1) Will the Ravens feed Henry?
Lamar Jackson, who was dealing with a significant back injury that kept him out of Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots, is questionable to play. But regardless of whether it’s a blocked Jackson or backup Tyler Huntley under center, Baltimore’s best way to succeed might be to hit Green Bay hard with Derrick Henry. Henry is in the midst of his seventh 1,000-yard rushing season, and he doesn’t seem to have been able to hold New England back as he finished with 128 yards and two scores on 18 carries. However, due to a rotating backcourt with speedster Keaton Mitchell, Henry did not see a carry in the final 12 minutes of the game. That’s quite a feat for a team that was without its star quarterback and couldn’t afford to lose. The rugby great joined Baltimore in 2024 for exactly this type of game, honing the necessary yards in contests that must be won in frigid temperatures. Given the Packers’ struggles against the run in their first game without Micah Parsons — they allowed a career-worst 5.8 yards per contest last week — it must be time for King Henry.
2) Someone(s) has to step up on the Packers defense
Green Bay held on against the Bears in its first game since Micah Parsons tore his ACL — until it didn’t. The Packers gave up 16 points in the final two minutes and overtime after allowing six up to that point. Keisean Nixon, the hero with the game-winning touchdown in the team’s first contest against the Bears, went fumble, failed to properly switch coverage on Chicago’s first touchdowns and had a deep hit on the game-winner. He needs to regain some form, and the Packers could also use a late surge from someone like Nate Hobbs, who hasn’t lived up to the sizeable contract he signed in free agency. While the middle of the defense is very secure with Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker roaming the off-ball linebackers, the interior has yet to fill the gap left by Devonte Wyatt who was injured this season. The pass rush is of course the biggest concern. Parsons has 37 more quarterback sacks than any other Packer. Rashan Gary, sophomore with 46, is the team’s only active defender with more than two sacks (he has 7.5). Someone has to start getting home to Green Bay — whether it’s Gary taking his game to another level, Kingsley Enagbare, Lukas Van Ness or Brenton Cox.