An inability to stop the run cost the Green Bay Packers a Super Bowl berth this past January. Again bound for the NFC playoffs, they are about to find out how much they've improved in that area.
Derrick Henry should give them a pretty good indication.
The NFL rushing leader heads to Lambeau Field for a Sunday night game having run for a combined 362 yards his past two games and a career-high 1,679 yards this season. The Tennessee Titans star has rushed for at least 100 yards each of his past nine road games, one off the NFL record set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders with the Detroit Lions.
"They know each and every week everybody's going to come to try to stop the run, and nobody can do it," Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of the Titans, for whom he served as offensive coordinator in 2018 before taking over in Wisconsin.
Green Bay (11-3) already has clinched the NFC North Division title and can guarantee itself the conference's No. 1 seed if it beats the Titans and the Los Angeles Rams (9-5) beat or tie the Seattle Seahawks (10-4) in an NFC West battle.
Tennessee (10-4) can clinch a second straight AFC playoff berth with a victory at Green Bay. Tennessee also can earn a spot in the postseason with a loss by either the Baltimore Ravens or the Miami Dolphins. The Titans can clinch their first division title since 2008 if the Indianapolis Colts - their co-leaders atop the AFC South - lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon and Tennessee beats Green Bay.
"They're fighting for something," Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. "We're fighting for something. I just know it's going to be a playoff atmosphere."
AP photo by Mike Roemer / Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith celebrates after sacking Teddy Bridgewater during a Dec. 19 home game against the Carolina Panthers.Two of the most prolific scoring teams in the league right now will be involved. The Titans lead with 436 points and Green Bay is third with 434, sandwiching the reigning Super Bowl champions - the Kansas City Chiefs have scored 435 heading into Week 16.
The matchup also gives each team a chance to address perceived weaknesses.
Green Bay has improved its run defense since giving up 285 rushing yards in an NFC championship game loss to the San Francisco 49ers last season. In the Packers' three losses this year, though, they gave up 113 rushing yards to Ronald Jones of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 163 to Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings and 90 to Jonathan Taylor of the Colts.
Tennessee is on the verge of a playoff berth despite ranking 27th in the league in total defense and 29th in pass defense. That group must deal with a high-powered Green Bay offense featuring MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers at quarterback plus Pro Bowl selections Davante Adams at wide receiver and Aaron Jones at running back.
Rodgers has thrown 40 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. Adams has 14 touchdown catches to rank second in the league. Jones has rushed for at least 130 yards in two of his past three games.
"I think we're just going to have to do our best job to challenge these guys, try to be more physical than their entire offense and forcing turnovers," Titans safety Kevin Byard said. "I think that's probably going to be the biggest thing in this game. Obviously might not have a lot of opportunities to intercept the ball, but trying to punch the ball out, hammer it out, raking it out, those things.
"They're 10-0 when they don't turn the ball over, and they're 1-3 when they turn the ball over. I think that's going to be the biggest stat in the game."
The Titans and Packers have committed a league-low nine turnovers apiece, and Green Bay hasn't turned the ball over in its past four games. Although Tennessee's defense has struggled, the Titans have 21 takeaways and their plus-12 turnover margin is tied with Indianapolis for the NFL lead.