The Green Bay Packers wrapped up the preseason in 2024 with a 30-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at Lambeau Field. After Thursday’s joint practice, Packers coach Matt LaFleur decided to sit most of his important players to make sure his team is as healthy as possible for the Week 1 showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.
In a game of backups, the Packers started fast, scoring on three of their first four possessions before opening up a 20-7 lead on a defensive touchdown. Green Bay gave up just one score — a 48-yard touchdown pass in the first half on a busted coverage. A pair of takeaways in the second half helped the Packers slam the door shut on a dominant preseason win.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of the Packers’ preseason finale victory over the Ravens:
The Good
Bo Melton and Malik Heath caught clutch touchdown passes, the defense forced four turnovers and the Packers came out of the preseason in good shape on the injury front. Melton had a spinning 18-yard touchdown catch on 3rd-and-4 in the first half, while Heath out-muscled the defensive back on a 7-yard touchdown catch on 4th-and-4 in the second half. Both receivers have a good chance of being on the 53-man roster. Jeff Hafley’s defense produced two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, including a fumble return for a touchdown. Defensive end Arron Mosby created two of the four takeaways on a strip-sack and an interception when he dropped into coverage. In terms of injuries, the Packers sat 38 important starters and veterans, ensuring they’d suffer no season-altering injury in the preseason finale. The only reported injuries were to linebacker Ralen Goforth and Jonathan Ford.
The Bad
Michael Pratt’s interception and tackle attempt. After a solid first half in which he completed six of his first eight passes and tossed an impressive touchdown pass to Bo Melton, Pratt labored through a rough second half, which was highlighted by a poor interception thrown directly to a Ravens linebacker. Under pressure, he hurried a throw into heavy coverage. Clearly frustrated after the decision, Pratt tried hunting down Trenton Simpson but ended up knocking the wind out of himself on the tackle attempt. It looked like a car accident, but after catching his breath, Pratt walked off the field and eventually returned. While Pratt struggled in the second half, Sean Clifford had his own issues in the first half, completing only 3-of-10 passes while dealing with plenty of pressure.
The Ugly
Anders Carlson’s late miss. Just when it looked like he had the kicking job locked up, Carlson pushed a 32-yard field goal wide right in the second half. Conditions inside Lambeau Field were nearly perfect, and the snap was good. Carlson just missed it, and the attempt wasn’t really close. The miss was a harsh reminder of Carlson’s volatility as a kicker. He had made his first three kicks, including a 54-yarder, but after another confidence-rattling miss, can the Packers really trust him entering the regular season?