— At Lambeau Field, the Baltimore Ravens led the Green Bay Packers in a Saturday night matchup that shifted quickly from a first-half romp to a tense late-game exchange. Derrick Henry powered Baltimore early with multiple rushing touchdowns, while Packers fill-in Malik Willis completed all of his first-half passes and manufactured a pair of rushing scores. By the latest update the Ravens held a 34-24 edge with 6:56 remaining after an interception off Green Bay backup Clayton Tune; injuries and roster absences shaped both game plans throughout.
Key takeaways
- Derrick Henry rushed for 106 yards and three first-half touchdowns on 21 carries; he now has 121 career rushing TDs, fourth-most in NFL history.
- Henry is the only player in the last 35 seasons to log 20+ carries, 100+ rushing yards and three rushing TDs in a single first half.
- Packers QB Malik Willis began 8-for-8 for 133 yards and a 39-yard passing TD, plus a 22-yard rushing TD; he became the first QB since Michael Vick (2002) with 100% completions, 100+ pass yards, a pass TD and rush TD in a first half.
- Backup Tyler Huntley started for an inactive Lamar Jackson and reached 83 yards on 12-of-15 passing in the first half while using his legs to extend drives.
- Green Bay suffered two costly miscues in the first half — a turnover on downs and an aborted snap fumble recovered by Baltimore — but Baltimore converted those errors into only two field goals early.
- Malik Willis later exited with a right-shoulder injury and third-string Clayton Tune checked in; Tune’s first targeted pass was dropped and returned as an interception by Marlon Humphrey at 6:56 remaining, giving Baltimore a 34-24 lead.
- Inactives affected both teams: Lamar Jackson (back) was ruled out; Green Bay was without Jordan Love (concussion) and RT Zach Tom (back/knee). Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) and Nate Hobbs (knee) were also ruled out for the Packers.
Background
The matchup carried added weight because both franchises are managing key absences. Baltimore started Tyler Huntley in place of Lamar Jackson, who was ruled out after not practicing all week with a back issue. Jackson’s absence changes Baltimore’s offensive profile: historically, the team has averaged 28.4 PPG with Jackson starting versus 18.9 PPG in his absences, a 9.5-point swing that is among the largest QB-driven differentials in modern NFL history.
Green Bay arrived with disruption at quarterback as well. Jordan Love was unavailable with a concussion, so the Packers turned to Malik Willis, who had led Green Bay to wins in both of his previous starts. Under Matt LaFleur, Green Bay has been a consistent playoff team, and LaFleur’s 76 wins in his first seven seasons tied him with historical figures — a win here would have pushed him into sole possession of second-most wins through seven seasons.
Special teams and turnover management were expected to be decisive factors. Lambeau Field’s frigid environment often magnifies mistakes, and both coaches dialed conservative formations early before relying on playmakers such as Derrick Henry and Christian Watson to change field position and momentum.
Main event
Baltimore took the opening drive advantage when Derrick Henry powered through Green Bay’s front for 48 yards on seven early carries, capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Henry’s physical early running set the tone and forced Green Bay to allocate additional defenders to the box on subsequent possessions.
Green Bay answered emphatically on its first possession. Malik Willis hit Christian Watson on a 39-yard seam route for a touchdown after a 40-yard completion to Romeo Doubs earlier in the drive; Willis was two-for-two on that sequence for 79 yards and a score, evening the score at 7-7 in the first quarter.
On Baltimore’s next two possessions, Henry continued to dominate. He scored rushing touchdowns on Baltimore’s first two drives — from three yards and then on a one-yard third-and-goal — giving the visitors a 14-7 lead with 13:13 left in the first half. Henry finished the half with three rushing TDs and 106 yards on 21 carries.
Green Bay’s first-half miscues included a failed fourth-and-inches at its own 34 and an aborted snap that became a fumble recovered by Baltimore’s Mike Green at the Packers’ 30. Despite those turnovers, the Packers held the Ravens to two short field goals from 22 and 34 yards on those ensuing drives, keeping the deficit to 20-7 before Willis scored on a 22-yard read-option keeper to make it 20-14 with 1:24 left in the half.
