Your Green Bay Packers are now 2-1 following their convincing 30-14 win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon.
Green Bay’s first-ever win in Nashville was marked by another strong start from the Packers offense. Starting for the second straight week was Malik Willis, who was making his return to the city where he spent his first two NFL seasons. Despite any intrigue that Jordan Love was close to making his return following a full week of practice, Willis was under center and turned in his best career game as a pro yet again.
From the Packers’ opening drive, Willis was showing his command of an offense that he’s only been familiar with for nearly a month.
On a 3rd and 6 from the Tennessee 36-yard line, Willis connected with a streaking Christian Watson for a 30-yard passing play to bring the Packers within a goal-to-go. Two plays later, Willis finished off the drive with a designed run off a read option. The next drive, Willis was electric with his feet, whether it was on designed runs from the pistol or escaping a collapsing pocket and making plays out of thin air. While the Packers settled for just a 21-yard field goal for the drive, 57 of Willis’ team-leading 73 rushing yards came on the drive.
Willis finished the game completing 13 of his 19 passing attempts, 202 passing yards, 1 TD and a 120.9 passer rating. 275 of Green Bay’s 378 total yards came as a result of Willis being able to make plays, with much of that coming in the first half where the Packers raced out to an early command of the game.
Little did we know that we could say that by trading for Willis from the Titans on August 26, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst ultimately saved the Packers season from crumbling under itself with their star quarterback going down in Week 1. Willis is showing that he’s not just an NFL player by title, but that he’s capable of leading an NFL-level offense if the right coach can utilize his growing talent in the right way. Kudos to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur for designing an offense where Willis’ dual abilities have shined and kept the Packers on the right course.
What kept the Titans from getting back into the game in the second half came on the other side of the ball.
At long last, the Packers’ pass rush came out in full force. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley dialed up the pressure by unleashing blitz packages and varied four-man rushes to feast on a Titans offensive line that leaks pressures like the Titanic. The defense tallied eight total sacks,falling one sack short of tying the franchise’s single-game record.
When they weren’t terrorizing Will Levis in the pocket, the Packers still feasted on mistakes from the second-year quarterback. Jaire Alexander’s pick-six to put the Packers at a 17-7 lead before the end of the first quarter furthered the divide between the two teams. Xavier McKinney’s interception — his third in as many games — sealed the deal for a Packers defense that put in a nearly flawless performance all over the field.
Between the game-breaking plays made by their defense or Malik Willis proving that revenge is a dish best served cold, the Packers are not just surviving without Jordan Love. They are thriving while he readies for his eventual return.
Listen to Jordan and Numac break it all down as they discussed the Packers’ win over the Titans!
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