Special teams could cost Packers versus Ravens in Week 15

On Sunday, the Green Bay Packers visit the Baltimore Ravens. For now, we don’t know if Lamar Jackson will play for the Ravens.

If the Packers don’t improve on special teams, it might not matter.

Green Bay’s special teams has been by far the worst in the league this year. Baltimore has one of the strongest special teams units in the NFL.

Just take a look at this.

Yep, that could be an issue.

Where do we even start?

Kicking

We had to start somewhere.

In Justin Tucker, the Ravens have one of the best kickers in NFL history. He’s having another incredible season, converting 93.3 percent of his field-goal attempts, ranking second. The usually-reliable Mason Crosby is having a bad year for the Packers, ranking 32nd in field-goal percentage at just 67.9 percent.

Punting

One area where it’s closer is punting. Outside of a bad game last week, Corey Bojorquez has been consistent this season and is tied for ninth in punting average. Ravens punter Sam Koch ranks 21st, although their net average is almost identical.

Kick/punt returns

Here’s an area Baltimore has the clear advantage.

On kick returns, Devin Duvernay is averaging a healthy 24.2 yards per return. He has a long of 47 yards. On punt returns, Duvernay is ranked second in the NFL with an average of 14.4 yards per return.

For the Packers, Malik Taylor averages 19.3 yards on kickoff returns with a long of 32, Amari Rodgers is averaging 12 yards with a long of 19. Rodgers averages just 7.4 yards per punt return.

Kick/punt coverage

According to The Football Database, the Ravens are allowing 19.22 yards per kickoff return, the third-best record in the NFL. They are allowing 6.35 yards per punt return, the fifth-best record.

The Packers are giving up 25.89 yards per kickoff return, which ranks 26th. On punt returns, they are allowing an average 13.44 yards, the worst record in the league.

No matter which way you look at it, this is a matchup of a very good special-teams unit against the league’s worst.

The Packers must ensure this doesn’t cost them.