LIVE BLOG: Packers defeat Titans 40-14 at snowy Lambeau Field
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The snow is falling at Lambeau Field as the Green Bay Packers prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday Night Football.
The teams are expected to at least play in snow for the first half of the game. The First Alert weather team says snow is expected to fall throughout the evening, and taper off between 8 p.m. to midnight, with much of the northeast Wisconsin region set to receive anywhere between 2-5 inches of snow.
RELATED: FirstAlert Forecast
The Packers (11-3), are hoping to keep their first seed hopes alive in their final home game before traveling to Chicago next week.
RELATED: Packers gear up for shootout with Titans
The Titans, who are 10-4, are currently at the top of the AFC South, but have yet to clinch that division.
The teams almost met in the Super Bowl last year, but both fell during their conference title games.
The Packers have listed the following as inactive for Sunday’s game:
- Running back Jamaal Williams
- Tight end Jace Sternberger
- Safety Will Redmond
- Quarterback Jordan Love
- Offensive line backers Jonathan Garvin
- Guard Simon Stepaniak
- Defensive lineman Anthony Rush
Meanwhile, the Titans will be without:
- Running back Senorise Perry
- Corner back Kristian Fulton
- Corner back Kareem Orr
- Running back D’Onta Foreman
- Offensive line backer Derick Roberson
- Defensive lineman Larrell Murchison
Earlier this week, the team activated Center Corey Linsley, who missed the last three games due to a knee injury and had been on injured reserve.
The Packers have been preparing for one of the leagues’ best running backs, Derrick Henry, ahead of the game.
Henry, who has rushed for more than 1,500 years for the Titans and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry, will test the Packers’ run defense.
RELATED: Packers defense up for a challenge against the Titans
Sunday’s game is the second-ever prime-time game for the Packers against the Titans – the last time the rivals met in prime time was on Monday Night Football in 2004.
However, this will be the 13th meeting between the clubs overall. Coming into the game, the Titans lead the series 7-5, however the Packers have won two of the last three matchups played at Lambeau.
Speaking of prime-time, Sunday’s game will be the sixth prime-time game for the Packers this season. The Packers have won the previous five, and on average, have scored 33.2 points per game in night games this season.
However, this will be the first time the Packers have played against an AFC team with 10 or more wins at Lambeau since the 10-5 Denver Broncos visited Green Bay in 2003.
The game will also be the first matchup of double digit win teams at Lambeau since 2015, when the Packers hosted the 10-5 Vikings in Week 17.
The game is airing on NBC, and kickoff is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth will be calling the game, while Michele Tafoya reports.
During the coin toss, the Titans won the toss and deferred.
At kickoff, it was 28 degrees out, with a wind chill of 16 degrees thanks to breezy north winds.
That kick went out of bounds.
The Packers marched down the field and scored six on their first drive. However, Crosby’s extra point was no good, but the Packers got on the board first to make it a 6-0 game after a pass from Rodgers to Adams, putting Adams in third place (tied in that position) for most touchdowns for a receiver in a season for the team.
The Titans got to midfield on their first drive, but ended the drive with a punt instead of opting for a 50+ yard field goal.
The Packers held the 6-0 lead through the first quarter.
Shortly after the second quarter began, the Packers put another six on the board after Rodgers threw a 21 yard pass to Equanimeous St. Brown, his first career touchdown.
The Packers then attempted a 2 point conversion, and a run attempt from Aaron Jones fell short, leaving the score 12-0.
On the Titans’ next drive, a pass from Tannehill was intercepted by Darnell Savage, his fourth pick. Savage’s pick was helped by Rashan Gary, who hit Tannehill to help force the turnover.
Jones was hit on the first play on the Packers drive and limped to the sideline.
The drive ended with another touchdown for Green Bay - it was another pass from Rodgers to Adams. Crosby’s extra point was good this time, bringing the Packers to a 19-0 lead.
The Titans responded on their following drive with Tannehill being sacked on the first play for a loss of eight yards, an incomplete pass from Tannehill on 2nd and 18, and another sack on third down. Kirksey and Za’Darius Smith earned the sacks for the Packers.
Running back Aaron Jones re-entered the game late in the second quarter after being hit earlier in the game.
On the Packers drive, a field goal attempt by Crosby was blocked by the Titans, who recovered the ball and ran it back before being tackled by Packers punter J.K. Scott, but an offsides penalty was called on the Titans, giving the Packers another chance.
However, Rodgers was sacked on the third down attempt.
With less than a minute left in the half, the Titans got on the board following a touchdown pass from Tannehill to Jonnu Smith, and the extra point was good, bringing it to a 19-7 game.
The 19-7 score stayed through the second quarter. The Titans will receive the ball to start the second half.
At the start of the second half, the Titans marched down the field and scored a touchdown after Tannehill ran for 45 yards for six. The extra point made it a 19-14 game.
The Packers answered on their next possession with a 59-yard run by running back Aaron Jones to bring it to the Titans seven yard line, giving him a 1,000 yard season.
That set up the third Rodgers to Adams connection of the night to make it 26-14 after Crosby’s PAT.
Tennessee’s next drive ended in a punt after being dangerously ended by an interception by Darnell Savage.
During the Packers next drive, Rick Wagner limped out with an injury.
He was later ruled questionable to return due to a knee injury.
That drive ended with another touchdown, this time by A.J. Dillon on a 30-yard-run, followed by a PAT to make it 33-14.
The 33-14 score stood through the end of the 3rd quarter.
The start of the fourth quarter was full of turnovers, for both teams.
The Titans were picked off first, by Kirksey.
Then, Rodgers fumbled and recovered early in the beginning of the drive. He then threw an interception on the following play to Butler.
The Packers defense then made a big stop in the red zone on 4th and 4.
During the 4th quarter, the NFL announced next week’s game between the Packers and the Bears will be at 3:25 p.m. instead of noon.
Running back AJ Dillon went over a 100 yards, and receiver Davante Adams also went over 100 yards for the night during the Packers following drive. They were the only ones who handled the ball on the drive.
Dillon then ran into the end zone for another 6 points, followed by Crosby’s PAT to make it a 40-14 game.
The 40-14 score stood through the end of the game.
Check back for updates on all the highlights throughout the game from the Action 2 News Sports team.
As always, Action 2 News will have game analysis and postgame reaction at 10:35 on Cover 2.
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