Monday night represented a crucial game for both the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers for their respective playoff lives. However, Green Bay, not Baltimore, was able to get the job done in winning 27-14.

The game started out fine with the Baltimore defense only yielding three points in the first quarter. It appeared that the Ravens would score in their first drive, but Ray Rice inexplicably and uncharacteristically fumbled Baltimore’s first scoring chance away. End of drive, and before anyone really knew it, a microcosm of the entire game.

Aaron Rodgers then got real hot in the second quarter, scorching the Ravens defense for 14 points. Rodgers was able to find Jermichael Finley in a mismatch for a touchdown. Then, right before halftime, Rodgers connected with Driver to give the Packers a 17-0 lead.

Somehow Baltimore came out firing in the third quarter and was able to drop 14 points on Green Bay’s defense. That was it for the night though. The Packers dominated the fourth quarter on both offense and defense to round out their scoring.

So let’s go inside this game.

As I mentioned, Rice started the ugly game with a fumble in the first quarter. Then there were the penalties on both sides. Baltimore and Green Bay combined for 41 first downs, 10 of which came on penalties. The most costly penalties for both sides were the pass interference penalties. Domonique Foxworth was called for a penalty that no one knows why it was called. Frank Walker of course was called for pass interference. It just went on and on with penalties for Baltimore.

When the Ravens finally had momentum on a second pass interference call by Tramon Williams, Willis McGahee lost yardage. The next play was crucial. Joe Flacco rolled to his right and there was no one open, but he threw across his body, against the grain, right in to the hands of Williams. Baltimore’s defense held, but then Flacco threw another interception on the next play pretty much ending the game.

Baltimore’s offense was putrid. The ball wasn’t getting moved in the first half. It seemed like Green Bay knew the play that the Baltimore offense was running. Cam Cameron schemed to pass the ball when, I think, running the ball may have been a better option. Why not use Le’Ron McClain, McGahee and Rice? It was apparent early on that the team needed to run the ball because Flacco possibly had his worst game as a pro so far.

Another flaw that showed through Monday night was the offensive line. There are future Pro-Bowl players on that line and they were pushed around all night long by the Green Bay defensive front. Part of the reason Flacco had such a poor performance was because he wasn’t getting much protection from his line. Ben Grubbs was getting beaten badly in the first half and Grubbs is a potential All-Pro player. The blitzes up the middle confused the line and made Flacco hurry passes or scramble out of the pocket to buy time. Also, the offensive line didn’t set up blocks well for the screens the Ravens like to run.

Now for the defense. Rodgers lit up the secondary which was expected. Baltimore played the run well, but had problems getting to Rodgers. Jarret Johnson continued his fantastic season with solid play stopping the run and dropping back in coverage, even intercepting a pass. Dannell Ellerbe, Antwan Barnes and Paul Kruger did a nice job filling the void left by the injured Terrell Suggs. However, the secondary was playing without Ed Reed and it showed. Tom Zbikowski filled in for Reed and had a mixed bag in his first start. He intercepted Rodgers, but also gave up chunks of yards in the passing game. All of these issues added up to a defeat for the Ravens.

If Baltimore is thinking about making the playoffs they must win out. Out of the wild card contenders left, Baltimore has the easiest schedule. That schedule starts with Detroit on Sunday. Hopefully, the Ravens can bounce back from the NFC North road woes and take care of business at home against that division. Chicago comes in the following week to round out Baltimore’s home schedule. The toughest game is going to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh would love to knock the Ravens out of the playoff hunt with a victory over them in Week 16. For the Ravens to win out, they need to demonstrate toughness against the Steelers and Oakland Raiders. As of now, the playoffs don’t look promising for this team.