Official Week 16 Green Bay vs Tennessee Thread

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The Packers host the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field in the final home game of the regular season.
  • It is the second-ever prime-time game for Green Bay against the Titans (Monday Night Football in 2004).
  • Tennessee last played in Green Bay in 2012, a 55-7 victory by the Packers.
  • This will be the 13th meeting between the two clubs. Tennessee leads the series, 7-5, but the Packers have won two of the last three matchups played in Green Bay.
  • It is the first time the Packers have played against an AFC team with 10-plus wins at Lambeau since the 10-5 Denver Broncos visited Green Bay in the 2003 finale.
  • This will be the first matchup of double-digit-win teams at Lambeau since 2015 when the Packers and Vikings met in Week 17 with both teams holding 10-5 records.
  • Green Bay has won 16 of the last 19 games it has played against an AFC team at Lambeau Field.
GREEN BAY UNDER THE LIGHTS
  • This will be the sixth prime-time game for the Packers this season. Green Bay has won the previous five and joins Kansas City (5-0) as the only teams to play multiple night games and be undefeated this year.
  • The Packers have averaged 33.2 points per game in night games this season, No. 1 in the NFL among teams that have played multiple prime-time games this season.
  • Green Bay has averaged a point differential of plus-12.4 per prime-time game this season, No. 1 in the NFL among teams that have played multiple night games (Kansas City is No. 2 with plus-10.8 in five games).
  • QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown 16 touchdowns (No. 1 in the NFL), zero interceptions and a passer rating of 132.7 (No. 1 in the NFL, min. 25 pass att.) in prime-time games this season.
  • TE Robert Tonyan has posted six receiving TDs in primetime contests this season, No. 1 in the NFL. Dating back to 2000, his six receiving TDs are the most by a Packer player in prime-time contests since WR Davante Adams posted seven receiving TDs in six prime-time games in 2016.


STACKING WINS
  • Green Bay won the NFC North for the second consecutive season, the 25th division title in team history.
  • This will be the 34th playoff appearance for the Packers, the most in NFL history (Dallas, 33).
  • The Packers have won 11 NFC North titles (Chicago and Minnesota have each won four).
  • Head Coach Matt LaFleur has 24 victories, tied for the third most in NFL history by a coach in his first two seasons, trailing only George Seifert (28) and Steve Mariucci (25).
  • LaFleur is the sixth head coach in NFL history to win 24 of his first 30 games (George Seifert, 27; Guy Chamberlin, 26; Paul Brown, 25; George Halas and Steve Mariucci, 24), according to the Elias Sports Bereau.
  • It is the second straight season that Green Bay has gotten off to a 11-3 start, just the second time since the 1970 merger that Green Bay has won at least 11 of its first 14 games in back-to-back seasons (1996-97).
  • Green Bay is the only team in the NFL to win 11 of its first 14 games in both 2019 and 2020.
  • The Packers have won 16 of their last 19 regular-season games.
WITH THE CALL
The game will across the country on NBC. Play-by-play man Al Michaels joins analyst Cris Collinsworth with Michele Tafoya reporting from the sidelines.
  • Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since November 1929, heads up the Packers Radio Network that is made up of 50 stations in four states. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) and three-time Packers Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro John Kuhn (sideline) will call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 25th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 22nd season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
  • The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio (WTMJ feed), WTMJ.com via desktop computer and on numerous devices through NFL Game Pass.
  • Westwood One Sports will air the game on radio across the country. Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Ben Leber (analyst) will call the action with Scott Graham hosting the pregame and halftime shows.


THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Titans:
  • Regular season, all-time: 5-7-0
  • All-time, Postseason: 0-0
  • All-time, at home: 2-4-0 (2-4-0 at Lambeau Field)
  • Streaks: The Titans have won four of the last five regular-season meetings
  • Last meeting, regular season: Nov. 13, 2016, Nissan Stadium, Titans won, 47-25
COACHES CAPSULES

