While the Green Bay Packers haven't had the greatest luck over the last couple of weeks, first taking a Week 15 defeat to the Denver Broncos, a game in which they also lost Micah Parsons for the year to a torn ACL, and then falling to the rival Chicago Bears in overtime in Week 16 after blowing a 10-point lead in the final five minutes of regulation, Matt LaFleur & Co. are actually still in a position to win the NFC North.
If the Packers, who officially punched their postseason ticket on Christmas Day when the Detroit Lions fell to 8-8 in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, win on Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens and also win in Week 18 against the same Vikings that just helped them out and the Bears lose to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football and then also lose to the Lions to close out the regular season, the division belongs to Green Bay.
But to get that all-important first win against the Ravens, the Packers will have to do so without the services of quarterback Jordan Love, who was knocked out of last Sunday's loss to the Bears with a concussion.
Love was still listed as questionable when Green Bay released its initial injury report for the week on Thursday, but on Friday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the 27-year-old still hadn't cleared protocol and wouldn't be suiting up on Saturday, a report the team confirmed soon after.
Malik Willis is set to make his first start for the Packers this season against the Ravens
With Love on the shelf, the Packers will once again turn to Malik Willis, who came on in relief against Chicago and played well, completing nine of 11 passes for 121 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, also adding 44 yards on the ground on 10 carries.
Unfortunately, however, the 26-year-old suffered a late shoulder injury and won't be anywhere close to 100 percent against the Ravens, who will also be rolling with a backup QB, as Tyler Huntley is expected to start in place of Lamar Jackson, who suffered a severe back contusion last Sunday night in a loss to the New England Patriots.
Green Bay is expected to promote Clayton Tune from the practice squad to back up Willis, and LaFleur has confirmed that if an emergency situation arises, Josh Jacobs or Jayden Reed could take the snaps.