National Football League

Packers drop Ravens for fourth straight win

Published Dec. 8, 2009 7:47 a.m. ET

foxsports

A month ago, the Green Bay Packers were worried that their season was slipping away.

Now they've won four straight after beating the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.

Yes, Monday's 27-14 win was monumentally ugly. But that didn't matter afterward, because the Packers are suddenly sitting pretty in the playoff race.

"It wasn't pretty out there, but a win is a win," Packers wide receiver Donald Driver said. "We had to get this one to stay ahead in the playoff race."

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While the Packers (8-4) are in good position to earn an NFC wild-card berth, Monday's win showed they still have some work to do to be taken seriously once they make it to the playoffs.

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Jermichael Finley. But Rodgers also had a pair of interceptions, two of the combined seven turnovers in the game.

The teams also committed 23 penalties for 310 yards, tying for the second-highest yardage total in an NFL game.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy called the penalties "unbelievable for both sides" but said he was happy with the way his team responded to trying circumstances - something they hadn't done well early in the season.

"I'll say this about our football team: I was very proud and excited the way they overcame the adversity," McCarthy said.

The Ravens (6-6) struggled in coverage without star safety Ed Reed, who sat out with hip and ankle injuries.

But Ravens coach John Harbaugh insisted his team is "still breathing" in the playoff race.