Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Preview
The Green Bay Packers host the Baltimore Ravens in a preseason game on Saturday, August 24th at Lambeau Field. There’s plenty for their head coaches to ponder ahead of this game after mixed results this summer.
Both franchises are 1-1 across their first couple of preseason games. They hope to finish the summer on a high and create positive momentum ahead of the opening week. Matt LaFleur and John Harbaugh have some massive roster decisions to make.
Green Bay had a horrific game against the Broncos last week. Meanwhile, Baltimore enjoyed a tight win over Atlanta. Results aren’t the priority, but they hope to create better optics in their final preseason clash.
Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Key Stats and Head-to-Head
The Packers and the Ravens have only played each other seven times previously. Green Bay has had better luck in this rivalry with five victories to Baltimore’s two. Surprisingly, Baltimore averages more points per game in these matchups than the Packers.
Meanwhile, their most recent regular-season meeting was as far back as 2021. The Packers won this game by a single point. Baltimore had an injury crisis which wasn’t ideal against Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. But they still produced an admirable performance in a 30-31 defeat against the 10-point favourites.
Neither of those players are in Green Bay now. Instead, it’s Jordan Love who is the franchise’s new hope. The quarterback probably won’t play in this game. Instead, Matt LaFleur must decide on his QB2. Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt are the two men fighting for the backup spot, but neither is inspiring.
Jordan Love throws his 3rd INT of the night, including 2 to Samuel Womack
📹 @49ers pic.twitter.com/uVExbW90NK
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) August 13, 2022
Clifford played the first four drives in their dismal defeat at the hands of Denver. Pratt replaced him and completed 10 of 16 passes for 52 yards with seven rushing yards. The Packers went down 27-3 and there may be movement in this department before the Ravens’ game.
Zach Morton was one of the few Green Bay players to emerge with credit from this performance. He sacked Zach Wilson for the Packers’ only score. There’s speculation that an angry LaFleur will play a stronger team this weekend. Javon Bullard was the only probable starter to get reps against Denver.
Baltimore also rested starters against the Falcons, but with better results. Undrafted wideout Dayton Wade stood out with four catches for 67 yards. David Ojabo also delivered on his debut with one powerful hit on the quarterback.
The big story was QB2 Josh Johnson. He had a sloppy performance in their preseason opener. But he rebounded against Atlanta with a perfect 11 of 11 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. Lamar Jackson will sit out the entire preseason. Johnson has another opportunity to impress against the Packers.
Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Predictions
Predicted Score: Green Bay Packers 20 – 13 Baltimore Ravens
This game is almost too close to call because these franchises are so evenly matched. However, our NFL prediction is that Green Bay will win. They have a home advantage and LaFleur will want to give the Cheeseheads, one of the best NFL fan bases, a better product than last weekend. Preseason results don’t matter, but the optics were shocking last weekend. They know they need to give their fans more and that’s why LaFleur is pondering on playing a stronger team. If he does this, it will give the Packers the edge.
Ravens quarterback Johnson enters this NFL preseason game on a high after a great game against Atlanta. However, the Packers’ secondary was one of the bright spots of their last display. Their defence could nullify the Ravens.
Despite their win last week, Baltimore has only scored 13 points in both of their games. They’re not the same dynamic attacking force without their two-time MVP quarterback. Johnson’s inconsistencies could come back to haunt them.
FIFTY-SIX YARD TOUCHDOWN❗❗@eXjones6 to @__vierr ❗
Tune in on WBAL! pic.twitter.com/barPN0i10n
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 17, 2024
There’s also a strong chance that Harbaugh will take their joint practice more seriously than the game. That’s because there is less risk to his stars. He’s more interested in trimming down the roster than winning this match. Individual performances matter more than the overall result. Lamar Jackson won’t play in this clash but will get reps in their joint practice.
LaFleur wants a response from his team after they only scored 3 points last weekend. But they managed 23 against Cleveland in their opening preseason game. Sean Clifford knows his career is on the line and will probably get another chance to prove himself. The backup QB completed 6 of 10 passes for 43 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
The Ravens’ offensive line is one of their most questionable positions. They lost three starters during the offseason so several players are hoping to impress. Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum may play to consolidate their spots.
Fans hope to see more of Nate Wiggins after the first-round pick left the field with a shoulder injury against Atlanta. If he’s fit, he may get more minutes to show what he can do. The Packers opted to move their first-round pick Jordan Morgan to guard during practice. He could play there in this clash.
Green Bay Packers vs Baltimore Ravens Betting Tips
There is little between these teams on our online sportsbook. The Ravens enter this game as slight -116 favourites. This means that a successful $10 stake would make $8.62. Betting on Baltimore may seem like the sensible decision after last week’s decision, but we favour Green Bay.
The Packers enter this game as slight underdogs at -110. The same $10 stake would make $9.09 if successful. This game is almost a coin toss, but there are a couple of reasons we are backing them to win.
First, they’re under more pressure than the Ravens to deliver a performance. Back-to-back home defeats wouldn’t go down well in Wisconsin. The manner of their capitulation against Denver demands a response, which is good news for anyone betting on the NFL this week.
Matt LaFleur hinted that we may see more of his starters in this game. Coaches love to play mind games during preseason, but we believe him. It wouldn’t be a massive shock to see Jordan Love play an early series before departing.
Baltimore’s offence hasn’t set the world on fire during the preseason. They’ve scored 13 points in back-to-back games. Betting on them to score under 16.5 points seems like a smart wager at -110. Remember, the odds may change if a wildcard like Derrick Henry gets unexpected reps, so keep an eye on the live betting odds.
SACK FOR THE SAFETY!#GBvsDEN pic.twitter.com/mMezKiwyUI
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 19, 2024
You can also bet on halftime/full-time results. It could be tempting to back the Packers to win both halves at +160. This time a $10 stake could make $16, so it is a good option. Our recommended alternative is for Baltimore to win the first half with Green Bay winning the second at +600 for a massive $60 profit.
Another good over-under bet is the total number of points in this game. It’s -110 for there to be under 33.5 points, which correlates with our predicted score. A safer option is over 30.5 points at -167, with potential winnings of $6.57.
The new NFL season is almost upon us, so don’t forget to look at the futures. Green Bay and Baltimore both have Super Bowl ambitions. The Ravens are currently third-favourites to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy at +1000. Meanwhile, it’s +1900 for the Packers to claim their first championship since 2011.
The player specials also have some exciting options. Lamar Jackson is +1500 to win the NFL MVP award for a third time. It’s +1400 for Jordan Love to claim this coveted prize. New players can apply Novibet’s welcome bonus to bet on these markets with no extra risk.
Green Bay Packers Team News
Matt LaFleur hinted that Green Bay will play a stronger team this weekend. Edgerrin Cooper, Jordan Morgan, and Ralen Goforth are all questionable but could play a part. LaFleur also has a big decision at quarterback with neither of his options inspiring.
Malik Heath is one of the most unlikely players to fight for a roster spot. He’s desperate to prove himself in this preseason clash.
Baltimore Ravens Team News
Keaton Mitchell remains on the Ravens’ PUP list with a knee injury. The Ravens have a clutch of questionable players. Some will play against the Packers, but Harbaugh may use them in the joint practice instead.
Tyler Linderbaum could play because his soft tissue problem will keep him out of practice. Devontez Walker also needs reps after an early departure against Atlanta. Mark Andrews could return. Lamar Jackson won’t start, so Josh Johnson has another opportunity to shine.
