Game 16: Ravens @ Packers - Saturday, Dec. 27th @ 7:00 PM

[CheezWizHed]

Time to call in Radar to patch up our MASH unit of players.  

And yet... somehow we are still in the playoffs.

Could this be the game of the backup QB? 

[Jopal78]

3 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Time to call in Radar to patch up our MASH unit of players.  

And yet... somehow we are still in the playoffs.

Could this be the game of the backup QB? 

When 7 teams make the playoffs from each conference and there are only 8 teams with winning records in the NFC the bar is set pretty low to get into the post season. 

[HarryDoyle]

"Next, on the Packers Football Channel, and all new "Ow, My Balls!"

[Fear The Chorizo]

On 12/22/2025 at 1:09 PM, Jopal78 said:

When 7 teams make the playoffs from each conference and there are only 8 teams with winning records in the NFC the bar is set pretty low to get into the post season. 

17 games...still better to make whatever playoff format their is when there isn't a dominant team anymore with how the NFL has changed.  Back in the day it would be a shocker for any road team to be competitive in a road playoff game on divisional wkend, let alone win a game.

 

Not even close to the same league

[young guns]

I wonder how much clinching today will change their strategy.  Does that lions team beat the bears next week even if both games go our way this week?

Feels like an opportunity to just get as healthy as we can and prepare for Chicago in the playoffs.

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, young guns said:

I wonder how much clinching today will change their strategy.  Does that lions team beat the bears next week even if both games go our way this week?

Feels like an opportunity to just get as healthy as we can and prepare for Chicago in the playoffs.

I think they find a way to get a W saturday and see what the bears do against the 49ers sunday night - then sort out if theres a hope of a division title or any different wild card seeding to play for in week 18.   

[OldHeidelberg]

17 hours ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

I think they find a way to get a W saturday and see what the bears do against the 49ers sunday night - then sort out if theres a hope of a division title or any different wild card seeding to play for in week 18.   

Yes, with Lamar likely out get a win and see how things shake out on Sunday. I think the Viking were a bad matchup for Lions more than the Lions laying down so still have hope they step up and beat the Bears next week. After 2 tough losses the Packers really need to get some mojo back as well before the playoffs.

[adambr2]

Love out for tomorrow, Willis likely to start.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Lamar also doubtful and it frankly would be criminal to play him with nothing riding on it for the Ravens - betting NBC really loves this primetime holiday matchup now...

As an aside, the NFL really needs to get the hell away from Christmas Day games unless the holiday actually falls on a weekend.  Another short week for teams this far into a season is a complete joke. 

The longer regular season actually seems to sort out the playoff picture earlier than not in terms of what the 7 team field is going to be from each conference - and seedings #2-7 really have little to no difference since the only seed that gets a bye now is the #1.  This leads to some real dogs of games the last couple weeks of the regular season.

[endaround]

49 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Lamar also doubtful and it frankly would be criminal to play him with nothing riding on it for the Ravens - betting NBC really loves this primetime holiday matchup now...

As an aside, the NFL really needs to get the hell away from Christmas Day games unless the holiday actually falls on a weekend.  Another short week for teams this far into a season is a complete joke. 

The longer regular season actually seems to sort out the playoff picture earlier than not in terms of what the 7 team field is going to be from each conference - and seedings #2-7 really have little to no difference since the only seed that gets a bye now is the #1.  This leads to some real dogs of games the last couple weeks of the regular season.

Ravens still can make the playoffs but it is a small chance (they win this week and beat Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh loses to the Browns this week). 

[HarveysWBs]

I fully intend to keep the promise to myself that I would no longer have any positive expectations for this year's team. So I'm not going to focus on the fact that the Packers are favored at home while the Bears will likely lose, setting up yet another chance to take over the division next week. No, that is fool's gold. Instead, I will be thinking about QB's this weekend.

First, I'm just concerned about Love's health. A concussion is bad even if one recovers quickly, and not clearing protocol this week is not just troublesome for the Packers' short-term prospects, but also raises at least some small concerns about Love's long-term well-being. Obviously, we're just wishing him the best.

As for Willis, tomorrow night's game will be a test unlike anything he has seen thus far. In none of his previous starts have the stakes been higher than they are about to be, and he is facing an opponent that is both more motivated (at least theoretically--it seems there may be some questions about the Baltimore locker room esp. Harbaugh vs. Jackson and whatever is going on there) and more talented than the ones he has faced before. Plus, he is likely to be physically compromised due to injury and illness in ways he was not in his previous appearances. I am keenly interested in seeing how Willis responds to all this.

As an aside, I absolutely despise any hint of "Willis should be the starter" discourse, so I hesitate to bring this up, but I do hope they find something in the red zone tomorrow with him playing, and also wonder if it would be prudent to develop a red zone package that features him either under center or utilized in a more creative way. That could be a very useful wrinkle in the playoffs for a team that could use about as many wrinkles as a linen jacket stuffed in an overhead compartment. But, that is beginning to sound too much like a positive expectation...

Long term, barring something horrible, Willis is obviously too good (and will be too expensive) to just be Jordan Love's parachute, but I suspect he is also not good enough to succeed in the types of places that are likely to give him a shot (Jets, Cardinals, etc.). As such, he probably peaks as a Ryan Fitzpatrick-type journeyman who spawns a couple more minor legends about himself as a bandaid option, but won't ever find a spot that can help him flourish. Cards on the table, I think his best chance would be in Miami if they cut bait with Tua, and he could be a fun follow in a place like that.

So anyway, I hope to achieve my goal of being entertained but not otherwise affected by this ridiculous sport.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The 17-game season is such a dumpster fire. You have the ENTIRE NFC ad AFC field set 2 weeks before the season ends with only the seeds up for grabs. Sure, the battle to be .500 and win the South, but realistically not even most of the seeds are very likely to change much or matter if they do. Week 17 used to be one of the best of the season.

I have no expectation of the Packers to win a playoff game, this season sucks and fell off the track 2 weeks ago in devastating fashion, but I feel no point in watching tonight's game anyway because there is nothing at stake. It's stupid.

[Outlander]

I hope the Packers still go all out. While slim, their Super Bowl chances increase if all of their games go through Lambeau and all that would take is a small slip from an NFC West team. 

[HarryDoyle]

Incredible we haven't played against Lamar yet. Fortunate considering his W-L record against the NFC.

[yourout]

Might want to stop the run.

[Strike4]

Defense looks uninterested tonight

[yourout]

Just now, Strike4 said:

Defense looks uninterested tonight

Extremely

[yourout]

JV defense.

[Strike4]

It may be a long night

 

 

[adambr2]

I’m not saying Hafley is a problem, but I fail to see how his phone is going to be blowing up with head coaching offers in the offseason.

[Strike4]

I hoped to see at least a little fight tonight.  So far it looks like a beat down team giving ip

[HarryDoyle]

1 minute ago, Strike4 said:

Defense looks uninterested tonight

I honestly don't understand the Jeff Hafley love as far as hot head coaching candidates goes. The defense has actually taken a step back this year even with Micah.

[Fear The Chorizo]

If the Ravens feed him enough, Henry will wind up with 300 yards rushing tonight if the dline cant get off blocks.  He will be dragging guys trying to tackle him 10 yards downfield if they let him get up to speed at will

[Fear The Chorizo]

Big play intonscoring territory and the offense reminds itself it cant be that easy...back to back presnap penalties.

 

Coaching

[Fear The Chorizo]

And then a big pass play...lol!