Unbalanced logo

Titans Prove They're a Contender with Win Over Packers

Win Over Packers

By Health ShopPublished about a year ago 5 min read
Like

It looked like the old Tennessee Titans were back with their 30-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field last Sunday. The win came after the Titans built a 24-7 lead heading into halftime, but it was never that easy, as the Packers battled back in the second half to make things interesting late in the game. Fortunately, Tennessee's defense made plays when they needed to and stood tall when it mattered most to secure the victory and keep their playoff hopes alive going forward in the 2022 season. Here are three key takeaways from the Titans' big win over Green Bay.

The Titans' Game Plan was Effective

It's hard to figure out what the Titans were going to do on offense because their game plan was so effective. Marcus Mariota looked like the best quarterback in the league and Derrick Henry was able to have success running against Green Bay. Tennessee's defense did an excellent job of shutting down Aaron Rodgers, who had thrown for over 400 yards in the first two games of the season. As long as they keep doing what they're doing, it should be smooth sailing for Tennessee in their next few games.

With all of that being said, I don't think anybody expected Mariota to be as effective as he was. He went 19/22 for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air, in addition to 41 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 carries. If they continue to do what they did against Green Bay, there's no reason they can't be one of top contenders for Super Bowl LIII.

As for Henry, it was his first game of over 100 yards rushing since 2016. That being said, he finished Sunday with 104 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24 carries. Tennessee has struggled mightily running the ball in recent years but looked excellent against Green Bay. If they can continue to run like that, they should be able to win games easily in spite of their lackluster defense.

For their part, Green Bay didn't look like they were going to put up much of a fight. Aaron Rodgers was 5/14 for 60 yards and an interception through 30 minutes. If it weren't for two meaningless touchdowns in garbage time, Rodgers would've finished the day 11/21 for 69 yards and 2 interceptions. If he doesn't play significantly better next week against Chicago than he did on Sunday, it could be another long day at Lambeau Field.

The Defense Stepped up When it Mattered Most

The Titans defense has been the backbone of the team all season, and today was no different. After Aaron Rodgers put up more than 200 yards passing in the first half, Tennessee's defense stepped up when it mattered most. The team intercepted Rodgers four times in the second half and sacked him twice to seal their victory over Green Bay.

Marcus Mariota and company turned it on in the second half, capitalizing off of turnovers to seal their victory. Marcus Mariota threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns in his first game back from injury, while Derrick Henry rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries and scored Tennessee's final touchdown of Week 13.

The Titans defense shut out Green Bay in the second half and scored 14 points of their own. Richard Matthews' 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown turned out to be crucial, as it pushed Tennessee's lead to 20-10 after halftime. If Green Bay had answered, who knows what might have happened.

A win's a win: No matter how you slice it, Sunday was a good day for Titans fans everywhere.

The win moved Tennessee to 9-4 and kept them firmly in first place in the AFC South. If they can beat Jacksonville next week and keep pace with New England, they'll keep their playoff hopes alive. If not, they may end up taking their talents to Houston for Wild Card Weekend.

Marcus Mariota is a True Dual-threat Quarterback

In the game against the Packers, Marcus Mariota proved that he's not just a mobile quarterback, but also has what it takes to be an elite passer. His performance against Green Bay validated his ability to lead this Titans team on offense for years to come.

As we saw against Green Bay, Mariota is more than capable of leading an offense. He did so in 2016 when he led Tennessee to an upset victory over eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots by throwing for four touchdowns and zero interceptions in that contest. He did so again against Green Bay on Sunday, making plays both through his arm and his legs.

His main weapon was receiver Corey Davis, who had an NFL debut for the ages, catching nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, his performance validated that not only is he capable of being an elite wide receiver in his rookie year but also that he can become one of Mariota's favorite targets.

As we saw in 2015, that sort of relationship between quarterback and receiver is vital for sustained success in today's game. The presence of Delanie Walker and Jack Conklin also played a role, as both players are terrific at what they do. Look no further than how they were able to spring Davis free throughout Sunday's game.

The Titans have a Chance to Make some Noise in the Playoffs

The Tennessee Titans have been flying under the radar this season, but after their victory over the Green Bay Packers, they have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs.

Tennessee's offense has been rolling since Marcus Mariota was able to play in Week 16. The team scored 42 points on Sunday and Mariota threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns.

With only two games left in the season, every game counts for playoff positioning.

This week, they will host their division rival, Indianapolis. The Colts are currently in first place in their division, but if Tennessee can upset them, it could put them in position to sneak into a wild card spot.

In Week 17, they will travel to face either Jacksonville or Houston in their final game of the season. If Tennessee can win both games, it would lock up a playoff spot.

On Sunday, they proved that their offense has become one of the best in football. If they can continue to score points at a high rate, they could finally make it to their first playoff game since 2008.

football
Like

About the Creator

Health Shop

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.