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Rodgers throws 3 TDs as Packers beat Ravens 27-14

GREEN BAY — Ray Lewis believes that the Ravens will make a run to the playoffs.

However, there is a big caveat.

"I feel more than confident any time you tell me I'm going to get a Terrell Suggs and an Ed Reed back," Lewis said. "You never stop fighting, that's the beauty of this team, but we have to stop the things that are getting us in trouble real early, whether it's the penalties or it's the turnovers."

In Baltimore's 27-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, it was both in an ugly, flag-filled contest that saw the teams combine for 310 penalty yards, tied for second-most in NFL history.

"The penalties were unbelievable for both sides," said Packers coach Mike McCarthy, whose team won its fourth in a row to improve to 8-4 and now sits in a position of strength for an NFC wild-card spot. "The adversity that we overcame throughout the football game is something that we will definitely carry forward with us."

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, two to Jermichael Finley, as the Ravens (6-6) struggled in coverage without their star safety, Reed, who sat out with hip and ankle injuries. Suggs (knee) has been out since Nov. 16.

The result was five pass interference flags, the most on one team in the NFL since 2001. Green Bay was flagged for pass interference four times and there were 23 total penalties in the game.

"You can't come in nobody's house and have that many penalties and on third downs, you're off the field and then you turn around and look and there's a flag laying on the ground," Lewis said. "That's some of the things you've got to cut out."

Rodgers fininshed 26 of 40 for 263 yards with two interceptions, only his sixth and seventh of the season. Reed's replacement, Tom Zbikowski, had one of the interceptions but also allowed Finley to make a catch over him for the Packers' first TD that made it 10-0.

"Before I left the huddle (Rodgers) said, 'Time your jump, it's coming,'" said Finley, who finished with seven catches for 79 yards. "I just had to make a play on the ball."

Green Bay extended the lead to 17-0 just before halftime on Donald Driver's 8-yard TD reception, but the Packers found themselves in a suddenly tight game when the Ravens scored twice in 30 seconds after Rodgers' second interception.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco was 15 of 36 for 137 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. The Packers sacked him three times, but the Ravens were able to close it to 17-14 on Kelley Washington's 12-yard TD catch and a 1-yard TD by Willis McGahee after a 41-yard pass interference penalty on Tramon Williams.

"I've got a short-term memory," Williams said. "That's one of my advantages."

He also came up big late. With Baltimore trailing 24-14 and at the Packers 3 with 9 minutes left, Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone that effectively sealed it.

"I saw Flacco's eyes turn this way and I was like, 'Man, it looks like he's going to throw it.' He threw it and I was there," Williams said. "I can't lie to you, it felt great."

Less than a month ago, Green Bay was 4-4 and reeling from a loss to Tampa Bay, which still has only one victory this season. But, the offense has done a better job of protecting Rodgers and the Packers' 3-4 defensive scheme installed this offseason by new defensive coordinator Dom Capers is ranked No. 1 in the league for fewest yards allowed.

"With a new year and a new system, 12 games in, we really feel like as a defense things are clicking," linebacker Clay Matthews III said. "We're up there in overall defense, and we're real proud of that."