Upon Further Review: Packers put it all together in Titans blowout
If there was ever a time for the Green Bay Packers to put together a complete game, a Sunday Night Football showdown against the 10-4 Tennessee Titans on a snowy night at Lambeau Field was the time to do it.
Green Bay looked nearly flawless in its 40-14 win over the Tennessee Titans. The snow nor Tennessee’s defense slowed down the Packers offense at all as Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on three straight touchdown drives to open the game.
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That put the run-heavy Titans behind the eight ball from the outset, and while they cut the Packers’ lead to 19-14 in the third quarter, it proved futile because Green Bay added three more TDs in the second half. Derrick Henry rushed 23 times for 98 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and Ryan Tannehill completed less than 50% of his throws and tossed two interceptions.
Aaron Rodgers on the other hand, finished up another MVP-esque outing, going 21-of-25 for 231 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. To nobody’s surprise, his main target Davante Adams had another remarkable day with 11 catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns. It was Adams’ seventh game with 100+ yards and his third with at least 140 yards and multiple scores this season.
Not only are those two in the conversation for best QB-WR duo, they could easily be considered the best two players at their respective positions. Adam’s route-running (in the freaking SNOW no less) was impeccable once again and Rodgers knew exactly when to find him.
While those two stole the show, the Packers’ running game tallied 234 yards and Christian Kirksey and Darnell Savage both nabbed interceptions.
Green Bay (12-3) outgained the Titans 448-260, which resulted in its largest margin of victory all season. For that to happen against any NFL opponent is one thing, but to do that to a Tennessee team that is on pace to win its division? That is really impressive and it bodes well for the Packers as the postseason awaits.
Green Bay still has to beat the Chicago Bears next week to clinch the No. 1 seed. If they do, there might be a few more snowy games at Lambeau in the beginning of 2021.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
You can’t separate the performances of Rodgers and Adams, so they both get the nomination.
Rodgers threw to Adams 12 times and 11 of those passes landed in his hands. The other was picked off by Titans cornerback Malcolm Butler in the fourth quarter, who made a great play on the ball.
Still, the combo resulted in three touchdowns. Whether it was a wide receiver screen, a fade route or just making something out of scratch, Rodgers and Adams were a lethal pair in the red zone. Adams’ third touchdown reception in which he juked out two Titans defenders in the end zone was a thing of beauty.
It’s slippery out there, but not for @tae15adams ❄️#GoPackGo
Via @NFL pic.twitter.com/W7ee7YTIni
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) December 28, 2020
DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME
Have a day, A.J. Dillon! The Packers rookie running back had just 115 rushing yards prior to this game, but exploded in the second half.
He stepped up in Jamaal Williams’ absence with 21 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Dillon evaded a defender in the open field for his first career score.
Welcome to the NFL, @ajdillon7
First career TD for the #Packers rookie
Via @NFL
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) December 28, 2020
THAT MOMENT
Dillon’s aforementioned first career touchdown is what iced the game for Green Bay.
The Packers were up 26-14 with 3:35 left in the third quarter and had the ball on Tennessee’s 30-yard line facing a 4th-and-1. Green Bay handed it off to Dillon who followed his blocks and scampered into the end zone.
If the Titans had stopped them there, the game was not in doubt by any means, but they would have gotten possession with decent field position down by 12 points. Instead, Dillon sent them packing.
THIS NUMBER
4 — the combined number of receptions by Titans wide receivers A.J. Brown and Corey Davis. Brown caught all four for 43 yards while Davis finished with a donut, and not with glaze on top. Brown came into the game with 881 receiving yards and Davis had 945, so it looks like those two had a chance to end the season with 1,000 yards each and the Packers, namely Jaire Alexander, shut them down.
Best CB in the league
Via @thecheckdown
— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) December 28, 2020
THEY SAID IT
“You could feel his physicality as he was running the ball, just really trying to punish defenders.” – Packers coach Matt LaFleur said about Dillon.
“This was it, man.” – Adams on the Packers’ complete win.
“Anytime you can hold Derrick Henry to under 100 yards, that’s a win. I think that was a hell of a performance by our defense.” – LaFleur said.
“Obviously, I was down for a little bit but I had so much support, from my teammates, my coaches, the staff here, the community out here, my family and friends back home. I feel like everybody keeping me in great spirits kind of brought me back to it.” – Dillon on recovering from COVID-19.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Packers will travel to Soldier Field to play the 8-7 Chicago Bears on Sunday at noon. After defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-17, Chicago will be fighting for a wild card spot while Green Bay will be playing for the No. 1 seed. It should be a hoot.
