First of all the Packers definately benefit by what is all but a 2nd bye week especially when you consider Baltimore travels to Lambeau after consecutive smash mouth games against the Colts and Steelers.

Injury wise it hurts us to lose kampman and Harris but on their side the Ravens will more than likely be without Suggs and possibly McClain which would be a huge blow because of what Baltimore will try to do to win this game.

Baltimore is going to try and run the ball. Period. They came in with a jumbo package on the 0line against the Steelers (I read a piece on this) and ran for over 130 yards against the then #1 run defense in the NFL. They did this in part because Flacco has been hurting (ankle) and just not playing real well.

Rodgers will need to be hot Monday and the 0line will need to give him protection enough times to get the ball over the top of the Baltimore DB's. They can be beat back there. This is not a team your going to put up 10 play drives on much. The big play will be a huge factor for us.

IF the Packers run D can turn the Ravens game plan on it's head and stop the run will be the challenge they have in front of them.

TIDBITS

The Ravens are 2-3 in the next game after defeating Pittsburgh. I'm not sure they have been faced with as much as this to get a win here.

The Ravens have averaged 13.75 points in the last four games. With the exception of Cleveland (16-0) these have been tough opponents but still that is 10 points less than they have averaged for the year.

The Ravens will try to win a battle the Packers have been very proficient at this year in winning the time of possession and keep Rodgers off the field as much as possible. It would be great help if the offense can claw out some points and make Flacco go to the air more than they want to.

I believe the key will be the Rodgers to Driver/Jennings combinations making enough big plays to put us over the top in this one.

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Packers 28-10. Not even worried about it.

We lose to multidimentional scoring teams, not one trick ponies like this team. The also have an overated defense that's been living off a bully reputation far too long.

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The thing I like best about playing against the Baltimore secondary is how many chances they take to try and make a big play. If Rodgers has enough time upfront to give a pump fake and let a receiver get a double move off then we can hit some big plays. Just like against the 49ers run defense, I want the team to come out physical. Then start calling the sluggo's and watch the fun begin. At least that's how I envision it when I dream at night. Looking forward to this game, huge test. 4 game winning streak sounds tasty.

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It is that kind of thinking that got me into my wager trouble this season.. lol.

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Ravens have that tough D reputation, Packers looking to get that tough D reputation, here is their chance.

10 days of rest, playing at home, if The Packers play up to their potential, they should come away with the win.

Control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, win the turnover battle, win time of possesion and you will probably win the game.

Raji and Pickett will be huge factors in a Packer win Monday night!!!

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Over the passed 3 games I think the key to our success was dominating the time of possession. Over the passed three games the Packers have had the ball 111 minutes and 39 seconds while there opponents had it for only 68 minutes and 21 seconds. So I believe we need to carry this over to Monday nights game. And to be honest I am more scared of Ray Rice in the passing game then the running game. Thanksgiving it seemed like Kevin Smith was giving us fits in the passing game.

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Ravens defense can almost fall under the category of has-beens. Ray Lewis is still fighting for that "I'm a bad-ass" play type but watching the game Monday night last week he made a lot of mistakes. I want to see one of our fullbacks or lineman put him square on his ass when he tries to blitz.

I am not downplaying Dennis Dixon here but when a rookie quarterback is able to come in on a Monday Night, national game against a rival team and make a fool out of what is supposed to be a top rated defense, I become skeptical about that tag placed on them. They were beat by a mobile rookie, and who is to say Rodgers isn't mobile enough with better receivers?

Baltimore receivers are mediocre and I think there will be 1-2 picks in this game because Flacco is going to collapse under pressure.

Btw, be ready to hear Oher's name a lot because of the Blindside...great movie but I am sure most of you noticed them constantly talking about it during last weeks game.

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One other tidbit I saw that I didn't put in the original post was something I saw on the NFL Network. They have a Fantasy Start 'EM Sit 'Em area and this week they suggested sitting both Flacco and Heap.

I thought that was interesting. I guess they feel that Baltimore will be trying to run it on us also. Good luck with that. Especially if McClain's hamstring is an issue. I know he left last weeks game but have yet to see his status for monday night.

I guess we will find out how our our guys do when a team throws some extra beef on the line and tries to stuff it down our throats. In that regard this is the type of scenario you would like to see #74. Oh well, we will have to see how the young guy does when they come at him with some big bodies.

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You say that we would have a difficult time with long and grinding possessions, that the big play will be very important for us. You then go on to say that we have been good at TOP this year. I wonder which aspect McCarthy will try to focus on in this game. Big plays or grinding up time off the clock. I hope we can get some big plays, that would help a lot. But, we are going to need to run the ball effectively if we want our defense to effectively stop their rush attack, or our D is going to get tired and worn down in the second half of the game.

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Aren't they predicting snow and 20 degrees in GB for monday?