The Baltimore Ravens (7-8) hit the road on Friday, looking to earn their fifth-straight road victory when they face the Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) at historic Lambeau Field on Saturday. John Harbaugh’s team can force a winner-take-all scenario if Baltimore wins at Green Bay and Pittsburgh (9-6) falls at Cleveland on Sunday. Any dream of a win over the Packers will take place without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who’s been listed as doubtful for Saturday night with a back injury. The Ravens have lost three of their past four games, including a 28-24 home defeat to New England last Sunday night.
Saturday marks the Ravens’ fifth-ever game at Lambeau, where they are 1-3, including a 23-0 shutout win over the Packers in 2017.
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With kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at seven key matchups to watch.
Tyler Huntley vs. Packers’ DC Jeff Hafley
Green Bay’s defense ranks ninth in points allowed, while being in the top ten rankings in both passing and rushing yards per attempt. Someone has to step up for the injured Micah Parsons, though. The Packers have zero sacks since Micah Parsons suffered a torn ACL, and it’ll be on Huntley to run when pressured and make key, timely throws.
Zay Flowers vs. Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon’s matchup against Zay Flowers will be a defining factor for the Packers’ defense in Week 17. Flowers has now made back-to-back Pro Bowls, while Nixon is one of the best zone/man cornerbacks in the NFL.
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Packers RB Josh Jacobs vs. Ravens’ LB Roquan Smith
Jacobs had 12 carries in the loss to Chicago last week, but he’s playing with no injury designation and has scored 10 touchdowns this season. Smith has 124 tackles, and his matchup with Jacobs is the most watched.
RB Derrick Henry vs. Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker
Henry has 1,253 yards and 12 touchdowns. and he’s now topped 1,200 rushing yards in five of the last seven seasons. Walker leads the Packers in tackles with 116 and eight tackles for loss.
Ravens DC Zach Orr vs. Packers QB Malik Willis
Willis is an elite athlete, but Green Bay’s best chance at success starts with the passing game, and big plays against a Ravens defense allowing 242.7 yards per game through the air.
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CB Marlon Humphrey vs. Packers’ WR Christian Watson
Humphrey allowed nine catches for 133 yards ana touchdown in Week 16, while Watson is a big play magnet that could earn the attention of Malik Willis.
OL Roger Rosengarten vs. Packers OLB Rashan Gary
With Micah Parsons out (ACL), Gary is the Packers most accomplished pass rusher and raced out to 7.5 sacks in the first half of the season, but has gone eight games without a sack.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Packers: 7 key matchups to watch in Week 17