The Green Bay Packers head to Nissan Stadium for a week 3 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are looking for their first win of the season while the Packers look to improve to 2-1.
The big question of course remains who will we see under center for Green Bay? Will it be a Malik Willis revenge game against the team he was on just a few weeks ago? Or does Jordan Love return after missing only one week with a sprained MCL he suffered in the Week 1 loss in Brazil? Love did return to practice this week in a (I’m sure you heard) limited fashion. It sounds like we won’t know who is starting until right before kickoff.
Aside from the QB question marks, here are 3 things to watch in the Week 3 matchup in Nashville:
Can Josh Jacobs Do It Again?
Last week in the first game at Lambeau Field we witnessed a true workhorse performance from RB1 Josh Jacobs. With Malik Willis making his first start in place of the injured Jordan Love, the offense leaned heavily on the run game. Jacobs finished with 32 carries for 151 yards. The ball was in his hands early and often, wearing down the Colts defense.
Regardless of who starts at quarterback, I would expect more of the same this week in Nashville. However, it could prove to be a little more difficult against this Titans defense, who gives up less than 100 rushing yards per game this season. According to Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons: “Nobody runs the ball on the Tennessee Titans”.
Comments like this don’t tend to age so well for Packers’ opponents. I guess we’ll see tomorrow.
Rashan Gary Breakout Loading?
For the first two weeks, the Packers defense has had to focus on containing two very mobile, run heavy quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson. This has put a large focus for the defensive front on containment and holding the edge. It has kept Rashan Gary and the rest of the D-Line honest and slightly less aggressive.
Now, Will Levis is not just a stand still pocket-passer but he isn’t Hurts or Richardson. He’s a big, athletic quarterback, but the Titans don’t utilize him in the run game the same way the Eagles or Colts do with their QBs. Gary and the rest of the defense will have to get after Levis and make sure they finish the job when they do get home.
Rashan Gary will line up across from Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, who has had a rough start to his 2024 campaign. Last week Petit-Frere allowed 13 total pressures and the Titans as a whole rank at the very bottom of the NFL in pass-blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus. Music to Jeff Hafley’s ears. Expect an aggressive defense, looking to force Levis into mistakes and turnovers.
Let LaFleur Cook
Matt LaFleur put together a masterpiece in last week’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. He orchestrated a game plan that allowed the Packers to completely dominate the first half. After 2 quarters, the Packers held a significant advantage in total yards (262-80) and time of possession (23:05 to 6:55). This was largely due to the success and uniqueness of the run game deployed by LaFleur and his OC Adam Stenavich. It was clear the game plan was to set up Malik Willis for nothing but success. Dominate the trenches, control the clock with a stout run game and design plays for Malik to find the open receiver when necessary.
Whether it’s Willis again or Love returns, I would expect a similar game plan from LaFleur and Co. It will be important to control the clock, and set the tone in the trenches. Feed Jacobs in the run game early and often and set up a big splash play or two with play action. The Packers seem to have endless weapons on the offensive side of the ball which allows Matt LaFleur to really get creative when he needs to. And with having a QB making his second start or having a QB coming off a knee injury, he will need to do just that against a strong Titans defense.
Prediction: Packers 24, Titans 13
Whether it’s Love or Willis, I believe the Packers have the talent, the coaching and the energy to leave Nissan Stadium with a W. The offense proved last week that they can win in more than one way and the defense should be able to get after the quarterback and continue to force turnovers. If the offense can capitalize on those turnovers, I expect the Packers to move to 2-1.
