Lambeau Field

Figuring out the emotional state of an NFL team is always tricky. Players can look listless all week in practice and come out on game day running around like gerbils on Red Bull. Or they can look focused and fired up in practice and come out for the opening kickoff looking like everyone needs a nap. Which brings us to tonight's big game between the Ravens and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. (Updated Lambeau weather forecast: cold, snow, wind. This forecast good through April.

Former Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick appeared on “The Norris and Davis Show” on 105.7 The Fan on Tuesday to talk about Baltimore's chances of advancing to the Super Bowl in Indianapolis next month. Those chances are very good, said Billick, who predicts that the Ravens will play the Green Bay Packers for the title. “We're making a,” Billick said, realizing he said “we” then restarting his sentence. “The Ravens are making a championship run and they are in the think of it. I've got the Ravens going to the Super Bowl.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Maybe all the magic and mystery of legendary Lambeau Field can work in the Ravens' favor today.When the Ravens (2-4) visit Lambeau Field to meet the Green Bay Packers (4-2), it will be the first visit there for quite a few of their players. And with the Packers favored by 10 1/2 points, a win for the Ravens might turn around the fortunes of a struggling team."We've heard so much about it, about all the great games that have been played there," said Ravens second-year linebacker Peter Boulware.

Even after their unsightly 27-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, the Ravens still have a shot at the playoffs because they don't face a team with a winning record the rest of the way. The Ravens' biggest opponent over the final four weeks of the regular season might be themselves - or the officials, depending on your perspective. Penalties have dogged the Ravens throughout the season and have cost them a chance to keep pace in the AFC wild-card race. The Ravens' 12 penalties at Lambeau Field were the most in the 31-game John Harbaugh era. Their five pass-interference penalties (four of which were on the defense)

Opponent: Green Bay Packers Site: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. When: Sunday, 1 p.m. TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM) Line: Pick 'em

The number 0 Missed extra points by Bucs' Martin Gramatica before yesterday. The quote "I felt like a little kid who ran away and has come home." Antonio Freeman, Packers receiver, on his return to Lambeau Field

Once upon a time, when the NFL Films' "Voice of God," John Facenda, intoned about "frozen tundra," it was a given that Lambeau Field was a playoff home-field advantage like no other. That would seem to be the case no more. Last weekend's Packers-Bears game at bitterly cold and blustery Soldier Field proved what Vince Lombardi could have never imagined. When it comes to facing Old Man Winter, these Packers are wimps. Even Brett Favre said as much. Chicago, with Kyle Orton at quarterback, manhandled NFC North champion Green Bay, 35-7, and the weather was a key factor.

By the numbers 2 Turnovers by the Ravens in the first quarter (fumble by Ray Rice and interception thrown by Joe Flacco). 3 Pass-interference penalties by the Ravens (Domonique Foxworth, Frank Walker and Lardarius Webb) in the first half. The Ravens' 11 pass-interference penalties are the most in the NFL this season. 15 The wind chill index at the opening kickoff at Lambeau Field. 17 First-half deficit by the Ravens, which tied their largest shortfall in any game this season (at Minnesota and at Cincinnati)

Carolina Panthers (13-4) at Green Bay Packers (14-3) Time: 12: 30 p.m. today, chs. 45, 5Line: Packers by 12Vs. spread: Panthers 13-4; Packers 11-6.Last week: In the conference semifinals, the Panthers beat the Cowboys in Charlotte, N.C., 26-17, and the Packers defeated the 49ers, 35-14, in Green Bay, Wis.Outlook: The Panthers did something Green Bay had tried to do the previous two years -- knock Dallas out of the playoffs. So the Packers have a great deal of respect for Carolina. They should, because the Panthers are one of the best teams the Packers have faced this season -- better than San Francisco and better than Dallas.