  • Matt LaFleur: 24-6-0, .800; (1-1 postseason); 2nd NFL season
  • Mike Vrabel: 27-18-0, .609 (2-1 postseason); 3rd NFL season
  • Head to Head: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Vrabel
  • vs. Opponent: LaFleur 0-0 vs. Panthers; Vrabel 0-0 vs. Packers
MATT LaFLEUR…In his second season as the Packers' 15th head coach.
  • In his 12th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
  • In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, because the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
  • Became only the fifth coach in NFL history to win 13-plus regular-season games in his first season as a head coach (Jim Caldwell, George Seifert, Jim Harbaugh, Steve Mariucci).
  • Guided the Titans' offense in 2018 to a No. 7 league ranking in rushing (126.4 ypg) as Tennessee registered 11 games with 100-plus rushing yards, tied for No. 2 in the NFL.
  • Helped the Rams lead the league in scoring with an average of 29.9 points per game in 2017, more than doubling their average from 2016 (14.0 ppg).
  • Tutored QB Matt Ryan, who led the league in passer rating (117.1) in 2016 on his way to being named NFL Most Valuable Player by The Associated Press, and QB Robert Griffin III, who became the first QB in Washington franchise history to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012.
Mike Vrabel…In his third season as the Titans' 19th head coach.
  • Directed the Titans to a 20-15 record in his first two seasons as head coach, the second-highest win total in franchise history for a head coach's first two seasons (Jack Pardee, 21 wins, 1990-91).
  • Led Tennessee to a birth in the 2019 AFC championship game, becoming the first head coach in franchise history to win multiple playoff games within the first two seasons.
  • Arrived in Tennessee with 18 years of NFL experience, including four seasons as a coach and 14 seasons as a player, as well as three years of collegiate coaching experience.
  • As a player, won three Super Bowls (2001, 2003, 2004), one Pro Bowl selection (2007) and an All-Pro honor (2007) while playing for three teams (Pittsburgh, 1997-00; New England, 2001-08; Kansas City, 2009-10).

THE PACKERS-TITANS SERIES
  • The teams split the six matchups from 1972-92 when the Titans were the Houston Oilers.
  • The Packers won the first matchup of the series (Dec. 13, 1998) after Houston relocated to become the Tennessee Oilers.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur served as the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2018 before departing for Green Bay…Titans T Marshall Newhouse was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Packers and played for the team from 2010-13…Packers LB Oren Burks played collegiately at Vanderbilt from 2013-17…Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray's first NFL coaching job was as a quality control coach for the Tennessee Oilers from 1997-98. Gray went on to serve as the Titans' defensive backs coach from 1999-2000 and later served as the team's defensive coordinator from 2011-13...Packers special teams quality control coach Rayna Stewart played cornerback for the Houston/Tennessee Oilers during the 1996-97 seasons and later served as a defensive quality control coach for the Titans from 2009-11. Stewart also held multiple roles at Vanderbilt from 2015-18 and worked at numerous high schools in Tennessee, including Whites Creek High School (2013-14), Battle Ground Academy (2011-12) and Centennial High School (2001-04). He also received his master's degree from Tennessee State…Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga held the same position at Vanderbilt in 2018…Titans strength and conditioning assistant Mondray Gee held the same role for the Packers from 2008-09...Members of the Packers roster with Tennessee ties include S Will Redmond (East High School in Memphis), LS Hunter Bradley (Collierville High School) and G Lucas Patrick (Brentwood High School)…Packers offensive quality control coach Kevin Koger coached at the University of Tennessee in 2015…Packers offensive quality control coach Connor Lewis worked in Vanderbilt's football office from 2012-14…Mennenga and Lewis both crossed paths with Titans FB Khari Blasingame while he played for Vanderbilt from 2014-18…Packers inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti served as Titans LB Will Compton's position coach for the Washington Football Team during the 2014-17 seasons. Compton also crossed paths with LaFleur (2013) and Packers LB Preston Smith (2015-17) while in Washington…Titans inside linebackers coach Jim Haslett served as the defensive coordinator for the Washington Football Team from 2010-13 when LaFleur (2010-13) and Olivadotti (2010, 2014) coached for the team…Packers quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy served as Titans WR Corey Davis' wide receivers coach at Western Michigan in 2013…Packers G/T Billy Turner (2014-16) played with Titans QB Ryan Tannehill (2012-18) and G Jamil Douglas (2015-16) for the Dolphins…Titans CB Chris Milton (16-17) and LS Matt Overton (16) both played for the Colts when Packers special teams assistant Maurice Drayton held the same position for Indianapolis during the 2016-17 seasons…Overton played for the Jaguars in 2017 when Packers TE Marcedes Lewis and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett were with the team…Packers S Adrian Amos and Titans TE MyCole Pruitt briefly played together for the Bears during the 2016 season…Titans secondary coach Anthony Midget coached safeties at Penn State in 2013 when Amos was on campus…Titans G Rodger Saffold played for the Rams from 2010-18, during which time he crossed paths with Packers WR Tavon Austin (2013-17), LaFleur (2017) and Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans (2012-15)…Austin and Sirmans also spent time with Titans LB Darren Bates (2013-15) while in St. Louis…Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and Titans TE Geoff Swaim both attended Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, Calif., and began their collegiate careers at Butte Community College…Austin and Swaim both played for the Cowboys during the 2018 season…Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was a defensive assistant/quality control coach for the Washington Football Team in 2007-08 when Gray coached the team's secondary…Titans offensive line coach Keith Carter held multiple positions on the Falcon's offensive coaching from 2015-17 staff when LaFleur (2015-16) and Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten (2016-17) were with the team…LaFleur and Titans running backs coach Tony Dews both coached at Central Michigan during the 2004-05 seasons…Titans tight ends coach Todd Downing and wide receivers coach Rob Moore both coached for the Bills in 2014 when Hackett was the team's offensive coordinator and Packers wide receivers coach Jason Vrable was an offensive quality control coach…Moore held the same position at Syracuse when Hackett was on the offensive staff from 2010-13…Gray and Titans assistant offensive line coach Mike Sullivan both played for the Buccaneers in 1993…Titans safeties coach Scott Booker coached at Notre Dame from 2010-16, during which time LaFleur (2014) and Packers WR Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17) were with the program…Former college teammates include: Packers P JK Scott and Titans LB Rashaan Evans and RB Derrick Henry (Alabama); Packers RB AJ Dillon and Titans LB Harold Landry III (Boston College); Packers G Simon Stepaniak and Titans WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Indiana); Packers CB Josh Jackson and Titans DB Amani Hooker and CB Desmond King (Iowa); Packers LS Hunter Bradley, G Elgton Jenkins and Titans DT Jeffery Simmons (Mississippi State); Amos and Titans DL Jack Crawford and DL DaQuan Jones (Penn State); Packers CB Ka'Dar Hollman and Titans QB Logan Woodside (Toldeo); LB Krys Barnes, DL Kenny Clark and Titans DE Matt Dickerson (UCLA); Burks and Blasingame (Vanderbilt).
 
