Right Off Russell

On the surface it would appear that Monday night’s game at Green Bay would be a game in which the offense will need to come up with a big performance. The Packers feature an offense that has the speed and size to stretch the field. Exactly the type of offense the Ravens defense has struggled with this season. The key to slowing the Packers offense down may be a shift in philosophy for the Ravens offense. Sunday night against Pittsburgh, Marshall Yanda was made a starter at the guard position and the Ravens line look much more physical in the ground game. A punishing running game is exactly what the Ravens need Monday night to keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense on the sideline.

Running Game:This game will be won and lost in the trenches, like most are. The Packers have a statistically stingy defense, leading the NFL in fewest yards allowed. While that stat is not insignificant, the Pack have feasted on some less than stellar offensive teams in Chicago, Detroit (2X), Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Dallas, St. Louis ad San Francisco. I believe the Ravens have offensive line has an advantage over the Packers defensive front and to win this game they need to exploit it. Run Ray RIce. Run LeRon McCLain. Run Willis McGahee and run them some more. If the Ravens are going to make any sort of a run to or in the play-offs the physical ground game they showed last year needs to make a return. I thought it started against Pittsburgh. Can it continue in Green Bay?

Passing Game:The first thing the Ravens need to do is keep Joe Flacco upright. He was pressured adn sacked far too often against the Steelers. Thankfully the Steelers are one of the best at drawing up confusing blitzes. The line needs to step up their effort, the backs need to pick up blitzers better and Flacco needs to be able to read where the blitzes are coming from. Flacco also needs to take advantage of the Green Bay secondary. Despite Charles Woodson havng a strong year, with Al Harris out they are vulnerable. Green Bay will try to roll safety help to whoever is opposite Woodson. Flacco will need to exploit the single coverage even if that means going at Woodson. Rice will again be big in the pass game. We say that every week, but he will have real mismatches going against the Packer LB’s.

Despite allowing few yards the Packers do give up a lot of points. Their defense has been strong of lat, but I think there are ares for the Ravens to attack that will lead to great success. The Ravens will need to take advantage of suspect Green Bay coverage teams and win the field position battle. Weather could play a huge factor which could be to the Ravens advantage if it limits the downfield passing games. I think the Ravens can win a battle of the ground games against Green Bay.