3 takeaways from Packers’ impressive win vs. Titans in Week 16
Takeaways from the Packers’ big Week 16 performance.
Wow. The Green Bay Packers came to play on Sunday night.
Despite entering the game knowing they couldn’t secure the number one seed until next week, the Packers put in their best performance of the season against a talented opponent.
The Packers were at ease for most of the night, defeating the Tennessee Titans 40-14. Let’s dive into the takeaways from the win.
1. Breakout performance for AJ Dillon
Here we go.
AJ Dillon has patiently waited for his opportunity and he made the most of it. With Jamaal Williams out of the game and Aaron Jones briefly exiting early with an injury, Dillon stepped up with a breakout performance, showing why he deserves more playing time moving forward.
The second-round pick rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns, putting in the type of performance many expected from Derrick Henry. Dillon showed his power and ability to break tackles, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
In frozen Lambeau conditions, Dillon is going to give defenses a lot of problems in the playoffs.
2. Here comes the defense
After an impressive performance last week, could the defense replicate it against one of the league’s best offenses?
Absolutely.
Green Bay held Henry to 98 yards, a huge win. The pass rush was on fire, pressuring Ryan Tannehill throughout the game and forcing him into mistakes, including two costly interceptions.
The Smith Bros. and Rashan Gary were making plays all game. How about this from NFL Next Gen Stats?
The @Packers generated a 35.7% team pressure rate, their 3rd-highest in a game this season. Three of the Packers four highest pressure rates have come since Week 13.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 28, 2020
Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, & Preston Smith all forced a turnover from pressure.#TENvsGB | #GoPackGo
This defense is trending in the right direction as we near the postseason.
3. Darnell Savage is a rising star
Key to the success on defense was second-year safety Darnell Savage. Savage has been excellent in the second half of the season, but this was possibly his best game yet.
Savage had three pass defenses, five tackles, and an interception. And he almost had another, which likely would’ve gone for a touchdown.
Savage has been all over the field making plays in recent weeks and he now has four interceptions in his past five games. We’re beginning to see the type of performances many expected when the Packers traded up in the first round to draft Savage last year.
And it’s exciting news for this defense.