Titans lead Packers at half time of tightly-contested matchup
Published
The Tennessee Titans controlled the ball for most of the first half and hold a 14-6 lead over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thursday Night Football.
Derrick Henry was the leader for the Titans, as he accounted for 48 yards on 17 carries in the first half, and a touchdown. Ryan Tannehill added 127 yards on 14-of-18 passes completed and a touchdown.
For Green Bay, Rodgers threw for 74 yards on 8-of-11 passing with one touchdown. Rookie Christian Watson built on his three-touchdown breakout performance from last Sunday by adding a 14-yard touchdown catch in the first half.
Green Bay possessed the ball for the first time in the second quarter from their five-yard line, and went backwards before having to punt from their own one after three plays.
That punt gave the Titans great field position, and they slowly worked their way down field before capping off a nine-play drive with a four-yard touchdown run by Henry.
On their first possession of the second quarter, the Titans put together a slow, plodding drive that covered 61 yards in 19 plays but ended on a failed fourth-and-one conversion attempt when Henry was stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
Randall Cobb made his presence known in the Packers' second drive of the game, after missing the previous four contests due to an ankle injury. He caught a 24-yard pass down the middle and later recovered an Aaron Jones fumble to keep the drive alive for the Packers.
As the clock ticked its final seconds of the first quarter, Rodgers caught the Titans off guard by rushing to the line for one final play - which ended up being a 14-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson. A blocked extra point attempt resulted in a 7-6 lead for the Titans at the end of the first quarter.
The Packers followed Tennessee's strong opening possession with a quick three-and-out - including a missed short pass by Rodgers on third down.
Tennessee's opening possession featured a lot of Henry - four touches for 18 yards - but was highlighted by a deep pass from Tannehill to rookie WR Treylon Burks on third down, which went for 43 yards. The drive was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to running back Dontrell Hilliard.