I didn’t understand that line from the jump…thought it was a huge overreaction to the Green Bay Packers upsetting the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. “Make it make sense,” I wondered to myself earlier in the week. As it turns out, it didn’t make sense. The final score may say 27-17, but the Tennessee Titans pretty well dominated the Packers. Green Bay never had a lead in the game. 20-17 was the only time any doubt actually crept in my mind that the Titans would be able to seal this off. It was just a complete team win earned with some serious moxie. They were the more physical team, they punched the Packers in the mouth, and they could never recover from it.
Todd Downing, apparent head coaching candidate, called his ass off. Ryan Tannehill executed the offense better than we’ve seen it all season long. The defense was punishing. Of course, we had a little Derrick Henry magic too. The success the Titans found in this game, to me, was predicated on two decisions that Green Bay made. Namely, they routinely put six dudes or more at the line of scrimmage in an effort to stop Henry. But, that opened up a Packers secondary to vulnerabilities that Tannehill took advantage of. The Packers also chose to get the ball to their running backs in space to try and get around that Titans defensive front, but it didn’t work. The Titans defenders were great in pursuit and in tackling on those plays, and the Packers just kind of sort of gave up running the ball. They gave the Titans their best punch, and the Titans just took it and swung back 10 times harder. It was an incredible game to watch. This Titans team is simply going to line up and beat the shit out of you. Cactus Jack wins again.
Takeaways
- Henry is amazing. I mean, he really should at least be in the MVP conversation for what he means to this team. Not only has he surpassed the thousand-yard ten-touchdown milestone already for the season. But, he’s also become a weapon in the passing game, and by the way, he’s even throwing touchdowns. They ran a couple more direct snaps to Henry last night too. On that long 18-play drive, it felt like he just kept converting third downs every other play. It’s a special type of player that commands as much attention as he does. Defenses know what’s coming and they still can’t stop him. True greatness.
- The run defense continues to shine – last night, the Titans held the potent Packers ground game to just 56 yards and 2.9 yards per carry.
- It sucked to see Denico Autry go down with a knee injury after the campaign he’s had so far in 2022. Kristian Fulton wasn’t too far behind him. I know it’s “next man up” with this team, but man…you can’t help but wonder if the injury bug is eventually going to catch up with the Titans if they’re going to keep losing key players.
- Dennis Daley got his ass beat by Preston Smith. I don’t want to rail on the guy, but it took lining Geoff Swaim up next to him to combine forces to effectively block left. I have a feeling this team is going to be drafting a tackle high next spring.
- Elsewhere on the offensive line, I thought it was a scrappy performance from Aaron Brewer, who was starting at center for the injured Ben Jones. That decision really felt like Mike Vrabel and company doing what they could to get their best five out there on the offensive line. For the most part, they were able to make it work.
- At the risk of angering the Malik Willis bots this morning, I’m going to point out that the second Austin Hooper touchdown throw is an example of the exact type of throw that Willis was not hitting against the Chiefs. Whether it’s Willis doing what’s comfortable to him, or whether it’s Downing masking his deficiency (throwing the ball over the middle), I don’t know. But, Tannehill is comfortable in making those types of throws where it doesn’t appear Willis is yet. That means there are no limitations to what the Titans can run when Tannehill’s in the game. That simple. It doesn’t mean Willis can’t get there. It just means that Tannehill absolutely gives this team the best chance to win this season, something they are perfectly capable of doing.
- Solid growth for Chig Okonkwo, who they happened to target on the first play of the game after Vrabel talked about trying to get him more involved in the offense. The guy just makes plays with the ball in his hands. More please.
- It was also a career night for Treylon Burks, who looks like he’s starting to piece things together now that he’s back and healthy. I think he’s going to be the subject of my next film study piece. The separation ability that we talked about this receiving corps lacking appears on the surface to be there in spades with Burks.
- I was impressed by how well Tre Avery played coming in for Fulton in a pinch. Rodgers targeted him several times once he realized he was in the game, but Avery held his water.
- I’ve been a big fan of Roger McCreary this season, but man he seemed to struggle against size going up against Allen Lazard on a couple of different occasions.
- If the Titans get healthy and continue to evolve the way they have in recent weeks, they absolutely can make a run at a Super Bowl.
- I don’t know what was going on between Burks and Jaire Alexander, but I absolutely love the energy here. That’s that fire this team played with all night.
— The Unofficial Titans Podcast (@TitansPod) November 18, 2022
Game Balls
- Ryan Tannehill – Tannehill was absolutely dealing. That may have been one of his best games as a Titan. He went 22/27 for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He was accurate. He was confident. He had the bad pick, but
- Derrick Henry – Henry continues to be a modern marvel. The rushing yardage, throwing a touchdown, he even had a 42-yard reception in the game. It’s amazing.
- David Long, Jr. – Nine tackles, three of those for a loss, Long continues to play with a lot of heart and toughness. He’s as gritty as they come and was flying around the field all over the place yet again last night.
- Jeffery Simmons – I know Simmons was relatively quiet all night, but he showed up in grand fashion when the team needed him to quell any hope the Packers offense had. He had a critical sack on Rodgers and then ate up three offensive linemen, which allowed the linebackers to get home and prevent a conversion on 4th down. Pay the man.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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