Ravens are giving it a wild-card chase

The Baltimore Ravens want to be where the Green Bay Packers already are -- and not just near the top of the NFL’s defensive rankings.

Whereas the Packers (7-4) have the edge for a wild-card spot, things aren’t as clear for Baltimore (6-5), which began the weekend tied with Jacksonville, Denver and Pittsburgh for one of the AFC’s two berths.

A lot can change with five games to play, of course, but the urgency of the moment is not lost on the Ravens, who haven’t recorded consecutive wins since Week 3.

“Our goal right now is just to win the game, no matter what it looks like, or what goes on in between, the first quarter, the fourth quarter,” Baltimore receiver Mark Clayton told reporters last week.

That will be no small feat tonight at Green Bay, which has won three consecutive games and is getting outstanding play from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. During the latest winning streak, he has six touchdowns, no interceptions, and a lofty passer rating of 108.4.

What’s more, the Packers’ defense is ranked second in the league behind the New York Jets and is giving up 281.5 yards a game. Clearly, the players are growing increasingly comfortable with the 3-4 scheme that defensive coordinator Dom Capers implemented this season.

“It feels good to be talking about No. 1 and keeping focused and staying focused, and you like to have that rather than, ‘Why is your defense 32nd?’ ” linebacker Nick Barnett told reporters. “But we’ve got to keep things in perspective. Like I say, you’re not No. 1 unless you end the season No. 1, and we know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and still got room to grow.”

It’s Baltimore’s defense that traditionally has been at or near the top of the statistical standings. That unit, now ranked 12th, has been getting sharper lately. Over the last five games, the Ravens have not given up more than 17 points, limiting opponents to 11.6 over that span.

This game will be particularly challenging for a Baltimore secondary that’s part of a defense ranked sixth against the pass.

“Their wide receiving corps is magnificent,” Ravens rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb told the Baltimore Sun about the Packers. “They’re great, and this quarterback, he’s got an arm like a rocket. So we just have to prepare well. We have to go out and practice hard so that when we do play these guys, we can be on point and be a step ahead of these guys.”

sam.farmer@latimes.com

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