Remember when the Packers and Ravens faced off in 2017? In case you forgot, it was quite a brutal showing for Brett Hundley and Green Bay’s offense. Somehow they managed to outgain Baltimore in total yards but there was no way to overcome five turnovers as they were shut out 23-0.

The good news is, a lot has changed in the past two years. However, both of these teams are still looking to find their identity. The Ravens are rolling with a scrambling quarterback in Lamar Jackson after dealing Joe Flacco to Denver. Then, they tried to mitigate their losses on defense with the signing of Earl Thomas but it’s too early to tell if that will be enough.

This isn’t the same Ravens defense as old with Terrell Suggs, CJ Mosley, Eric Weddle, Za’Darius Smith no longer around. On the other side of things, the offense has a lot of promise. They have surrounded Jackson with some solid talent in wide receiver John Brown, running back Mark Ingram, and first-round wide receiver Marquise Brown. The one thing this Baltimore team isn’t lacking on is speed.

Neither of the Browns played in week one of the preseason, but Jackson continued to build his connection with speedy wideout Willie Snead IV. They connected on a 10-yard touchdown as they handily defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 29-0. Jackson played three series completing four of six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s defense forced two interceptions and totaled four sacks.

Leading up to the Packers game against the Texans, it was not made clear that Rodgers would sit out until an hour before kickoff. Expect that to change this week as he could get a few series against the Ravens.

On defense, Green Bay will have the tough task of containing Jackson who has the potential to play more than he did against the Jaguars. Last Thursday vs Houston, the Packers defense forced four turnovers but it was the hideous amount of missed tackles that took away from that performance.

“I think we ended up with 24 missed tackles for about 164 yards,” head coach Matt LaFleur said the Saturday after the game. “I don’t think we did a good enough job containing Joe Webb in the pocket.”

Of course, only a few starters played sparingly in this game but don’t expect that to be the case this week. The first-team offense and defense should get some reps but even then Webb is no Jackson so containment issues could arise.

LaFleur stated he would also like to see fewer penalties after incurring 12 against Houston.

Some players to watch this week when the Packer take on Baltimore include Ty Summers, Kingsley Keke, Lane Taylor, Elgton Jenkins, and J’Mon Moore.

Summers balled out in week one racking up a team-high 10 tackles. Presumed starter Oren Burks is possibly going to miss significant time with a torn pectoral muscle he suffered early in the game. Summers will get a bulk of those reps but he will have to continue his level of play against Houston to make the coaches and fans feel a little better about Burks’ injury.

Also on the defensive side of the ball, Kingsley Keke displayed some nice technique and athleticism on a rush in which he flushed Webb out of the pocket. It will be interesting to see if Keke can fight for more meaningful snaps as training camp continues.

Nice rep by Kingsley Keke pic.twitter.com/y0inytOCGp

— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) August 9, 2019

Offensively, Taylor is in a heated battle with the rookie offensive lineman Jenkins. Taylor has been the Packers starting left guard the past three seasons, but LaFleur has acknowledged that the veteran is competing for his job against the team’s newcomer. Jenkins had a strong debut in which he played 44 snaps and did not allow a single pressure.

Finally, the receiving group is neck in neck as far as the last remaining spots. Both Allen Lazard and Darrius Shepherd had strong performances last Thursday, however, they will need to keep it up to beat out guys like J’Mon Moore and Trevor Davis.

LaFleur remarked that Moore had a “so-so’ performance in the preseason opener but then had his best practice of the year on Sunday. Davis sat out against the Texans with a stinger. He needs a strong finish to his summer to maintain his value as the team’s top returner and as a progressing receiver within this offense. Right now, Shepherd is the starting return man in his absence and flashed as a receiver with a leaping touchdown grab last week.

J'Mon Moore struggles and Darrius Shepherd does this. Exactly how you get your spot taken. pic.twitter.com/HqciF001iW

— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) August 9, 2019

The storylines surrounding this team are only going to build after each preseason matchup. Be on the lookout for who is emerging during Thursday’s game against the Ravens.