Packers, Titans face difficult decisions
Despite the sting of defeat in their respective conference championships Sunday, the Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans each could view the 2019 season as special, in time.
The Packers’ run to the NFC championship game represented the dawn of a new era. After two straight losing seasons and a coaching change, Green Bay won 13 games – the franchise’s most since the 15-win 2011 campaign – and secured the NFC North title and second seed in the conference.
Meanwhile, the Titans’ journey featured a remarkable rebound from 2-4 to finish 9-7 while also becoming the first wild-card team in six seasons to reach the conference championship. That playoff run included upsets of the defending Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots and the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens.
The disparity between each conference championship winner – the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC – and loser was evident, however. And as the Packers and Titans try to extend their progress into 2020, key decisions await the two teams.
The Packers broke from tradition in and took an aggressive approach to free agency. Now is not the time to ease up.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel made the bold – and correct – move by benching face of the franchise Marcus Mariota for Ryan Tannehill to save the season and more. Now the coach must prepare to make similarly challenging calls.
With Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones, the Packers have a strong offensive core. And the offseason additions of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith helped boost the defense.
Both units, however, remain lacking.
Defensively, Green Bay’s inability to stop the 49ers’ run game proved fatal. Further investments along the defensive front, particularly at the interior where the Packers need improved speed and physicality, should top the Packers’ to-do list. Acquiring a rangy, athletic, play-making inside linebacker also will help shore up Green Bay’s run defense.
Additional firepower is needed on offense. Tight end Jimmy Graham no longer is the force he once was after recording a career-low 38 catches for 474 yards and three touchdowns. And outside of Adams (83 receptions), no Packers player topped the 50-catch mark.
Rodgers will turn 37 this year but remains highly effective, and another season in Matt LaFleur’s system will bring additional comfort. But the Packers must continue to aggressively upgrade the roster around him so they have a chance to win another Super Bowl in the twilight of his career.
Meanwhile, Tennessee also remains in the construction phase despite this year’s improbable playoff run.
Vrabel in his two seasons as head coach has displayed a clear philosophy while establishing the team culture in Nashville. He wants a physical, hardnosed collection of players who embrace their roles while throwing egos out the window.
“I just think that’s how I was raised as a football player at Ohio State, Pittsburgh and New England. It’s how the game is supposed to be played,” Vrabel told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s physical nature, it’s a collision sport, and I think that’s the type of players that we have: an offensive line that can come off the football, receivers who are willing to come in and block. That’s what we believe in and what’s going to be the best for our team right now.”
Priority No. 1 should be re-signing Derrick Henry, whose punishing running style served as the catalyst for Tennessee’s success.