GREEN BAY – Sometimes, one guy makes a great defensive play.
More often, though, strong defense requires more than one guy to make things work, and the Ravens game film showed no less than three defenders having a significant impact on several key plays.
Team-oriented efforts are fun to watch come together, and it's important to note these involve players who will be asked to take on larger roles now in the wake of injuries to Clay Matthews (groin) and Kenny Clark (ankle).
It may require viewing the plays several times to see everything being highlighted.
Play No. 1: Third-and-2 from the Green Bay 11, first quarter, :23 left
Result: 3-yard loss for RB Alex Collins
The Ravens pitch it to Collins to try to convert on third-and-short in the red zone, and the play has no chance. Packers DE Dean Lowry (94) takes RG Matt Skura (68) to the ground and LB Kyler Fackrell (51) effectively splits the block of RT Austin Howard (77) and TE Maxx Williams (87), leaving LB Jake Ryan (47) with a free run at Collins in the backfield. The tackle for loss forces the Ravens to kick a field goal.
Play No. 2: First-and-10 from the Baltimore 49, third quarter, 9:50 left
Result: 3-yard loss for Collins
This time the three guys are DT Quinton Dial (91), LB Vince Biegel (45) and LB Ahmad Brooks (55). Dial holds the point against TE Nick Boyle (86) and Biegel submarines lead blocker Williams, leaving Collins nowhere to go on the front side. But by the time he thinks about cutting it back, Brooks is flying in unblocked from the back side to bury him.
Play No. 3: First-and-10 from the Baltimore 11, third quarter, 4:55 left
Result: 6-yard sack of QB Joe Flacco
Lowry is the one credited with the sack, as he bull-rushes and eventually pushes Howard out of his way. But watch also the swim move on the outside by Brooks against LT James Hurst (74), and the blow Biegel delivers to Collins as the running back tries to pick him up coming off the other edge.
Play No. 4: Second-and-5 from the Baltimore 49, fourth quarter, 9:07 left
Result: 3-yard loss for Collins
Here DT Mike Daniels (76) charges through unblocked as Hurst fails to even lay a hand on him, but other noteworthy work is turned in by Lowry and LB Nick Perry (53). Lowry at one point is surrounded by three players, yet he doesn't give any ground, and Perry sets an awfully mean edge against Williams. A fourth player also gets involved here, as Fackrell is unblocked as well, coming from the back side.
