Packers on the Brink: Win-and-In Scenario Looms as Ravens Come to Lambeau
It’s crunch time in Green Bay. After two straight losses and a mounting injury list, the Packers are still in control of their playoff destiny. Sitting at 9-5-1, all they need is a win Saturday night against the Ravens - or a Lions loss earlier in the week - to punch their ticket to the NFC playoffs.
That opportunity comes under the lights at Lambeau Field, where the Packers will host a Baltimore team clinging to its own postseason hopes. But with both squads dealing with quarterback uncertainty, this Week 17 clash is shaping up to be as much about resilience as it is about execution.
How We Got Here
Despite recent setbacks - including injuries to defensive anchor Micah Parsons and starting quarterback Jordan Love - the Packers find themselves in a favorable spot thanks to a little help from the AFC. The Steelers’ win over the Lions gave Green Bay a clearer path: just win, and they’re in.
The Lions, now 8-7, face the Vikings on Christmas Day. If Detroit drops that game, the Packers will have secured a playoff berth before even taking the field Saturday night. But if not, Green Bay will need to handle business themselves against a Ravens team that’s fighting to stay alive in the AFC race.
Ravens Still in the Hunt - Barely
Baltimore’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. After a tough loss to the Patriots, the Ravens (7-8) need to win out - beating both Green Bay and Pittsburgh - and hope the Steelers lose to the 3-12 Browns. It’s a long shot, but it’s still mathematically possible.
That makes Saturday night a must-win for both sides, albeit for different reasons. For the Packers, it’s about locking in a wild-card spot. For the Ravens, it’s survival.
Quarterback Carousel: Who’s Actually Playing?
The biggest storyline heading into this one is the uncertainty under center for both teams.
Jordan Love remains in concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter of last week’s loss to Chicago. He was replaced by Malik Willis, who finished the game but suffered a shoulder injury of his own in the final seconds. Head coach Matt LaFleur described Willis as “pretty sore” and said the team will monitor his status throughout the week.
If neither Love nor Willis is cleared to play, Green Bay could be forced to turn to Clayton Tune, currently on the practice squad. That’s not exactly the scenario you want heading into a potential playoff-clinching game, but it’s where the Packers are.
On the other side, Lamar Jackson exited the Ravens’ loss to New England with a back contusion. He’s listed as day-to-day, and if he can’t go, Tyler Huntley would get the nod. Huntley’s had experience stepping in for Jackson in the past, but this is a high-stakes environment - and Lambeau in late December isn’t exactly forgiving.
Kickoff and Broadcast Info
- Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 27 at 7:20 p.m. CT
- TV/Streaming: The game will stream nationally on Peacock and air locally on NBC affiliates in Milwaukee (Channel 4) and Green Bay (Channel 26).
- Broadcast Crew: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (color), and Melissa Stark (sideline).
Vegas Odds and Projections
As of Dec. 23, BetMGM has the Packers as 2.5-point favorites with an over/under set at 40.5.
The moneyline sits at Packers -145, Ravens +120. ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Green Bay a 49.4% chance to win - about as close to a toss-up as you’ll find this late in the season.
NFC North Standings (Heading into Week 17)
- Chicago Bears: 11-4
- Green Bay Packers: 9-5-1
- Detroit Lions: 8-7
- Minnesota Vikings: 7-8
The Bears have taken control of the division, but the Packers are still firmly in the wild-card mix. A win Saturday keeps them in the driver’s seat, with a final game against Minnesota still to come.
Remaining Schedules That Matter
Packers
- Dec. 27: vs.
Ravens
- Jan. 3-4: at Vikings
Lions
- Dec. 25: at Vikings
- Jan. 3-4: at Bears
Bears
- Dec. 28: at 49ers
- Jan. 3-4: vs. Lions
Playoff Picture Snapshot (NFC)
- Division Leaders: Seahawks (12-3, NFC West) Bears (11-4, NFC North) Eagles (10-5, NFC East) Panthers (8-7, NFC South)
- Wild-Card Race: Rams (11-4) 49ers (10-5) Packers (9-5-1)
Green Bay is clinging to that final wild-card spot, but with two games left, there’s still plenty of movement possible. Saturday’s game could solidify their place - or throw the door wide open for Detroit or Minnesota.
Looking Ahead: NFL Playoff Dates
- Wild Card Round: Jan. 10-12
- Divisional Round: Jan. 17-18
- Conference Championships: Jan. 25
- Super Bowl 60: Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (5:30 p.m. CT)
Bottom Line
Saturday night at Lambeau isn’t just another regular-season game - it’s a potential playoff clincher for the Packers and a last gasp for the Ravens. Both teams are banged up, both are searching for answers at quarterback, and both know what’s at stake.
Green Bay has the edge on paper, but nothing’s guaranteed in December football - especially when you’re playing with backup quarterbacks and playoff pressure. One thing’s for sure: the stakes don’t get much higher than this.