I think the Packers run D is going to have cleat marks on their backs as Henry runs them over. Rodgers will need to be fire again this game and throw like 4 TDs to keep the Packers in it. I am going to say that Henry has a 200+ yard 3 TD game for TN. Packers lose a close one 34-31.
 
Not a must-win but a statement game for the Packers. They're 1-2 against teams over .500. They win they're 2-2 which is a whole lot more tolerable than 1-3. Also, a Packers win and Seahawks loss means a playoff bye. Hope Pack isn't looking ahead to the Bears and considering this game unimportant since a win against the Bears guarantees the bye even with a Titans loss.
 
I have had a negative attitude about this game for weeks. But I am choosing to have some optimism. I can't see them overlooking this game due to all the talk about Henry and how poorly the defense plays against the run. I'm hoping they want to prove something to themselves and play disciplined football. I'm not saying that they are going to win, but I think/hope they put up a good fight.
 
I have had a negative attitude about this game for weeks. But I am choosing to have some optimism. I can't see them overlooking this game due to all the talk about Henry and how poorly the defense plays against the run. I'm hoping they want to prove something to themselves and play disciplined football. I'm not saying that they are going to win, but I think/hope they put up a good fight.
Henry has been running through most defenses this season, and Tannehill has been playing well in the second half of the season; But they have one of the worst pass defenses in the league, and their rush defense is middle of the pack (just like GB). I think we can move the ball against them as well, or better than they can against us - I certainly don't think they will come in here and dominate us. It's gonna be chilly Sunday night, and maybe that gives us the edge we need.
 
Hope Pack isn't looking ahead to the Bears and considering this game unimportant since a win against the Bears guarantees the bye even with a Titans loss.
it would certainly be easy to do. you know it's going to be in the back of their minds at least. "oh well, if we don't win this one, we'll still have another chance if we just beat the bears". but that's just stinkin' thinkin'.
 
it would certainly be easy to do. you know it's going to be in the back of their minds at least. "oh well, if we don't win this one, we'll still have another chance if we just beat the bears". but that's just stinkin' thinkin'.
After the clunker the Packers had vs the Panthers they team better come fired up not to lay a egg again because they won't beat TN if they play like they did vs Carolina.
 
Derrick Henry is on track to lead the NFL in rushing for the second straight year. The Packers have improved to 11th in rushing D (from 23rd last year), but their yards per carry allowed hasn't improved a ton over last year. "I hope we've come far (since last year)," Matt LaFleur said, "but we'll find out on Sunday."

So pretty much the Packers offense has gotten early and big enough leads that the other teams have been forced to give up the run and go to the pass to try to get back into games thus resulting in less rushing yards against them but since the YPC they give up is the same it shows this run D is not any better.
 
After the clunker the Packers had vs the Panthers they team better come fired up not to lay a egg again because they won't beat TN if they play like they did vs Carolina.
i don't consider a 24-16 win a clunker. a clunker is a game like losing to the bucs 38-10. or the rams losing to the jets. or the bucs losing to the saints 38-3. common thread: it has to be a loss to be a "clunker".

i'll admit that the offense vanished midway through the second quarter. but the defense only gave up one touchdown. the game was never really that close. but we as packers fans tend to get pretty stressed if we don't have a 21 point lead. i'm firmly convinced that if the packers were to win the superbowl by two points, there would be some packers fans complaining that it wasn't good enough, and maybe even a few who would say we sucked and we just got lucky.
 
If I survive a 2 point Superbowl victory, I'll be glad to tell you you're correct.

We need this one. The Bears are not the Bears we faced earlier. They are going to be very tough to beat. If we lose this week, I think we lose next week.

Again, this is must win
 
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