The Green Bay Packers have a quick turnaround after their win against the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers will look to build on the momentum from the win and go on a winning streak as they face the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football.
A victory on Thursday night would keep the season alive and give the team the confidence they need to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in another potentially must-win game. Here are three things the Titans do well.
Run the Ball
Yes, I know it’s a foregone conclusion that a team with Derrick Henry runs the ball well. What is more impressive, though, is how far the run game has carried the offense. The Titans have the second-worst passing offense in the NFL, in terms of yards per game, only ahead of the Chicago Bears, despite Tennessee’s 6-3 record.
Henry is second in the league in rushing yards with 923. He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, with 3.81 of those yards coming after contact. Despite a slow start to the season, Henry has found his groove and is proving to be as difficult to take down as ever. If the Packers want to win, they will have to shut down Henry and the run game and force the Titans to air the ball out.
Interior Pass Rush
The Titans’ defense is predicated on their ability to get to the quarterback quickly. It’s the source of that pressure that sets them apart. A majority of Tennessee’s pressure comes from the interior, thanks to the likes of Jeffery Simmons and Teair Tart. The Titans’ defensive line’s ability to win from the interior makes it hard for any quarterback to step into the pocket.
Simmons has cemented himself as one of the best interior pass rushers this season, totaling 35 pressures and six sacks. He has been nursing an ankle injury that saw him miss last week’s game, but if he is healthy, he could pose a major challenge for Green Bay’s interior offensive line. Given how Quinnen Williams almost single-handedly wrecked the Packers’ offense with his ability to get pressure up the middle, they need to pay extra close attention to Simmons.
Win Close Games
One of the most impressive things about the Titans is their ability to keep games close and eke out victories. Seven of their nine games have been one-score contests; out of these seven, they have an impressive 5-2 record. With head coach Mike Vrabel, the Titans have been one of the best teams in the NFL when it comes to hanging tight and pulling away with a victory.
Even when they were forced to start Malik Willis at quarterback, they got a win against the Houston Texans and took the Kansas City Chiefs to overtime in Arrowhead. Tennessee’s ability to stay in these close games and pull a majority of them out isn’t a fluke. The Packers will need to be wary of the Titans in the fourth quarter and do their best to keep them at arm’s length at all times.
