In the snow, against the NFL’s highest scoring attack and the most productive running back, the Green Bay Packers made a championship-level effort in defense.
Mike Pettine’s group held the Tennessee Titans with just 14 points and Derrick Henry’s 98-yard running back during the Packers’ defeat against the Titans on Sunday night in a snowy Lambeau Field.
Henry’s final accelerated total was almost irrelevant. He averaged 4.3 yards per load, had no run for more than 10 yards and produced most of his yards while the Packers maintained a two or three point lead. Even in favorable conditions for a great blunt running back, Henry made no difference, and he ended up being overtaken by Packers rookie running back AJ Dillon (124 running yards, two touchdowns).
Ryan Tannehill ran 45 yards for a surprise touchdown on a read-option move to start the second half, momentarily stopping the explosion, but the Titans’ quarterback fought for most of the competition. He threw two interceptions, took two bags and finished with just 104 passing yards in 26 attempts. The Packers hit him five times and interrupted 10 of his passes.
Pro Bowl receiver AJ Brown ended with only 43 yards of reception, while Corey Davis did not have a single reception. The Titans’ longest win in the passing game was just 19 yards, and came in the fourth period with the Packers up three points.
Overall, the Titans averaged just 4.7 yards per game, scored in two of nine possessions and held the ball for less than 24 minutes.
Coach Matt LaFleur said he felt a different level of energy from the Packers defense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers believed it was a Super Bowl quality performance.
It would be difficult to argue against either assessment.
The Packers started fast, forcing a pair of punts and grabbing an interception over the Titans’ first three belongings. After giving up touchdowns on consecutive drives to end the first half and start the second, the Packers made four more stops to end it, including another interception and a downward turn within the red zone.
Henry uploaded 23 times, highlighting the Titans’ commitment to the race. But when the Packers established a big advantage and Henry was not producing block racing, the Titans’ highly productive passing game practically disappeared.
The pressure on the quarterback was consistent and disturbing. Za’Darius Smith was fired, pressure from Rashan Gary helped to create the interception from Darnell Savage and pressure from Preston Smith helped create the interception from Chrsitian Kirksey.
In secondary, Savage and cornerback Jaire Alexander shared three passes each. The Packers ended up with two interceptions, but they could have had one or two more, including a potential Savage pick-six that was discarded.
At the end of the game, Alexander broke a pass on the fourth downhill, becoming the Titans’ last attempt to return.
Against, without a doubt, the most talented and balanced attack on the schedule, the Packers accepted the challenge and delivered a stifling effort. Henry did not take charge of the game, Tannehill never felt comfortable and the Titans – who entered the competition with an average of more than 31 points per game – got nothing more than two strokes.
The Packers needed to prove that they could play high-level defense against a high-level opponent in 2020. Sunday night provided the opportunity, and Pettine’s group scored the box.