can get in through the front door.

The Packers Offense Has to Control the Ball

This is not the Baltimore Ravens defense we grew up with. They have given up thirty or more points five times this season. This Packers offense is top ten in the league in pretty much every category that matters. They should be able to move the ball, the question then becomes how should they look to do that?

Normally when a team wants to control the clock, they lean on a successful run game. While Green Bay can move the ball like that, a lack of TE depth and a compromised offensive line might lend itself to another strategy. Rather than trying to force the run, look for Green Bay to try and attack the short to intermediate range in the passing game to players like Jayden Reed, and hopefully Matthew Golden.

While the Packers should still look to take shots when the opportunity is there, safety is one of the stronger parts of this Baltimore defense. Attacking with the short passing game should accomplish the same as a strong running game and bring those safeties down closer to the line.

Too often this year the Packers defense has been worn down by long drives from the opponent. Hopefully the Packers can flip the script Saturday night, and not let the Ravens offense keep them in the game.

The Packers Defense Has To Get a Takeaway

Despite how it ended, the Packers defense had an impressive plan against the Bears. Jeff Hafley is going to continue to need to be creative in a post Parsons world. What should help is Baltimore potentially having a compromised Lamar Jackson or Ravens backup Huntley at QB.

What the defense hasn’t done well however is take the ball away. This is not from opponents playing it safe either. Over the last two weeks Bo Nix and Caleb Williams did everything they could to give Green Bay the ball, and the secondary just wouldn’t take them up on it. That needs to change if the Packers are going to make a run into the playoffs. Jackson is averaging just over a turnover a game this season. Chances are he’ll give the Packers defense a shot at one, and if he does they cannot miss it. Its hard not to imagine what the season looks like right now if Xavier McKinney doesn’t drop that pick in Denver.

Finally, they can’t let the Ravens running back group do what Chicago and others have done this year. Do not let Baltimore shorten this to an eight or nine possession game, the Packers advantage is on offense, and they need as many chances as possible.

Presented Without Comment

Final Prediction

The Ravens are going to be a desperate team, as a loss essentially eliminates them from the postseason. I expect the Packers to match that desperation so as to not rely on the Detroit Lions losing to make it to the playoffs themselves. Between a suspect defense and a compromised quarterback, I think Green Bay punches their ticket to the postseason for the third year running.

Packers 27 – Ravens 23