2021 NFL Week 15: Packers vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview and Prediction

First, a quick word about last week's win vs. Da Bearz: interesting. Yes, that's the word. From getting down early, and getting down embarrassingly, the Packers overcame one of the worst special teams' performances in recent memory ... in a season of bad special teams' play, this one took the cake, didn't it? No need for the details. If you saw the game, you know. But the defense and offense kicked it in gear in the second half and came away with a 45-30 victory. So QB Aaron Rodgers — and the Packers — ownership of that team from Chicago continues. Our condolences to their fans, such as our good friend Billy Da Bearz Fan. But as Buddha reminds us, life is suffering. And that's especially true for fans of Da Bearz. So it goes.

The Preview

The Packers travel to the East Coast for today's match up against the Ravens. It's a game that might be perhaps known more for those who are not playing than those who are, particularly on the Ravens side of things. QB Lamar Jackson looks to be out, which is a plus for the Packers. Also a plus is that the Ravens defensive backfield is shorthanded due to injury and Covid protocols.

The Packers defense will likely not have to chase Ravens QB Lamare Jackson

today, as he is reportedly out with an ankle injury sustained in last week's game.

(Photo by Gail Burton, AP)

The Packers will, however, have to face the league's number 1-ranked rushing defense. The Pack's piecemeal offensive line will be challenged against the Ravens big defensive front. Opening running lanes will be difficult. But if the line can hold up against the pass rush, Rodgers could have a big day. Look for WR Davante Adams to likely be doubled-teamed most of the day, which could allow other receivers — including RB Aaron Jones — to have opportunities for big plays.

Bottom line: it seems as if this will be a chess match where weaknesses on each side look to be exploited by the opposing side. In terms of scoring potential, without Jackson especially, the edge goes to the Packers. And while the Pack's defense will be missing NT Kenny Clark up front today, it's in better shape overall than are the Ravens. Barring more special teams' disasters today, the Pack should come out of this game with a win.

The Prediction

The Packers are currently favored by 8-1/2 points at the time of this writing.

We're calling this game Packers 34 - Ravens 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

A Special Nod to The Badgers Women's Volleyball Team

Last evening, the University of Wisconsin's Women's Volleyball Team won its first-ever NCAA Championship. By defeating Nebraska 3 sets to 2 in a hard-fought match, the Badgers accomplished something they had been denied on 3 prior trips to the finals. Congratulations to the squad and the coaching staff! Go Badgers!! On Wisconsin!!!

...And now for something completely different: #MarchMadnessVIP

While the frenzy of NFL free agency is still in full sway (see our prior post), as a sports fan we also have to weigh in on NCAA® March Madness. It is that time of year, after all.

Who ya got?
That's the question du jour.

Everyone's filling out their brackets. I've used the convenient Sports Illustrated version pictured above (without all my picks displayed...to save me from eternal embarrassment). But whatever you use, jump on in and start guessing, er...making your selections. I've got Florida, Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin in the Final Four®. Delusional? I know. Three Big 10 teams? Could happen. Some pundits have said throughout the season that the Big 10 Conference is arguably the best conference in men's college basketball right now. For the championship game, I'm picking Wisconsin over Michigan State as the eventual champion. A homer? You bet. If you care to share your picks here, feel free. We don't normally open things up for comments, but if you care to chime in on this one, we'll give it a go.

Whether you buy that scenario or not, you can still buy tickets. In fact, if you're interested in getting tickets you can do so from PrimeSport, which is the premier vendor of choice for March Madness tickets by the NCAA®.


In fact, PrimeSport is the Official Ticket and Hospitality Provider of the NCAA and a fan's one-stop shop for NCAA Tournament Tickets, private suites, pre-game hospitality, and travel to every round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and Men’s Final Four®. Follow your team from the very first tip-off, all the way to the Final Four at ATT Stadium in Dallas. You can also score yourself a VIP Experience via PrimeSport: an opportunity to be a VIP at the Final Four with premium game tickets, private suites, and access to the official VIP in-stadium hospitality party hosted by Bill Walton and John Salley. VIP in-stadium hospitality includes upscale food presentations, open premium bar, live entertainment and much more. Just click on any of the links in the paragraph and you can learn more about PrimeSport and your ticket, travel and VIP options.

However you participate in this wild time of year, enjoy!

A flashback to Packers vs. Lions

Some special things happened during the December 2 game between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. First, the Packers won 27-20 in the snow flurries. Secondly, the Packers kept their 22-game winning streak in Wisconsin over the Lions going. Thirdly, and most importantly, it was that game that put the Pack up a full game over division rival Chicago, setting the stage for that coming Sunday's game against Da Bearz. This was the start of the Packers nailing down the NFC North. (You can read the total recap of the game here.)