If I could give one bit of advice to the Ravens as they prepare to face the Green Bay Packers on Monday night at Lambeau Field, it would be: Stay close to those heated benches when you're not in the game. I say this because the temperature at game time is expected to be in the low 20s. There's also a good chance of snow. And because this is Lambeau in December, you can pretty much count on hitting the bad-weather trifecta. That's right: The wind should be blowing, too. Look, they don't call it "the Frozen Tundra" because people are slathering on Coppertone and wearing Hawaiian shirts.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - -Someday, the mantle might be passed from Ed Reed to Tom Zbikowski. Monday night, though, was not that time. Filling in for the injured five-time Pro Bowl selection at free safety, Zbikowski finished with a potentially bright but uneven performance in the Ravens' 27-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Zbikowski made four tackles and recorded his first career interception off budding superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Zbikowski also was on the short end on both of tight end Jermichael Finley's touchdown catches.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - -Maybe it's appropriate that the Ravens decided to put their playoff hopes on thin ice at frigid Lambeau Field. With a lethargic performance by their offense and a penalty-filled one by their defense, the Ravens fell to the Green Bay Packers, 27-14, before a national television audience. A vulnerable secondary - safety Ed Reed (hip and ankle) was scratched about an hour before the game and cornerback Fabian Washington is on injured reserve - committed four pass-interference penalties and allowed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to throw for three touchdowns.

By the numbers 2 Turnovers by the Ravens in the first quarter (fumble by Ray Rice and interception thrown by Joe Flacco). 3 Pass-interference penalties by the Ravens (Domonique Foxworth, Frank Walker and Lardarius Webb) in the first half. The Ravens' 11 pass-interference penalties are the most in the NFL this season. 15 The wind chill index at the opening kickoff at Lambeau Field. 17 First-half deficit by the Ravens, which tied their largest shortfall in any game this season (at Minnesota and at Cincinnati)

Ravens run offense vs. Packers run defense: The Packers have one of the hottest run defenses in the NFL. Green Bay gave up 141 yards to the Cincinnati Bengals' Cedric Benson in Week 2 and 117 to the St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson in Week 3, since then has allowed more than 61 yards in a game only to the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson (97 yards in Week 8). Over his past eight games, the Ravens' Ray Rice has averaged 78.6 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground. On Nov. 29, he gashed the league's top run defense for 19 yards on four straight carries in overtime.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- As the Ravens try to take another step toward the NFL playoffs, the biggest obstacle standing in their way tonight is the Green Bay Packers' offensive line. The blueprint for the Ravens (6-5) to improve their standing in the AFC wild-card race couldn't be much clearer: The defense has to take down Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers is sacked six or more times, the Packers are 0-4. When he is sacked less often than that, Green Bay is 7-0. So, what will be left standing by night's end at Lambeau Field - Rodgers or the Ravens' playoff hopes?

Figuring out the emotional state of an NFL team is always tricky. Players can look listless all week in practice and come out on game day running around like gerbils on Red Bull. Or they can look focused and fired up in practice and come out for the opening kickoff looking like everyone needs a nap. Which brings us to tonight's big game between the Ravens and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. (Updated Lambeau weather forecast: cold, snow, wind. This forecast good through April.

SEPT. 9 Chicago 1 p.m., PSINet Stadium, Ch. 45 Ravens seek revenge against Bears' James Allen, the last running back to break 100 yards against them. SEPT. 17 Minnesota 9 p.m., PSINet Stadium, Ch. 2 Ravens' first-ever Monday night game features coach Brian Billick against his ex-boss, Dennis Green. SEPT. 23 at Cincinnati 1 p.m., Paul Brown Stadium, Ch. 13 Ravens haven't lost in the Queen City since 1997; this game begins a stretch of six of eight on the road. SEPT. 30 at Denver 4:15 p.m., Invesco Field, Ch. 13 Shannon Sharpe makes his first trip back to Denver, where he won two Super Bowl rings.

In the days leading up to Monday night's game at Green Bay, the Ravens have been well schooled on the mystique of Lambeau Field, from Vince Lombardi to the Frozen Tundra to the devotion of the Packers' cheesehead-wearing fans. "You know what comes with Lambeau Field," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "You know the history behind it." The history that has gone unspoken - or perhaps that the Ravens want to forget - is the team's futility at NFC North stadiums. In their 14-year existence, the Ravens have never won at Green Bay, Chicago, Minnesota or Detroit, losing all six games.