The Baltimore Ravens just punched the Green Bay Packers in the mouth, and the scoreboard told the full story. Baltimore rolled, Derrick Henry climbed into the NFL’s top 10 in career rushing, and Green Bay spiraled into a first of its kind low. This was not a normal night. It was a statement, and it echoed through both locker rooms.
The moment that split the game
The first quarter set the tone. Baltimore owned the line of scrimmage. The Ravens hammered out first downs with Henry’s patient power, then hit play action when the Packers cheated up. Jordan Love never found rhythm. The Ravens front shrank the pocket and took away the middle.
The turning point hit late in the second quarter. Henry ripped a cutback for a chunk gain, then Baltimore ran tempo. Two snaps later, a tight red zone throw gave the Ravens a two score cushion. Green Bay trailed, and the plan slipped away. From there, Baltimore just squeezed.
This was classic Ravens football. They won on early downs. They kept second and short. They made the Packers tackle heavy bodies for four quarters.
Henry’s milestone night
Derrick Henry’s move into the top 10 in all time rushing belonged in a museum. He did not chase the mark. He earned it inside, one blunt yard at a time. The milestone came on a modest run, but the night showed why his career sits in rare air. Vision, balance, and that late burst when pads are tired.
Baltimore mixed power and counter, then let Henry reset the chains. He paired smart footwork with a punishing finish. He also forced safeties to play honest. That opened crossers for Lamar Jackson and kept the playbook wide.
Derrick Henry is now top 10 all time in NFL rushing. He is the active standard at the position.
The sideline response said it all. Teammates surrounded him. The stadium voice paused to note the moment. Then Henry went right back to work. That is his brand, and it is Baltimore’s identity now. 💥
The Packers collapse, by the numbers
Green Bay’s offense did not just stall. It flatlined. Pressure, penalties, and poor spacing stacked into a historic low. Team statisticians confirmed it as an NFL first in combination. The Packers went three quarters without a third down conversion, finished with negative net passing at the start of the fourth, and did not run a snap inside the Ravens’ 35 until the final minutes.
The failure started up front. The Ravens won with four, often three. Justin Madubuike walked the pocket back. Odafe Oweh ran the arc and finished. That let Baltimore drop seven into clean zones. Love held the ball, or threw short of the sticks. Neither worked.
Green Bay never found a run answer. Light boxes still closed fast. The Packers’ backs saw color at the mesh on repeat. That put the game on Love against a defense built to disguise. Kyle Hamilton lurked over the slot. Roquan Smith patrolled everything inside ten yards. The pick and the strip sack felt inevitable.
- Key stretch: six straight drives, five total yards, two turnovers
- Third down: zero conversions through three quarters, one late when the game was done
Green Bay’s special teams did not flip the field. Short fields gave Baltimore extra control, and the Ravens used every inch.
What Baltimore did right
Credit the plan. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken blended downhill runs with quick play action. The Ravens stayed out of obvious passing downs. They used condensed sets to force the Packers to fit gaps in tight spaces. When Green Bay widened to help, Baltimore hit inside. When Green Bay pinched, Lamar kept edges honest.
Defensively, Mike Macdonald’s structure still lives in this unit’s DNA. Rotate late. Show pressure, bring four. Spin the safeties post snap. It confused route spacing and forced Green Bay into checkdowns and sacks. The tackling was clean. The pursuit angles were better.
What this means next
For Baltimore, this is a confidence win that travels. The Ravens proved they can lean on Henry and still keep Lamar explosive. The defense looks ready for January football, fast and connected. Health will matter, but the blueprint is sturdy.
For Green Bay, this is a crossroads. The talent is real, but the details are not. Protection rules need a reset. The run game needs answers against light boxes. The Packers must help their quarterback with motion, tempo, and throws on time. They also need a quick fix on third down calls. You cannot live in long yardage in this league.
Short week ahead. Expect Green Bay to simplify protections and build early rhythm throws to settle the offense.
Conclusion
The Ravens earned both the win and the headlines. Derrick Henry’s milestone is a legacy marker, and the team around him looks built to contend. The Packers suffered more than a bad night. They hit a wall that demands change. December football forces truth on everyone. Baltimore embraced it. Green Bay must answer it, fast.
