Tale of the tape

Week 16: Tennessee Titans At Green Bay Packers

Titans

Packers

The Titans are a struggling team that will often look good for a portion of the game but rarely play a strong 60-minute game. Jake Locker certainly has the tools to develop into a decent quarterback, but he is an inconsistent performer at this point in his career.	Quarterback	Why have the Packers clinched the NFC North once again? Because they have quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading the way. Rodgers can make plays whether he gets solid protection from his offensive line or not. He knows how to buy time with his feet and make plays on the run. Rodgers excels at putting the ball in a perfect position for his teammates to catch it while running in stride.
The Titans have a game-changing weapon when Chris Johnson gets out of the gates well and nets a big play or two early. However, when Johnson gets stopped early, he seems to lose interest. Nate Washington is a big-play receiver who has the quickness to get past defensive backs. Kenny Britt is one of the fastest wideouts in the league.	Offense	The Packers have had a slew of injuries this year, but that has not stopped them. They have had the resemblance of a running game the last two games and that has taken some of the pressure off of Rodgers. Alex Green is not a star, but he runs with effort and energy. James Jones is coming off a three-TD game against the Bears and he excels in the red zone.
The Titans have struggled badly on defense even though the talent level is not bad. Somehow, they rank 27th in yardage allowed. Strong safety Jordan Babineaux leads the team with 88 tackles, while outside linebacker Akeem Ayers has 85 tackles and has also registered four sacks.	Defense	They have been very competitive against the run and they rank 14th overall. The return of Clay Matthews makes the Packers a very dangerous team on the defensive side of the ball. He plays with speed and relentless anger and that allows him to get to the quarterback. Rookie cornerback Casey Heyward has proven to be a difference maker with six interceptions.
The Titans know that they are in a secure position with Rob Bironas at the placekicker position. He has made 24-of-29 FG attempts this season. Brett Kern has a big leg and he is averaging 48.9 yards per punt.	Special Teams	Mason Crosby has been a disaster for the Packers. He has missed at least one FG attempt in the last eight games. Head coach Mike McCarthy could make a move at that position so the Packers are in a more competitive position during the postseason. The Packers have shown a reckless tendency to attempt trick plays on special teams that could have cost them in Week 15 vs. the Bears.

The winner is

Packers

3 out of 4

The Packers are playing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a week off after the final regular-season game. The Packers should be able to dominate at home against an over matched opponent. Rodgers is capable of building a huge lead and leading the Packers to an easy win.

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