Another of the special things that happened prior to the Packers vs. Lions game was the appearance by Larry the Cable Guy at the official Packers Tailgate Party. Larry was making his last stop on a tour promoting the Wild American Flavor Sweepstakes on behalf of Prilosec OTC Wildberry. Larry, you see, is a frequent heartburn sufferer (who knew?). So this was a natural for him. He also met up with former Packers' nose tackle, Gilbert Brown, who showed him the ins and outs of how tailgating is really done.

The video below shows what they got up to.

Don't Delay! Enter the Wild American Flavor Sweepstakes Now! Ends Jan. 7!
As you can see from the video, Larry the Cable Guy had quite an adventure in Green Bay that weekend. Now you can embark on an out-of-this-world flavor adventure of your own by entering the Wild American Flavor Sweepstakes. From now until January 7, 2013, enter at www.WildBerryFlavor.com for a chance to win trips to three of America’s most flavorful cities, including tickets to some of the country’s biggest sporting events courtesy of new Prilosec OTC Wildberry. One winner will be chosen at random to receive the prize pack, including tickets to the big football game in New Orleans (February 3, 2013), the first big auto race of the year in Daytona Beach (February 24, 2013) and the basketball championship game in Atlanta (April 8, 2013), travel and accommodations (a two-night hotel stay and air transportation for each destination), and one $5,000 check to be used in any of these flavorful cities.

What a week!

As I write this, ESPN is announcing that the NFL Players Association has just decertified. And so, the negotiations between the NFL owners and players now goes to the courts. The NFLPA is dissolved and the union no longer exists; it is now a trade association. Players can individually file antitrust lawsuits. If the NFL locks out players, players can file lawsuits to block the lockouts. Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are expected to be among the lead plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the league. Basically, nothing can happen business-wise with players who are currently in the league once this hits the courts. The NFL Draft supposedly can take place as usual because those players are obviously not yet in the NFL, although I heard one report indicate that, depending upon how the judge rules, the Draft could be out the window, too.

So, after a week's extension of time to negotiate...nada. Now it's gonna get nasty. There's a lockout coming, Packer fans. Just a matter of how long it will last.

Hard to image that these folks can't figure out how to negotiate a win-win situation when there's $9 billion-plus to be had. Can you say "greed"? Even kids learn that it's good to share. These folks must have missed that day in kindergarten.

Other happenings

Head coach Mike McCarthy's contract extension was finalized. He and GM Ted Thompson will be leading the Green Bay Packers' field deployment through 2015 (if memory serves). Both are being rewarded well for bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Titletown.

The Packers put some tenders on a few players: James Jones, Daryn Colledge, Atari Bigby and John Kuhn (am I missing anyone?). Basically, they are more defensive maneauvers than anything, especially since the entire collective bargaining deal with the NFL Players Association is out the window...no one knows at this point now whether these players will be restricted or unrestricted free agents as there is now no collective bargaining agreement that defines that.

LB Nick Barnett may be the odd man out of the inside linebackers (interesting grammatical construction there but I think you get the drift). Coach McCarthy told reporters that A. J. Hawk (recently re-signed to a new big dollar deal) and Desmond Bishop (big deal signed before end of the season) are his starting inside linebackers. Barnett, coming off his second season-ending injury in the last three seasons, may or may not be back with the Pack if and when football is next played. Consensus among fans, if you can gauge such things from the comments about the various stories and scenarios related to this topic, seems to be that Barnett will be gone and the Packers will be looking to pick up new and younger and healthier linebacker help in the upcoming draft.

Natural and man-made disasters

We awoke this morning to the sad and terrible news of the earthquake (now quakes) in Japan and the ensuing tsunami which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed much property in Japan. A damaged nuclear reactor is also in the mix and is a major concern not only within Japan but from a global perspective. We need to keep the people of Japan and other affected areas in our thoughts and prayers. If you wish to support relief efforts, text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or go here to donate online.

Finally, while it's a matter that I generally try to keep out of this blog, the happenings of the last weeks and days in the state of Wisconsin regarding the collective bargaining rights of public employees and the state budget came to a head when the governor, newly-elected Republican Scott Walker, signed into law this morning the bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature. Anyone who has tuned into any of the news shows -- or even Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report for that matter -- are aware of this matter. Regardless of one's political persuasion, this event has nationwide implications either positive or negative depending upon your view. The state senate majority leader told Fox News the real reason for banning these collective bargaining rights; you can view the video and decide for yourself whether it was about the state budget or something else. Events are scheduled at the Wisconsin state capitol building in Madison for Saturday, March 12. But unscheduled events are just as likely to occur for a long time to come.

For a current list of events in Madison and around the state in support of workers' rights, see here. You can also take a stand for workers in Wisconsin and elsewhere where rights are similarly threatened by going here. And if you use Twitter -- to follow this blog at @packfasnunited no doubt! -- you can see all the various posts related to this situation by using the #wiunion hashtag.