The second half saw Green Bay sustain an 11-play drive that produced a Brandon McManus 24-yard field goal early in the third quarter to cut the lead to 27-17. Willis later executed another read-option keeper for an 11-yard rushing TD that brought Green Bay within three at 27-24 with 2:02 left in the third. Later in the fourth quarter Willis left the game with a right-shoulder injury and Clayton Tune entered; Tune’s first targeted throw intended for Bo Melton was dropped, popped up and intercepted by Marlon Humphrey, giving Baltimore possession and a 34-24 advantage with 6:56 to play.
Analysis & implications
Derrick Henry’s early workload changed the game’s flow. A 21-carry, 106-yard, three-TD first half forced Green Bay to defend the box and limited its ability to play single-high safety looks that would otherwise have helped contain Watson and Doubs. Henry’s 121 career rushing TDs move him into the NFL top five and underscore Baltimore’s capacity to rely on a power-run identity even without Lamar Jackson throwing downfield as frequently.
Willis’ first-half efficiency offered a contrasting storyline: his quick completion percentage and running ability created explosive plays, but the Packers also showed vulnerability in ball security and short-yardage offense (notably failing on fourth-and-inches). If Willis can stay healthy and manage those high-leverage moments, Green Bay’s ground game and play-action can continue to pose problems for Baltimore.
Lamar Jackson’s absence removes an extra dimension from Baltimore’s offense, yet the Ravens adapted by leaning on Henry and Huntley’s mobility. Huntley’s scrambling for 25 yards on one sequence exemplified how Baltimore sought to replace Jackson’s ability to extend plays without recreating his exact passing profile. For Baltimore’s playoff hopes, a win here would contrast with recent volatility — the Ravens opened the season 1-5, then ran several winning stretches, and still face inconsistency late in the year.
From a coaching perspective, Matt LaFleur’s decision-making on fourth down and Green Bay’s special-teams protection on snaps will be scrutinized. The aborted snap that turned into a turnover is a self-inflicted error that, had it yielded points, could have altered the fourth-quarter script. Conversely, Baltimore’s defense deserves credit for limiting points after turnovers to only two field goals early on.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Jordan Love (starts) | Malik Willis (starts) |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 27-20 | 2-0 |
| Points per game (PPG) | 24.3 | 23.0 |
| Pass YPG | 228.8 | 156.0 |
| Rush YPG | 123.0 | 224.5 |
The table frames the offensive shift when Willis starts: Green Bay’s offense leans much more on the run, trading passing volume for increased rushing output and mobility. Separately, Lamar Jackson’s presence has correlated with a +9.5 PPG team swing for Baltimore across starts with and without him, the largest such differential for any QB meeting the specified sample criteria since 1950.
Reactions & quotes
“Lamar Jackson (back) is officially ruled out,”
Baltimore Ravens (official inactive report)
This official inactive designation forced Baltimore to pivot to Tyler Huntley as the starting QB, altering play-calling toward Henry and quarterback runs that could mimic part of Jackson’s game without his passing frequency.
“Willis completed all eight of his first-half attempts and also ran for a touchdown,”
CBS Sports (live game update)
CBS Sports’ live tracking highlighted Willis’ efficient early passing and dual-threat plays that kept Green Bay competitive despite the Rams-like physicality Henry brought to the game.
Unconfirmed
- The full extent of Malik Willis’ right-shoulder injury and his availability for the Packers’ next game was not confirmed at the time of these updates.
- Post-interception sequence outcomes (final scoring drives and official final score) remain pending beyond the 6:56 remaining update noted here.
- The long-term roster impact for Dontayvion Wicks and Nate Hobbs (concussion and knee, respectively) was not specified in the available game updates.
Bottom line
At Lambeau Field the Ravens imposed their will early through Derrick Henry’s power running, but Green Bay remained within striking distance thanks to Malik Willis’ efficient passing and timely rushing touchdowns. Turnovers and an injury to the Packers’ primary fill-in QB shifted late-game momentum toward Baltimore, and a Clayton Tune interception with under seven minutes left extended the Ravens’ lead to 34-24.
For Baltimore, the win-at-hand would validate a run-first, conservative approach without Lamar Jackson; for Green Bay, the game underscores how quick offensive bursts from a mobile backup can keep the franchise competitive while also exposing vulnerabilities in ball security and short-yardage execution. The key unresolved items going forward are the severity of Willis’ shoulder injury and whether either coach will adjust fourth-down aggressiveness in similar high-leverage situations.