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The good, the bad and the ugly from the Packers’ preseason win over the Ravens


The good, the bad and the ugly from the Packers’ preseason win over the Ravens

Bring on Philadelphia.

And start the plane towards Brazil.

The Green Bay Packers ended a rather quiet, almost banal preseason on Saturday with a 30-7 victory over Baltimore in their third and final test game.

The Packers left their regular players on the bench and released 38 players, but dominated the game and finished the preseason 2-1.

Now Green Bay will finalize its 53-man roster by 3 p.m. Tuesday and then turn its attention to Philadelphia. The Packers and Eagles will meet in Week 1 on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Here are the good, bad and ugly sides of Green Bay’s win.

THE GOOD

MONSTER DAY FOR MOSBY: How do you pull yourself together and make it into the 53-man squad?

Have a day like defensive end Aaron Mosby.

With five minutes left in the first half, Mosby got away unchallenged and sacked Baltimore quarterback Devin Leary. Leary dropped the ball, and Packers safety Anthony Johnson Jr. recovered it and ran 24 yards for a touchdown, giving Green Bay a 20-7 lead.

One series later, Mosby was able to read Leary’s gaze and get into coverage. Leary threw to the left flat for Qadir Ismael, but Mosby was waiting and intercepted the pass.

WHAT SHINES: Packers reserve linebacker Kristian Welch was released by Baltimore last summer and became a valuable member of the Green Bay Packers’ special teams.

Welch took a little revenge on his old team on Saturday and might have made the team.

Welch made a sensational interception in the third quarter, deflecting the ball and catching it impressively.

Welch is one of the Green Bay Packers’ most valuable special teams players, ranking third on the team with six tackles last year.

If the Packers are serious about improving a special forces unit that ranks 29thth Overall, it would be wise to keep Welch on the 53-man roster last year.

BO WHITE: Packers wide receiver Bo Melton might have secured a spot on the roster when he caught a terrific pass with his shoulder after a skillful throw from Michael Pratt for an 18-yard touchdown.

Melton, who was not drafted in 2022, did not have a single catch last season until Week 15. Then in the final three games, Melton had 15 pass catches for 211 yards, including Green Bay’s first game of the year with 100 yards of passing.

Melton is battling against players like Malik Heath and Grant DuBose for the Packers’ fifth and sixth wide receiver positions. After Saturday, Melton should be in good shape to return for a second season with the Packers.

EXPANDED ROLE?: Running back Emanuel Wilson had another solid day with 11 carries for 52 yards. Wilson also caught two passes for 26 yards.

Green Bay Packers running backs AJ Dillon (neck) and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) are both injured and their status for Week 1 is uncertain. That means Wilson could be the Packers’ No. 2 running back in the season opener.

If that’s the case, Wilson proved last year – and throughout training camp – that he’s up to the task.

Wilson averaged 6.1 yards per rushing attempt in 2023 and then had 12 carries in the postseason. This summer, Wilson managed 160 yards (4.3) on 37 carries.

“I’m just competing with myself, I’m just making sure I learn the plays,” Wilson said. “We all help each other with the plays and everything. But as far as me, I’m just trying to improve every day as far as pass protection, holding the ball, reading the run properly and all that.”

THIS AND THAT: Green Bay rushed for 193 yards on 39 attempts (4.9). … Malik Heath had an impressive 7-yard touchdown pass, outrunning former Packer Ka’Dar Hollman and then catching Sean Clifford’s pass. … The Packers’ first line of attack consisted of (from left) Kadeem Telfort, Lecitus Smith, Jacob Monk, Royce Newman and Travis Glover. On Green Bay’s next series, that line consisted of Caleb Jones, Smith, Monk, Newman and Luke Tenuta. … Defensive lineman Colby Wooden threw running back Owen Wright to the ground midway through the first quarter for a 1-yard loss. … Baltimore took 18 minutes to get its first first down. … Emanuel Wilson caught a 20-yard pass and then collided violently with safety Sanoussi Kane. Wilson withstood the blow, stayed on his feet and then stared at Kane.

THE BAD

AND NOW?: Anders Carlson appeared to have the Packers’ kicking position secured when he made a 54-yard field goal early in the first quarter. However, Carlson missed a 32-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, giving Packer Nation nightmares from 2023.

Carlson missed more extra points (six) and kicks (13) than any other football player in 2023. Carlson also had a chance to give Green Bay a 24-17 lead over San Francisco in the divisional playoffs, but missed a 41-yard field goal with just over five minutes left. The 49ers then pulled away and won the game 24-21.

That’s why the Packers brought in experienced Greg Joseph this summer to compete for the job.

During training camp, Carlson converted 60 of 73 shots (82.2%), while Joseph made 57 of 73 (78.1%).

Joseph made both of his field goals on Saturday, including one from 55 yards. And while it looked like Joseph had one foot in the grave, Carlson’s miss may have given the Packers a second thought.

The most exciting development on cutdown day will be to see what Green Bay does at kicker.

WRONG TEAM: Packers rookie quarterback Michael Pratt had a respectable summer. However, midway through the third quarter, Pratt threw a terrible interception.

Two plays after Green Bay’s Kristian Welch threw an impressive interception, Pratt returned the ball directly to the Ravens. Pratt didn’t see linebacker Trenton Simpson and threw the ball directly to him.

Throws like this are the reason Packer Nation is terribly nervous about who the second quarterback will be this season.

FAKE COVER?: Baltimore’s only point came early in the second quarter when Josh Johnson scored a 48-yard touchdown over Tylan Wallace.

Green Bay’s rookie corner Kalen King was in the slot opposite Wallace, but turned him over as if expecting help. Instead, no help came and King covered no one.

This allowed Wallace to run free. The Ravens wide receiver caught Johnson’s pass at the 32-yard line, turned the right corner and then outran Packers safety Zayne Anderson at the pylon to score a touchdown.

Take the day off: Packers coach Matt LaFleur left all of his regular players and a total of 38 players on the bench. Only a handful of players had to go to the bench due to injury.

The roster included: quarterback Jordan Love; wideouts Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks; tight ends Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave and Tyler Davis; offensive linemen Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom and Andre Dillard; running backs Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon and Marshawn Lloyd; defensive linemen Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Devonte Wyatt, Kingsley Enagbare and Spencer Waege; linebackers Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson and Edgerrin Cooper; cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Robert Rochelle; and safeties Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard and Evan Williams.

THIS AND THAT: Bo Melton was cautioned for illegal motion. … Tackle Kadeem Telfort was assessed a false start penalty in the final 2 minutes of the first half that would have resulted in a 10-second gap, but the Ravens declined the penalty. … Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper was assessed a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty.

THE UGLY

PRE-SEASON GAMES: The Packers rested 38 players – all of their regulars and several key reserve players.

And even though Lambeau Field was almost full, the fans definitely didn’t get their money’s worth.

Season ticket holders pay $88 per seat for preseason games. End zone seats are $66.

Unfortunately for these fans, they must purchase preseason tickets in order to purchase regular season tickets.

When fans shell out big bucks, they expect to see elite players for at least a few series, but instead, over the years, coaches have become more and more afraid of their players getting injured in largely meaningless games in August.

At some point, compromises have to be made – and NFL teams have to offer fans more for their hard-earned money.

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