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RECAP: Tennessee Titans drop preseason opener against Packers

By Matias Wodner

GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 09: Darius Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Titans catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 9, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 09: Darius Jennings #15 of the Tennessee Titans catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Blake Martinez #50 of the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 9, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Titans lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-17 at Lambeau Field in Week 1 of the 2018 NFL Preseason.

Hoping to kick off his Tennessee Titans coaching career in style, Mike Vrabel will surely be disappointed with how his debut went, as the Two-Tone Blue fell 31-17 to the Green Bay Packers on the road.

Winning the toss and electing to receive the ball, the Titans marched right down the field with their first-team offense on the first drive of the game. Earning just three yards on the first two plays, the drive seemed futile, but a quick, accurate slant throw by QB Marcus Mariota to WR Nick Williams allowed the receiver to run after the catch for 38 yards. An eight-yard Derrick Henry run, seven-yard Mariota scramble and seven-yard Dion Lewis scamper to go along with an added penalty set the Titans up nicely. On 3rd and 4, Mariota found WR Darius Jennings on a short throw to cap off a nine-play, 71-yard drive.

Not to be outdone, the Packers offense quickly retaliated with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. New Titans CB Malcolm Butler was beaten deep for a 48-yard bomb by QB Brett Hundley to Pro Bowl WR Davante Adams. Butler was on Adams the whole way, but Hundley made a fantastic throw and Adams an even better catch. On 2nd and goal from the eight-yard line, Hundley swung a pass into the flat for RB Jamaal Williams, Williams shook Titans LB Jayon Brown and plunged into the end zone.

The Titans’ first-team offense and much of the defense rested after their initial drives. Penalties and stalled drives were the themes for most of the first half, though the Titans did get a field goal on a 13-play, 74-yard drive.

With a lot of players who aren’t going to make the team featuring in the second half, the Packers took advantage and steamrolled the Titans. The Titans’ first four drives of the second half resulted in a punt, lost fumble, punt and turnover on downs. The Packers, meanwhile, scored three touchdowns: A one-yard Joel Bouagnon run, a 15-yard Marquez Valdes-Scatling reception and a 52-yard Jake Kumerow catch.

On the final drive of the game, rookie QB Luke Falk took advantage of a 64-yard Akrum Wadley kick return to put more points on the board for the Titans. He hit TE Tim Semisch on a nine-yard strike to pull the Titans within two scores of the Packers. But Vrabel had seen enough and decided to kick the ball off instead of trying an onside kick with just under two minutes left to play.

The only injury of note was to S Dane Cruikshank, who fell on his left shoulder and was deemed questionable to return to the game, though he did not.

The Titans’ next game will be on Saturday, August 18 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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