Green Bay (10-3) at Baltimore (8-5)
When: Sunday, December 19th 2021
Where: M&T Bank Stadium,
Baltimore, MD
Time: 4:25 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Green Bay -2/45.5
The Green Bay Packers can clinch the NFC North Division title on Sunday, but the team is looking for more than that come January. The 10-3 Packers have a big road test this Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens on the road with injuries and Covid issues swirling all around the NFL. Somehow, both of these teams have so far avoided the Covid outbreak, but we also have a few days before kickoff. The Packers have bounced back from losing two of three with back-to-back victories over the L.A. Rams (36-28) and Chicago Bears (45-30). The lead in the division is now four games with four to play and the Packers are tied with Arizona and Tampa Bay for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Injuries are a major concern in Baltimore as quarterback Lamar Jackson is dealing with a sprained right ankle, causing the line in this game to get all the way up to almost a touchdown. The Ravens have lost back-to-back division games, but still lead the AFC North by one game over both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. There has been talk of possibly resting Jackson this Sunday to prepare him more for the final three games, but head coach John Harbaugh nixed that idea. Tyler Huntley, who started when Baltimore defeated the Chicago Bears 16-13 on Nov. 21, took the starter’s reps earlier this week. This will be the first meeting between the teams since November 2017. The Packers hold the overall edge 7-3 and are 4-2 ATS in the last six.
The Packers offense continues to roll as Aaron Rodgers connected on four scoring passes for the second time in three games in the win over the Bears Sunday night. Rodgers remains hampered by a fractured pinkie toe that kept him from participating in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but is expected to be ready for Sunday. This could be another big game from the future Hall of Famer because the Ravens’ secondary is missing two of its top cornerbacks. Baltimore is also just 31st in the league against the pass. Davante Adams, who had 121 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches against the Bears could and should have a field day. The Packers are averaging 25.2 points a game and are 8-1 against the spread in their last 9 games after a win. On defense, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark has been added to the team’s Covid-19 list. Clark has four sacks and 42 tackles in 13 starts, and must produce two negative tests results 24 hours apart before he can play.
The Ravens need a healthy Jackson if they have any chance at going far in the postseason. The team has averaged just 16.6 points a game over their last five contests and are 2-3 in that span. The long list of injuries in Baltimore also includes receivers Marquise Brown, who remains sidelined by an undisclosed illness, and Sammy Watkins, who returned to practice on Thursday after being limited by a knee injury on Wednesday. Jackson was not able to finish last Sunday’s 24-22 road loss to the Cleveland Browns after leaving the game early with an ankle injury. Huntley had 270 passing yards and a touchdown on 27-of-38 completions against the Browns, while rushing for 45 yards on six carries. Tight end Mark Andrews caught all 11 targets for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Browns. Baltimore has committed 31 penalties over the past four games and allowed 47 sacks through 13 games, most in the NFL.
These are two teams going in opposite directions with Green Bay having all the momentum, but this line seems a little high. I’m basing my pick in the hopes Jackson plays and can keep this one close. The Packers are just 4-3 away from home, while the Ravens are 5-1 at home. If Jackson doesn’t play, check back to this page to see how I will play it.
Pick: Ravens +6.5
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