A funny thing happened on the way to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Aaron Rodgers arrived with a tight back and threw a wrench in Head Coach Matt LaFleur's plans for the second Pre-season game. Even though the team learned in the morning walk through, it wasn't officially announced that Rodgers would not play until about an hour before kickoff and LaFleur's offense struggled most of the night in the 26-13 victory for the Ravens. For Baltimore, that makes 15 consecutive pre-season game victories while the Packers are now 1-1 in August.
Running back Aaron Jones was also withheld as a precaution because of his hamstring injury but the remaining nine starters on offense opened the game with DeShone Kizer at quarterback.
The front line defense conceded three first downs to Baltimore on the opening series before pressure forced an incomplete pass bringing on Justin Tucker for a 52 yard field goal and an early 3-0 lead.
Free agent rookie receiver Darrius Shepherd got blocks from Evan Baylis and James Crawford to crack off a 36 yard kickoff return to give the offense good starting field position. After crossing midfield, Kizer's third and four pass was tipped at the line. LaFleur decided to go for it on 4th and 4 from the Baltimore 39 but Kizer rifled a short in route over the head of Davante Adams to turn the ball over.
Missed tackles resurfaced on the next series and Lamar Jackson's 18 yard touchdown run through whiffs from Tramon Williams and Jaire Alexander was called back on a blindside blocking penalty against Willie Snead IV so the Ravens settled for another Tucker boot from 45 yards out.
Kizer opened the next series with two nice throws to Jake Kumerow for 14 yards inside and 22 outside. Geronimo Allison gained 22 more on a deep cross. A sack and a loss of five on a Tra Carson pitch forced the Packers to get on the board via a Mason Crosby 43 yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Baltimore extended it's lead when Trace McSorley connected with Chris Moore over the middle, just past the gambling hands of Chandon Sullivan. More made the catch at the 15 and cruised in behind Sullivan for a 23 yard touchdown.
Backed up with penalties on the kickoff return and a hold, the Packers were forced to punt but they came up with a big defensive play moments later. Tony Brown had tight coverage and tipped a pass that Curtis Bolton intercepted at the Baltimore 33.
Tim Boyle missed on three straight passes from the 23 and Sam Ficken came on to hit from 41 yards away to make it 13-6 at halftime.
On the second snap of the third quarter, again backed up by a special teams penalty on Ty Summers, Boyle's handoff never was gathered in by rookie Dexter Williams and the fumble was recovered by the Ravens at the 6.
Two plays later, Justice Hill slipped a Mike Tyson tackle and scored from the 1 giving Baltimore a 20-6 lead.
After gaining just 7 yards rushing in the first half, Darrin Hall broke loose for a 28 yard scamper and then Alan Lazard made catches covering 25 and 21 yards to get Green Bay in the red zone. Boyle then bought time in the pocket and found Shepherd who adjusted his route in the end zone for a 7 yard scoring hookup.
Justin Tucker would tack on two more field goals from 41 and 38 yards in the 4th quarter as Boyle and Manny Wilkins could not muster a single first down in the final three series.
The Packers were outgained 343 to 226. The Ravens piled up 171 yards on the ground compared to just 54 for the Packers. Green Bay converted only 3 of 12 third downs on the night.
Kizer fnished 5 of 10 for 70 yards while Boyle went 12 of 21 for 107 yards and a score.
Lazard, Kumerow, Shepherd and Robert Tonyan all had three receptions and Hall led the ground game with 31 yards on 7 carries. Starting running back Tra Carson had 6 rushes for just 9 yards.
Ty Summers and Sullivan led the defense with five tackles each. Bolton had 4 tackles to to with his pick and he also made two tackles covering kickoffs.
The kicking game was solid, both kickers hit field goals and J.K. Scott averaged 52.8 yards on six punts with excellent hang time earning a net average of 44.3.
Other injured players who did not dress were Trevor Davis, Kevin King, Josh Jones, Jamaal Williams, Ibraheim Campbell, Josh Jackson, Oren Burks, Danny Vitale, Malcolm Johnson, Kabion Ento, Greg Roberts, Jace Sternberger and Fadal Brown.
The only injury of note from the game was suffered by rookie corner Ka'Dar Hollman. After making a tackle in the box, Hollman suffered an apparent stinger and was eventually usherd to the locker room.
Now midway through the exhibition schedule, the Packers are showing just how far they have to go before opening the season in Chicago against the Bears. Rodgers needs to get snaps in LaFleur's new offense and that should come against the Oakland Raiders in Winnipeg next week. The run game is getting very little push against defensive fronts and the tackling fundamentals must get cleaned up on defense.
LaFleur has often said it's a work in progress and with a bad back and bad night in Baltimore, it's clear there's a lot of work to be done.
