GREEN BAY – On what was a near-perfect evening for Malik Willis, the Packers' resilient backup quarterback found a suitable dance partner in Christian Watson.
Willis and the fourth-year wideout connected five times for 113 yards and a touchdown, explosive aerial production that nearly was enough to keep pace with Baltimore in an otherwise disappointing 41-24 defeat for Green Bay on Saturday night.
Facing a Ravens defense that ranked both 27th in total yards and pass defense, the Packers put the game in Willis' hands, and he wasted no time firing the ball downfield.
Green Bay's opening drive consisted of just two plays: a 40-yard pass to Romeo Doubs down the left sideline and a strike over the middle to Watson that he extended for a 39-yard touchdown.
It was Watson's third TD catch of 35-plus yards this season, the most by a Packer in a season since he registered three of 35-plus yards as a rookie in 2022.
"We knew we had ways to exploit them and the way that they played their defense," Watson said. "That was definitely the plan. Whether I thought it was gonna be that much of it, I can't really say but we had a good plan for them."
The Packers found themselves in a shootout due to the Ravens' offensive potency. Baltimore scored on each of its first five possessions, which forced Green Bay to keep throwing without ever having the chance to establish the run.
Running backs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson combined for just seven carries and 16 yards, but Willis kept the Packers in the game with a mixture of explosive plays through the air and occasionally with his own feet (nine rushes for 60 yards and two TDs).
Green Bay had seven passing plays of at least 22 yards, three of which went to Watson. That included a 31-yard pass over the middle one play after a 30-yard completion to Jayden Reed that converted a third-and-18.
A 23-yard pass to Watson later in the third quarter also sparked a seven-play, 86-yard scoring drive that cut Baltimore's lead to 27-24 after Willis ran for an 11-yard touchdown.
"I don't really think you can ask any more from him," said Watson of Willis, who was starting in place of an injured Jordan Love (concussion).
"I think that the way he approached this week and the things that he did for us in the game, he was the reason we were in it up until the end there. So that was big time from him."
Watson has been one of the focal points for the offense since his late-October return from reconstructive knee surgery, helping fill the void left by Tucker Kraft's absence after the burgeoning tight end was lost for the season to his own ACL injury.
Saturday marked Watson's first 100-yard receiving game since he caught four passes for 114 yards last December at Detroit. Asked whether he'd ever thought his comeback could go this well, Watson said yes based on the work he put in.
"I definitely would have been ecstatic to hear this would be the case if you told me this last summer, because there's always different direction and ways things can go," Watson said. "But for me personally, the way I approached the rehab process was once I'm back I'm going to be back. I'm exactly where I hoped I would be."
More injuries: An already banged-up Packers roster was again hit hard by injuries, including two players – defensive lineman Jordon Riley (Achilles) and cornerback Kamal Hadden (ankle) – who were both carted to the locker room.
Green Bay also finished the game without safety Zayne Anderson (ankle), receiver Dontayvion Wicks (concussion) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee).
Willis also left with a shoulder injury midway through the fourth quarter, finishing the game on the sideline.
"I'm praying everyone who got injured tonight can walk away OK," defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness said. "It's an unfortunate part of the game and we're gonna have to find ways whether it's first, second or third string to rally and play up to the standard. Because we're gonna need everybody going into the postseason and this last game."
Backfield plan: While it wasn't the Packers' intention to run as few times as they did, Jacobs told reporters afterward the plan was for him to play sparingly on Saturday.
The three-time Pro Bowl running back has been battling knee and ankle injuries over the past few weeks. With the Packers clinching a playoff berth following Minnesota's 23-10 win over Detroit on Christmas, Green Bay wanted to be smart with its star running back.
"I knew I wasn't going to really play today," said Jacobs, who finished with three yards on four carries. "They told me earlier today that I would be very limited, so I think I played maybe 12, maybe 12-15 snaps in general."
Enagbare's impact: Defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare was responsible for both of Green Bay's tackles for loss against the Ravens and one of its four quarterback hits.
The fourth-year veteran made perhaps the biggest defensive play of the evening when he dropped Derrick Henry for a 5-yard loss on second-and-9 in the third quarter. The play aided Green Bay forcing Baltimore's lone punt.
"He's just a player that you can always rely on to bring energy and play with a physical brand of football," Van Ness said. "Every time you step on the field, you know (number) '5-5' is gonna give it his all. He shared a little bit of that sentiment after the game that you gotta leave it all on the field.
"At this point of the season, you have to be willing to (put) your body on the line, lay everything on the line because we're ultimately trying to get to that end game, that Super Bowl. We're gonna have to do that."
