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Titans at Packers: Live Updates, Analysis

It is a matchup of first-place teams and it will take place in cold, snowy conditions at Lambeau Field.
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If the Tennessee Titans want to secure a playoff berth before the final week of the regular season, they will have to do it on their own.

The Titans (10-4) had two chances to punch their postseason ticket prior to kickoff of Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers (11-3) at Lambeau Field. Neither came through. The Miami Dolphins pulled off a dramatic, come-from-behind victory against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday and the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a victory over the New York Giants early Sunday. Had either one of those contests turned out differently, Tennessee would be assured of its third playoff appearance in four years.

As it is, a victory is required, or the postseason pursuit will continue until next week. So, the Titans have decided to think like it’s the postseason.

“We’re trying to go up to win a football game in what we would feel like is a road playoff game,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “That's been our mindset and our mentality throughout the week.”

TOP STORYLINES

• Weather will be the most-discussed aspect of this game. At kickoff, the temperature will be well below freezing and snow has been falling since the middle of the afternoon.

• Because of Indianapolis’ loss to Pittsburgh earlier in the day, there is more than just a playoff berth at stake for the Titans. Now, they also can clinch the AFC South with a victory. The last time Tennessee won the division was 2008.

• Derrick Henry enters the contest 321 yards shy of 2,000 for the season. It would take an unreal effort to get there in this one. But can he get close enough to make it worthwhile to try next week? 

On to kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

The Titans won the coin toss and deferred their option until the second half.

Stephen Gostkowski sends the opening kickoff out of bounds, which gives the ball to Green Bay at the 40.

(9:59) The Packers make it look easy on their opening possession. Aaron Rodgers goes 5-5 for 40 yards capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams. Mason Crosby misses the PAT to the left. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 5:05. GREEN BAY 6, TENNESSEE 0

That is the fifth time this season the Titans have allowed the opponent to score on its opening possession. They lost three of the first four.

(6:00) Four of the first six Titans’ plays are Derrick Henry runs, for 12 yards. The drive stalls at the Green Bay 32 with back-to-back incomplete passes to tight ends Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser.

(5:55) Rather than attempt a 50-yard field goal in the snow, coach Mike Vrabel elects to punt. Brett Kern puts it into the end zone for a touchback.

(3:00) The Titans hold on third-and-10 from the Green Bay 35, but Rashaan Evans is called for illegal use of the hands – five yards and a first down. The drive continues.

(0:00) End of the quarter. The Packers are at the Tennessee 21.

A bad sign: Safety Kevin Byard already has six tackles. Green Bay has outgained the Titans 114-33 and has held the ball for 10:55. Rodgers completed his first eight passes and is 8- for 63 yards with a touchdown. Ryan Tannehill is 1-3 for 12 yards.

SECOND QUARTER

(15:00) And on the opening play of the second quarter, the Packers add to their lead with a 21-yard touchdown reception by Equanimeous St. Brown. Tennessee’s defense stops the two-point conversion. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:56. GREEN BAY 12, TENNESSEE 0

That officially was Green Bay’s first third-down attempt of the contest.

(13:37) Ryan Tannehill’s fourth pass of the night is intercepted. Green Bay is back in business at the Titans’ 34.

(11:28) Davante Adams’ second touchdown of the night is a 7-yard reception on first-and-goal. This time the Packers kick the PAT and it is good. Scoring drive: 6 plays, 34 yards, 2:44. GREEN BAY 19, TENNESSEE 0

That is the first time since Dec. 6 against Cleveland that Tennessee’s defense allowed the opponent to score a touchdown off a takeaway. Of course, that is the last time the Titans lost.

(9:56) Tennessee’s offense goes three-and-out with a net of minus-17 yards, courtesy of two sacks.

(4:39) The Titans’ defense finally stops the Green Bay offense and forces a 35-yard field goal attempt.

(4:35) Jack Crawford blocks the kick, and Amani Hooker gathers up the ball and returns it to the Green Bay 20. The Titans are in business … except, Josh Kalu is called for offside on the play.

(4:21) The 5-yard penalty makes it fourth-and-2 from the Tennessee 12, and Green Bay sends its offense back on the field. Wyatt Ray sacks Rodgers for a 17-yard loss and gives the ball to the offense at its own 29.

