Green Bay failed to gain ground on slumping Minnesota with a 31-26 home loss to Indianapolis last Sunday. Tennessee found many ways to lose in a 43-35 loss to San Diego last week.
The Packers have managed to score 58 points over the past 2 weeks though both games resulted in a loss. After a slow start, QB Aaron Rodgers is starting to find his groove. His receivers aren’t helping him very much as they have had an inability to separate (familiar refrain from 2015) with consistency and dropped passes. The Titans like to employ primarily zone coverage, a defense Rodgers should do well against. If Tennessee goes to more man-to-man coverage, will their defenders be able to hold up playing a defense they are unfamiliar with? The Titans pass defense was strong early in the year but they are now allowing 260 ypg through the air. With the Packers dealing with injury woes in their backfield, look for Rodgers to go to the air 40+ times again this week. The Titans have amassed 23 sacks on the year as they get a good push on the outside. However, Rodgers has very good scrambling ability and can make the Titans pay if they don’t contain him.
Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota threw for 3 TDs and added another on the ground last week but also fumbled once and 1 of his 2 picks was returned for a score. He has accounted for 19 TDs in 2016 but also committed 12 TOs. Green Bay has had issues in their secondary with injuries but face an offense that isn’t among the league leaders in passing yardage (235 ypg). TE Delanie Walker and WR Rishard Matthews lead the team with 33 catches each but it is Walker who remains Mariota’s favorite target. If Green Bay can keep him in check, their chances of containing the offense rise considerably. The Titans love to run the ball as evidenced by their 144 ypg on the ground. RB DeMarco Murray leads the AFC with 807 rushing yards but has to face the No.1-rated run defense of the Packers this week. Rookie RB Derrick Henry was injured (calf, questionable) last week so most of the burden of running the ball will fall on his shoulders. This will be the priority of DC Dom Capers defense this week: contain Murray and the ground game. OLB Clay Matthews may return this week and he would surely bolster the pass rush.
Public Money Consensus
This week,s matchup in the NFL of the Green Bay Packers in Tennessee Titans has the public clambering all over the Packers to cover this 2.5 point spread on the road with 85% confidence. On the over/under side the majority of the bettors are consistently of the opinion this game will go over the posted 49.5 point total at a whopping 96%.
