Titans-Packers Game Notes: Week 9

The Titans philosophy of bend but don’t break was in full swing today, as they were able to stop a mounted Packers attack that was hungry for blood, fresh off a bye week. These are the kind of victories that Titans fans have become accustomed to: heart-pounding, nail-biting, grind-em’-out wins. Whooo, was that close…

• The numbers were about right for a Titans’ victory (169 yards in the air and 178 on the ground), but those yards didn’t lead to many points scored in this affair. “Twitch” scored the only Titans touchdown, and really, they didn’t get very close outside of that one scoring drive (4 plays, 74 yards in just over a minute at the end of the second quarter). What it was though, was a great answer to Green Bay’s only touchdown, and a drive that turned the momentum back Tennessee’s way going into the half. That, in itself, was quite impressive.
• Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers, did his best to justify his contract extension (22/41 for 314 yards and a touchdown), but he completed just over 50% of his passes, and really looked uncomfortable all day. The superstar tandem of Donald Driver (7 catches for 136 and a touchdown) Greg Jennings (3 catches for 79 yards) got theirs, but outside of Driver’s touchdown, those yards all went for naught. If Green Bay thought that they could get into a field goal battle, they must have forgotten that All-Pro Rob Bironas was on the other end of that fight.
• Linebacker Stephen Tulloch has been quite a treat since taking over the starting job in Week 4. After a huge Monday night last week (albeit a little rough in pass coverage), Tulloch was yet again all over the field making plays on Sunday, as he lead the team in tackles in this one (as well as making a fumble recovery). This kid is going to be a star in this league, and if the Titans front office has their heads on right, it will be manning the middle of this linebacking core for years to come.
• Speaking of stud linebackers, it was weird to see the face of the franchise, Mr. Keith Bulluck, leave the field in the second quarter. Word is that he damaged some rib cartilage, but good thing for him (and us) that he was able to come back and finish the game. Let’s just hope that a little rest is all he needs.
• It’s not going to create much of a buzz in fantasy terms, but the Titans’ wideouts were again quite effective in helping the Tennessee offense move the ball. Justin McCareins finished the day with three catches for 42 yards, and Brandon Jones grabbed four balls for 36 yards, including a great one-handed catch that put the Titans in position to win the game at the end of the forth quarter. They don’t blow up the box scores, but they have helped move the chains when we’ve needed them the most. Still though, where is Justin Gage?
• Seeing DE Kyle Vanden Bosch leave the field early again was a bit disheartening. I know that he wants to be 100 percent when he’s out there (because that’s the only way he knows how to play), but we could really use his presence. Even at less that 100 percent…
• Chris Johnson is one bad dude. Who’s getting the “Twitch” for Rookie of the Year website started?

All in all, a win is a win. This was closer to the type of game that this team is accustomed to winning. Beating a good Green Bay team is impressive, no matter how it gets done. They probably won’t win a lot of points with critics who say that the Titans have yet to prove themselves, but it seems as if this team wants to keep it that way. They want to have to prove themselves. They want to keep defying their critics. Next week’s game in Chicago is a big test for this franchise. If they win, it will almost assuredly put the Titans in the playoffs. It will be cold, and loud, in New Soldier Field. Let’s just hope they are up to the test. I’m sure they will be…