(2:00) Two-minute warning. The Titans are trying to get Derrick Henry going. He has carried three times (for nine yards) in the last four plays. He has nine carries for 27 yards in the game, which accounts for more than half of Tennessee’s total offense (41 yards).

(0:42) Jonnu Smith’s 12-yard touchdown reception finally gets the Titans on the board. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 3:39. GREEN BAY 19, TENNESSEE 7

That is Smith’s eighth touchdown catch of the season, which breaks his tie with Delanie Walker (2016) for the most by a Tennessee tight end during the Titans era (1999-present).

Tennessee gets the ball to start the second half. As long as the defense does not meltdown completely, that will be an opportunity to make a game of it. 

(0:00) End of the quarter. The Titans get out of the half only down by 12, and it could have been a lot worse. Green Bay has. 210-93 edge in total offense, 16-7 advantage in first downs and a 19:07-10:53 cushion in possession time.

Henry has 11 rushes for 35 yards. Tannehill is 6-10 for 66 yards with 1 TD and one INT. A.J. Brown has a team-high three receptions for 34 yards.

THIRD QUARTER

(12:10) On third-and-1, Ryan Tannehill fakes a handoff, runs around the right side and goes 45 yards untouched for a touchdown. Scoring drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 2:59. GREEN BAY 19, TENNESSEE 14

That is Tannehill’s career-high fifth rushing touchdown of the season (he had four in 2019).

(11:57) Green Bay’s first possession of the second half starts with some poor tackling by Tennessee’s defense, which allows Aaron Jones to go 59 yards to the Tennessee 7. Instant replay makes it look as if Jones stepped out of bounds 36 yards before he was tackled, but coach Mike Vrabel did not get word to challenge.

(10:33) Two plays later, Rodgers has his fourth touchdown pass of the night. It’s an 8-yard completion to Davante Adams, who scores for the third time. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 1:34. GREEN BAY 26, TENNESSEE 14

Rodgers is the third quarterback to throw four touchdown passes against the Tennessee defense this season. Houston’s Deshaun Watson and Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield was the other.

(9:40) Tannehill avoids a sack but nearly throws his second interception of the night. The offense goes three-and-out, and it is up to the defense to make a stop and keep Green Bay from pulling away again.

(3:42) The Packers elect to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 30 – and AJ Dillon goes all the way to the end zone. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 5:48. GREEN BAY 33, TENNESSEE 14

Green Bay now has two backs who have outrushed Derrick Henry so far tonight. Dillion has 92 yards on 14 carries. Aaron Jones has 84 yards on nine carries. Henry has 50 yards on 15 attempts.

(0:00) End of the third quarter. The Titans are threatening. They have it first-and-10 at the Green Bay 35, but they have to overcome a 19-point deficit in 15 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER

(14:56) The threat ends with Ryan Tannehill’s second interception of the day. He tried to get it to Jonnu Smith under pressure but failed.

(12:32) Malcolm Butler with his fourth interception of the season. That gives him the team lead outright and gives the ball back to the offense at its own 37. There remains a flicker of hope for a comeback.

That ties Butler’s career-high, which he set in 2016 in New England, his last Pro Bowl season.

(8:32) On fourth-and-4 from the Green Bay 9, the Titans elect to go for it rather than kick a field goal and make it a two-score game. Tannehill’s pass to Jonnu Smith is incomplete, and Tennessee comes away with nothing.

(2:30) The Packers pile it on. AJ Dillon scores his second touchdown of the game (and his career), this one on a 7-yard run. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 91 yards, 6:03. GREEN BAY 40, TENNESSEE 14

(0:00) End of the game.

Derrick Henry finishes with 98 yards on 23 carries. … A.J. Brown caught half of the passes that came his way (four of eight) for 43 yards, while Corey Davis was shut out on two targets. … Ryan Tannehill finished 11-24 for 121 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. … David Long and Kevin Byard, with nine tackles apiece, led the defense, and Wyatt Ray ended Tennessee’s sack drought with the first of his career.

The Titans fall to 10-5 and their pursuit of a playoff spot will extend to the final week of the regular season.