Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 16 vs. Titans
By Jesse Fry
Five players key to victory for the Packers in Week 16 vs. Titans.
Over the past three weeks, the Green Bay Packers‘ defense has stepped up and stopped the run. The defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher to the Eagles, Lions or Panthers.
Considering how bad Green Bay’s run defense has been, that’s a very welcomed sight. But that was the Eagles, Lions and Panthers, three teams not heading to the playoffs that have had their injury problems, especially on the offensive lines and are not the caliber of team the Packers will face Sunday night.
The Tennessee Titans come into Lambeau with the NFL’s leading rusher and a 245 monster of a back, Derrick Henry. This will be the true test of how much that unit has improved.
Henry can make a defender look like a child trying to tackle an adult. His stiff arms are always internet worthy and no one wants to be on the other end.
This game is been circled on the calendar for the better part of the second half of the season. The Titans have the kind of offense the Packers will struggle against.
In addition to Henry, the Titans passing game has two stud receivers, A.J. Brown and Corey Davis, and an athletic tight end, Jonnu Smith, that will make defenses pay when focused too heavily on the run.
Their offense is led by former Miami Dolphins number one pick Ryan Tannehill, who took over halfway through last season for a struggling Marcus Mariota. He is quietly having a solid season with 31 touchdowns to only five interceptions.
The Packers are coming off a game that should have been over after the start of the third quarter. Green Bay scored three touchdowns on their first three drives and jumped out to a 21-3 lead only to stall out while only scoring three more points the rest of the game.
I hope that second half was a wake up call to the head coach and quarterback and propels them forward over the last two weeks and into the playoffs.
It’s possible by the time the game kicks off the Packers may need only a win to secure the number one seed. Either way, that shouldn’t affect their focus and if these five players step up, the Packers should have their 12th win of the season.