Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers (-3.5) Several weeks ago \u2013 after Jared Allen terrorized Aaron Rodgers on the Monday Night Football \u2013 the Ravens\u2019 \u201cD\u201d would\u2019ve had the Packers\u2019 offense sweating bullets. But a lot has changed since then. Rodgers still gets hit more than anyone in the league but his protection is improving incrementally. More importantly, Baltimore\u2019s defense isn\u2019t at full strength. Terrell Suggs didn\u2019t make the trip to Green Bay, giving the Packers one less pass rusher to worry about. Fabian Washington remains missing from the secondary too with a torn ACL.<\/p>\n Considering that the Ravens let first-time starter Dennis Dixon make several big plays against them last week \u2013 at home \u2013 you have to think aging Ed Reed and the secondary are shaking in their boots a bit. Rodgers, an MVP candidate, boasts a 104.9 rating and has thrown 22 touchdown passes versus five interceptions \u2013 the lowest mark among full-time starters. Between Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, he has multiple reliable targets. Baltimore can\u2019t key on one guy. An emerging story out of Green Bay that hasn\u2019t gotten much publicity is its defense, with ranks second in the NFL overall and tops in the NFC. The Packers are strong against the run and the pass. B.J. Raji is starting to get noticed as a run stopper and Charles Woodson, a two-time Defensive Player of the Month this season alone, is carrying the secondary on his back with Al Harris lost to a torn ACL.<\/p>\n The Pack don\u2019t rush the passer particularly well but they\u2019re a ball-hawk group with 18 picks already this year. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has established himself as a legitimate franchise quarterback but he\u2019s still just a sophomore and makes bad reads sometimes. He\u2019s also battling a sore ankle and the forecast \u2013 which calls for an 80 per cent chance of snow \u2013 won\u2019t help matters, will it?<\/p>\n While we\u2019ll probably see something out of Ray Rice \u2013 the versatile back is the next superstar running back if you ask me or most NFL betting sharps \u2013there are too many other factors favoring the Packers tonight. The Ravens are too banged up, unable to properly challenge Rodgers and facing a stout Packer \u201cD.\u201d Go with Green Bay to cover in your NFL picks<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nTonight, 8:35 p.m. ET <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n