GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) 鈥� This is what it鈥檚 come down to for the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore will miss the playoffs for just the second time in the last eight years unless it wins its final two games on the road and the lose Sunday at Cleveland.
The Ravens (7-8) likely will be playing the first of those games Saturday night at Green Bay (9-5-1) without two-time MVP quarterback who was listed as doubtful with a back injury.
鈥淭here isn鈥檛 any added pressure,鈥� Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e played football our entire lives. Let鈥檚 go win.鈥�
Baltimore hardly expected to be in this position after going a combined 25-9 and the last two seasons. If the Ravens win Saturday and the Steelers lose Sunday, their Jan. 4 matchup in Pittsburgh would determine the division champion.
Tyler Huntley likely will start at quarterback for Baltimore after Jackson in the second quarter of a to New England last week.
The Ravens do get a break in that they’re playing a Green Bay team that already is guaranteed a playoff spot and won’t have its starting quarterback.
Green Bay has ruled out after a concussion sidelined him in the second quarter of a at Chicago. Backup hurt his shoulder later in that game, leaving him questionable for this game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the situation, so you just prepare the best you can and try to lay out a great plan for whoever鈥檚 out there and go play,鈥� Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.
Green Bay when the at Minnesota on Thursday, but the Packers still have incentive to improve their seeding. The Packers would grab the NFC North title if they win their final two games and Chicago loses its last two games.
Both teams have been struggling to finish lately.
Baltimore blew an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Patriots. Green Bay led 23-14 in the third quarter of a and followed that by squandering a 10-point advantage in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter in Chicago.
The collapse in Chicago caused Green Bay to lose control of its destiny in the NFC North race.
鈥淚 think the vibes are still high,鈥� Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. 鈥淭he energy is still high. Obviously, we didn鈥檛 want to lose the game, but things happen. So, you鈥檝e got to be able to put it to bed. You can鈥檛 dwell on it. We鈥檝e still got an opportunity to do what we want to do, so I think that鈥檚 really the biggest thing.鈥�
The Ravens also still have an opportunity to reach their goals, but they鈥檙e going to need some help.
鈥淟ike you guys said, it鈥檚 a must-win game,鈥� Huntley said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a lot of games where the defense played great, and then we had games where the offense played great (or) special teams played great. Well, we just want the whole game to be everybody playing great.鈥�
Last stand?
It鈥檚 clear if Baltimore misses the playoffs, there will be many fans demanding recriminations.
Ravens coach was asked about his own job security Monday and then defended his relationship with star quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is again taking heat over Henry鈥檚 usage after the veteran running back didn鈥檛 touch the ball on the Ravens鈥� final two drives against the Patriots.
Packers鈥� injury issues
Green Bay鈥檚 injury woes aren鈥檛 limited to the quarterback position.
The Packers lost their lone selection 鈥� edge rusher 鈥� to a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 14. Tight end and defensive lineman also suffered season-ending injuries.
Notable players questionable for Saturday鈥檚 game include offensive tackle Zach Tom (back/knee), center Sean Rhyan (knee/illness), wide receiver Christian Watson (shoulder/illness), guard Aaron Banks (neck/illness) and safety Evan Williams (knee).
Letting it slip
The Ravens have lost 12 fumbles this season, which is tied for the most in the NFL. Henry鈥檚 fumble last weekend cost Baltimore some early momentum, and then a fumble by receiver Zay Flowers ended the team鈥檚 final drive.
鈥淭he thing about Zay is that he works really, really hard at practice, and he focuses on those things,鈥� Harbaugh said. 鈥淎nd yet, man, the ball gets punched out from a blind spot. So, we鈥檝e just got to keep on working on catching it and putting it away and getting up field and protecting the football when you鈥檙e in traffic like that.鈥�
Misfiring in red zone
Green Bay has driven inside the opponent鈥檚 20-yard line nine times during its two-game skid, but the Packers have just one touchdown to show for it. The Packers didn鈥檛 reach the end zone on any of their five red-zone possessions against Chicago.
The Packers had ranked second in the league red-zone touchdown efficiency before these last two games.
Missing Parsons
The Packers haven鈥檛 recorded a single sack over their last two games. That includes one game without Parsons and another game in which he tore his ACL in the third quarter.
___
AP Sports Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
