‘ D’ biggest test awaits
Packers’ run defense will have its hands full trying to stop Henry
An inability to stop the run cost the Packers a Super Bowl berth in January. Playoffbound again, they’re about to find out how much they’ve improved in that area.
Titans running back Derrick Henry should give them a pretty good indication.
The NFL rushing leader heads into Lambeau Field on Sunday night having run for 362 yards over his last two games and a career- high 1,679 yards this season. Henry has rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his last nine road games, one off Barry Sanders’ NFL record.
“They know each and every week everybody’s going to come to try to stop the run,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of the Titans, “and nobody can do it.”
Green Bay ( 11- 3) already has clinched the NFC North title and can guarantee itself the NFC’s No. 1 seed if it beats the Titans and the Rams beat or tie the Seahawks ( 10- 4).
Tennessee ( 10- 4) can clinch a second consecutive AFC playoff berth with a victory at Green Bay. Tennessee also can earn a spot in the postseason with a loss by either the Ravens or Dolphins. The Titans can clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 if they beat Green Bay and the Colts lose to the Steelers.
“They’re fighting for something,” Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “We’re fighting for something. I just know it’s going to be a playoff atmosphere.”
The matchup also gives each team a chance to address perceived weaknesses.
Green Bay has improved its run defense since giving up 285 yards in an NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers last season. But in the Packers’ three losses, they gave up 113 yards rushing to the Bucs’ Ronald Jones, 163 to the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook and 90 to the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor.
Tennessee is on the verge of a playoff berth despite ranking 27th in the league in total defense and 29th in pass defense. That defense must deal with a high- powered Packers offense featuring MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers plus Pro Bowl selections Davante Adams and Aaron Jones.
Rodgers has thrown 40 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. Adams has 14 touchdown catches to rank second in the league. Jones has rushed for at least 130
yards in two of his last three games.
“I think we’re just going to have to do our best job to challenge these guys, try to be more physical than their entire offense, and forcing turnovers,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “I think that’s probably going to be the biggest thing in this game. [ We] obviously might not have a lot of opportunities to intercept the ball, but trying to punch the ball out, hammer it out, raking it out, those things.
“They’re 10- 0 when they don’t turn the ball over, and they’re 1- 3 when they turn the ball over.”
MVP chase
This game gives Henry a chance to boost his MVP credentials. He’ll be on the same field with Rodgers, considered one of the favorites for the award along with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Rodgers, Mahomes and Allen have earned most of the MVP buzz lately, but Henry is working his way into the conversation. The last non- quarterback to win the award was Adrian Peterson in 2012.
Coaching reunion
LaFleur was the offensive coordinator on Titans coach Mike Vrabel’s staff in 2018 before the Packers hired him. This will mark the first time Vrabel has faced off with a head coach who previously worked for him as an assistant.
Racking up the points
The Titans and Packers are tightly bunched with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs among the NFL scoring leaders. Tennessee leads with 436 points. Kansas City is next with 435. Green Bay has 434.