GREEN BAY – The Packers' offense entered Saturday's preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens feeling it had something to prove after last Sunday's letdown in Denver.
It certainly did just that.
In a performance that closely mirrored the preseason opener in Cleveland, Green Bay's offense got back to exerting its dominance in a 30-7 victory over the Ravens in front of 72,239 at Lambeau Field.
While 38 Packers players didn't suit up, nearly every available offensive skill-position player contributed to Green Bay racking up 326 total yards – nearly twice as much as it had in Sunday's 27-2 loss to the Broncos.
Emanuel Wilson and Ellis Merriweather helped power a ground game that registered more rushing yards (193) on 39 carries than the Ravens produced as a whole (177) on 51 offensive plays.
With Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt rotating at quarterback, Green Bay's down-to-the-wire receiver competition shifted back into full gear as Bo Melton (an 18-yard touchdown from Pratt in the second quarter) and Malik Heath (a 7-yard TD from Clifford in the third) both found the end zone after long scoring drives.
Heath, one of four undrafted players to make Green Bay's Week 1 roster last year, finished with four catches for 39 yards and the TD to lead the Packers in receiving for the second straight week.
"Just keep stacking days, just trying to do what I can to make this team," Heath said. "Do what I can to help this team get a championship this year. That's all I can do. Control what I can control."
A direct line can be drawn between the Packers' success on the ground and its ability to set up the rest of the offense. Wilson, last year's preseason rushing champion, got things started with 78 total yards on 13 touches before Merriweather and Nate McCrary took the reins in the second half.
Merriweather, who finished last year on Green Bay's practice squad, finished with a game-high 74 yards on 16 carries while McCrary added 64 yards on 11 rushes.
Wilson said he and Merriweather talked this week about whatneeded to happen for the ground game, and offense in general, to bounce back after not scoring any offensive points against the Broncos. The answer was quite simple.
"Take it personal," Wilson said. "We all took it personal. We went out there and did what we had to do, execute plays."
It was an especially satisfying performance for Melton, who had just one catch for 12 yards on four targets during the Packers' 23-10 win in Cleveland and just two grabs for 10 yards against Denver.
His 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter, on a 50/50 ball from Pratt, not only propelled the Packers ahead of Baltimore 13-7 at the time but also ignited a run of 24 unanswered points for Green Bay.
As the NFL's mandatory roster reduction looms, big plays can make all the difference. As someone who's started the past two seasons on the practice squad, Melton understands the stakes.
"Camp is always an up and down thing. I definitely had ups, had downs, but I've had more ups than I've had downs," Melton said. "Being in the league three years, making the team, that's a milestone for myself. I'll be happy about it but there's a lot more things to be happy about later on down the line, for sure."
Clifford and Pratt split the snaps: The Packers' plan called for Clifford and Pratt to alternate throughout the game at quarterback, with Clifford starting and taking the first two series before Pratt tapped in.
Both QBs had their moments. Clifford shook off a slow start to lead the scoring drive in the third quarter that produced Heath's touchdown, while Pratt led the offense down the field in the second quarter before getting picked off in the third.
Overall, Clifford liked the arrangement as the Packers look to identify a No. 2 quarterback behind Jordan Love.
"It was nice to be able to play throughout the whole game," said Clifford, who was 6-of-14 for 53 yards with a TD (77.4 passer rating). "Going in and out, it was nice to be able to kind of practice your role. You just never know OK, you're gonna sit for a quarter here. Maybe it's a half a quarter and then boom you're back in."
Pratt finished 8-of-12 for 80 yards with the TD and INT (78.5 passer rating). He exited briefly after tackling Trenton Simpson on his INT return, but Pratt said he just got the wind knocked out of him.
"I thought it was a pretty good outing," Pratt said. "I think we had some opportunities and drove the ball down the field and had a pretty good game all the way around."
Mosby's moment and two trifectas: Defensive lineman Arron Mosby changed the complexion of the game with his back-to-back takeaways in the second quarter.
Mosby came flat-free to force a fumble of Ravens quarterback Devin Leary that safety Anthony Johnson Jr. corralled for a 24-yard touchdown return to extend Green Bay's lead to 20-7. He joined Johnson in the end zone for his first-ever Lambeau Leap.
If that wasn't enough, Mosby then picked off Leary on the Ravens' next offensive play after dropping into zone coverage.
"Just take it as another day," said Mosby, who spent last season on Green Bay's practice squad. "It is a great day to finish off the preseason how I did. That's about it."
Mosby wasn't alone in the takeaway department. For the third straight game, the Packers' defense generated a turnover to start the second half when rookie cornerback Kalen King stripped Ravens tight end Qadir Ismail of the ball, which linebacker Christian Young recovered at the Baltimore 27.
On the Ravens' next series, Packers linebacker Kristian Welch generated his third takeaway in as many preseason games when he picked off Leary in the third quarter. Welch also had a fumble recovery in Cleveland and an interception in Denver.
"I just take advantage of the opportunities that you get and just fly around. Try not to think too much," Welch said. "The coaches and the staff put us in great position to make those plays, so (it's about) making them when they come to you and not trying to do too much, not trying to force anything."
Kicking considerations: As the Packers' kicking competition enters its final turn, Greg Joseph and Anders Carlson each had two field-goal opportunities against the Ravens.
Joseph made both his tries from 36 and 55 yards while Carlson cleared his first from 54 in the first quarter before his 32-yard attempt sailed wide right in the fourth quarter.
After missing his lone attempt from 47 yards in Denver on Sunday, Joseph concentrated this week on slowing down his process. He felt like it made a difference against the Ravens.
"I feel like I was just going a little fast, trying to force the ball where I wanted to instead of just being smooth," Joseph said. "Today smooth was fast and it felt good. It felt good to get back to that."
