Packers aim to catch Tennessee on the run
An inability to stop the run cost Green Bay a Super Bowl berth in January. Playoff-bound again, the Packers are about to find out how much they’ve improved in that area.
Tennessee’s Derrick Henry should give them a pretty good indication.
The NFL rushing leader heads into Lambeau Field tonight 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 Seattle (10- 4).
Tennessee (10- 4) can clinch a second straight AFC playoff berth with a victory at Green Bay. Tennessee also can earn a spot in the postseason with a loss by either Baltimore or Miami. The Titans can clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 if Indianapolis loses to Pittsburgh earlier today and they beat Green Bay.
“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 rushing in an NFC championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season. But in the Packers’ three losses, they gave up 113 yards rushing to Tampa Bay’s Ronald Jones, 163 to Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook, and 90 to Indianapolis’ 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 Green Bay 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. I think that’s going to be the biggest stat in the game.”
RAMS AT SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks will clinch their first NFC West title since 2016 with a victory. It would be the fifth division title for Seattle since Carroll’s arrival in 2010. The Rams have won five of their past six against Seattle while averaging nearly 32 points per game, and would clinch a third playoff berth in four seasons under coach Sean Mcvay with a win. But they come off a stinker of a loss to the Jets.
COLTS AT STEELERS
Lots riding here. The Steelers, the first team to lose three straight following an 11-0 start since the 1969 Rams, still win the AFC North by beating the Colts or a loss by Cleveland to the Jets. Pittsburgh has won six in a row in this series, but these Steelers are reeling. They do have a sack in an Nfl-record 71 straight games and have sacked Philip Rivers 15 times during seven games while he played for the Chargers. Indianapolis has won five of six and can earn a postseason berth with a victory and a loss by either Baltimore or Miami. Rivers needs one touchdown pass to tie Dan Marino (420) for fifth on the career list. Rivers has had two or more TD passes in five straight games.
PANTHERS AT WASHINGTON
A win in his first game coaching against the team he led to the 2015 NFC title — and which fired him in 2019 — would give Washington’s Ron Rivera the NFC East crown if the Giants lose to Baltimore. But the headlines rarely have been good out of D.C., and this week quarterback Dwayne Haskins was fined $40,000 and stripped of his captaincy for violating league COVID-19 protocols. The Panthers have lost eight of their past nine. On Monday, they fired general manager Marty Hurney, who could wind up in Washington.
EAGLES AT COWBOYS
Both NFC East teams are hanging on in hopes Washington slumps, though the loser here can’t make the postseason —which, given their records shouldn’t even be in the conversation. A Cowboys loss will mean their first losing record in NFC East games since 2011. Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts has given the offense a boost in his two starts.
BEARS AT JAGUARS
Jacksonville has lost 13 in a row, tying the longest skid in team history. The Jaguars have allowed at least 24 points in each of those 13 games, an NFL record. While the Jaguars now are in position for the top overall draft pick (Trevor Lawrence?), the Bears still can make the postseason. They need help, specifically Arizona losing.
FALCONS AT CHIEFS
Not only are the Chiefs division champs for the fifth successive season, they could match the Packers (2011) for the best regular season by a reigning Super Bowl champion. A win gives them the coveted AFC opening-round bye. The Chiefs also could tie the longest regular-season win streak in franchise history with their 10th straight. Kansas City has never won 14games in a season. While Matt Ryan completed passes to 11 receivers against the Bucs, his main target with Julio Jones hobbled is Calvin Ridley. He had career bests of 10 catches for 163 yards last week, and Ridley’s seven 100-yard games lead the NFL.
BROWNS AT JETS
Now that the Jets have their victory, and presumably blew their chance for the top overall draft pick, can they pull off another mammoth upset? Cleveland, which won at the Meadowlands last Sunday vs. the Giants, has numerous scenarios to get into the postseason today, but must win. The Browns are on the verge of their first playoff appearance since 2002, the NFL’S current longest drought. Their 10 wins under first-year coach Kevin Stefanski match the franchise’s most since its 1999 expansion return.
GIANTS AT RAVENS
The Giants barely hang on to playoff hopes, and Baltimore likely needs to win out — and still might be left out. Look for the Ravens to run the ball, having rushed for at least 100 yards in 37 straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history, and to be ballhawks: Baltimore leads the league with 25 forced fumbles and ranks second with 12 fumble recoveries. New York hopes to have Daniel Jones back at quarterback.
BRONCOS AT CHARGERS
Not much to recommend this game except the opportunity to watch Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. L.A. has won two in a row and Herbert’s rapid maturing on the NFL level is encouraging. Denver has had one of the most injured rosters all season, and now gets to see former star defensive back Chris Harris Jr. on the other side.
BENGALS AT TEXANS
The Bengals looked like a professional team in handling Pittsburgh on Monday night after losing five straight. Unfortunately, the development of top overall draft pick Joe Burrow was curtailed by his midseason knee injury, but the future looks less stark than in Houston. While QB Deshaun Watson is having a solid enough season, the Texans are one of the NFL’S biggest disappointments and are searching for a new head coach.