Packers’ injuries offer winnable Week 11 matchup for Baltimore Ravens

What was seen as one of the hardest games of the season at the beginning of the year is now anything but that for the Baltimore Ravens.

Looking at the Baltimore Ravens’ schedule before the start of the season, there were certain games we circled. On the road against the Green Bay Packers was one of those. Lambeau Field in November against Aaron Rodgers and a potent offense? Any team dreads going there at that time. But as it turns out, the Ravens weren’t the only team to suffer injuries this year.

Through Week 10 of the season, the Packers are no longer that feared team we expected to see late in November. In fact, they’re the complete opposite of that. All it took was an Aaron Rodgers broken collarbone to suck the life out of the state of Wisconsin. A broken collarbone put Rodgers on Injured Reserve and seemingly ended his entire season and when he’s not out on the field, the Packers just aren’t the same team.

Brett Hundley has done a manageable job at keeping the Packers afloat but he’s a backup quarterback at best. The Packers are only 1-2 in Hundley’s three starts but come off a Week 10 win over the Chicago Bears. Even then, the Packers still can’t seem to catch a break and the injuries continue to pile up.

Jones, the Packers’ starting running back is out 3-6 weeks with a sprained MCL. Ty Montgomery and Hundley will likely play but won’t be 100 percent. It’s an early Christmas present for John Harbaugh’s squad. This game is gift-wrapped and the Ravens need to come away with a win on the road this week.

The Ravens are still in it

Despite a 4-5 record and coming off of a bye week, the Ravens are still very much in the playoff race. They’re just one game behind the Bills for the final AFC Wild Card spot and hold tiebreakers over the Dolphins and Raiders. Four of the last seven games come up against backup or rookie quarterbacks. By all accounts, the Ravens should find themselves in the playoffs, there are no more excuses.

Looking at the Packers’ current situation, their weaknesses play into the Ravens’ strengths. They have trouble running the football and will rely on the passing game to produce points. Dean Pees shouldn’t mind that with the way his secondary has played this season. They’ve shut down the biggest and best receivers in the NFL with ease.

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For once this season feels like the Ravens aren’t the more injured team. They’re getting healthy at the right time and getting back key players like running back Danny Woodhead. These are the kinds of games they cannot afford to lose. If Aaron Rodgers was playing I would feel differently but the Ravens are the better team in this matchup and that needs to show on the field Sunday.