Titans Offense Finally Shows up in 27-17 win over the Packers

Photo Credit: Benny Sieu, USA Today Sports

The Tennessee Titans beat the Green Bay Packers 27-17 on Thursday night to improve to 7-3. Despite heading into Lambeau Field as three-point underdogs, the Titans showed up and showed out in primetime.

The night started off with the Titans scoring a touchdown on their first drive coming to take an early 7-0 lead. A Ryan Tannehill 43-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Treylon Burks on 3rd and 7 put the Titans into Green Bay territory. The drive would in Tannehill finding Dontrell Hillard in the endzone. The Packers responded by scoring a touchdown as the first quarter came to a close. The touchdown came on a free play due to a Titans too many men on the field penalty where Aaron Rodgers found rookie wide receiver Christian Watson in the endzone to make it a 7-6 ballgame with a Mason Crosby missed extra point.

To start the second quarter, the Titans would go on a 18-play drive that took ten minutes and ended with zero points. A Derrick Henry run on 4th and 1 at the Green Bay four-yard line was stuffed, which put the Titans drive to a frustrating end. The Packers would go three and out on their next drive and would give the Titans great field position after a bad punt by Green Bay punter Pat O’Donnell. This punt would put the Titans at the Green Bay 41-yard line. The Titans would go on to score on a Derrick Henry 4-yard touchdown run to end the half to put the Titans ahead at the half, 14-6.

Coming out of the half, the Packers would score a field goal on their first possession to make it a 14-9 ballgame. On the Titans first drive of the second half, two big yardage gains were created by a throw to Chig Okonkwo for 31 yards, followed by a Derrick Henry 42-yard catch and run on a screen pass to put the Titans in the red zone. The drive was capped off with a handoff to Henry that he took and threw a jump pass to Austin Hooper for a Titans touchdown to make it. The Packers answered right back as Aaron Rodgers found rookie Christian Watson once again in the endzone. A successful two-point conversion would make the score 20-17. However, the Titans would respond as a Tannehill 32-yard pass to Robert Woods on play action put Tennessee back into Green Bay territory. It ended with Tannehill finding Austin Hooper in the endzone to make it 27-17. After the Packers went three and out on their drive, Tannehill gave it right back as he threw an interception to Rasul Douglas. Luckily enough, the Packers would not take advantage of the turnover, as their last two drives would end in turnovers to seal a Titans win. 

The Titans produced their best offensive performance so far this season, which is encouraging considering how poor their offense has been. The defense stood its ground, especially with the number of injuries that are currently on that side of the ball. Nevertheless, it was a great, hard-fought win that the Titans can look back on and continue moving forward.