The
Tennessee Titans visit Green Bay on Sunday in a game that, on paper,
could be a contender for yawner of the weekend. The Titans (5-9)
were eliminated from playoff contention long ago and with injuries
wiping out what seems like half the team, the end of the season
can't come fast enough. The Packers (10-4) have already clinched the
NFC North title and at least one home playoff game, and their
chances of moving up to the No. 2 seed are in someone else's hands.
There's not
even a nasty rivalry to spice things up, with this the first game
between the teams since 2008.
Say any of
this to the Titans or Packers, however, and, well, consider yourself
warned.
"There's
always something to play for in this league. Let's not lose sight of
that," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's a privilege
to play in the National Football League, it's a privilege to play
games here at Lambeau Field. I don't like that notion that you're
not really playing for anything."
Clearly, the
Packers have more incentive Sunday. While they need Seattle to beat
San Francisco on Sunday night to have a shot at the NFC's No. 2
seed, a Seahawks victory would mean little if the Packers don't win
their last two games. They also don't want to lose their grip on the
No. 3 seed they currently have.
But
maintaining momentum is just as big a concern. The Packers rested
some of their veterans after locking up the No. 1 seed last season,
only to get bounced out of the playoffs in their first game. While
McCarthy and his players still defend that strategy, the
circumstances this year are different. After a slow start — they
began 2-3 — and more injuries than they care to count, the Packers
are looking increasingly dangerous with each week.
They've won
eight of nine, second only to Denver over that span, and three
straight. They've allowed more than 20 points only once since
mid-October, and have shown the makings of a serviceable run game
the last few weeks. They're getting healthy at just the right time,
too. Greg Jennings and Clay Matthews are already back, and Charles
Woodson and Jordy Nelson might not be far behind.
"I think
we learned last year you've got to be playing the right way at the
end of the season," Aaron Rodgers said. "Hopefully we can
keep the momentum going that we started and keep it rolling."
Added
McCarthy, "We're going to play the whole way through."
The Titans
have the same attitude, even if their circumstances are vastly
different.
This season
has been a bitter disappointment in Tennessee, with injuries ruining
any chance they had of improving on last year's 9-7 finish. Fifteen
players are on injured reserve, including all but one starter on the
offensive line.
Jake Locker
has worked with four — count 'em, four — different centers, and
he may as well put the o-line depth chart on his wrist band instead
of plays there's so little continuity. This week, Fernando Velasco
is working at both center and left guard in practice while Titans
coaches also look at Mitch Petrus at left guard and Kyle DeVan at
center.
Got that?
Good, fill Locker in.
"We do
have the name plates on the back of the jerseys," joked Locker,
who missed five games himself with a dislocated non-throwing
shoulder. "No, most of the guys that we're getting in here are
guys - some of them we had during camp and maybe let go when we cut
the roster down and now they're coming back, (and) we've had a few
new guys. I'm getting comfortable with the new guys really quick.
They've done a great job of picking up what we're doing, picking up
our system and having confidence in it."
Kendall
Wright, Tennessee's leading receiver, also is questionable for
Sunday's game with a rib injury.
The defense
hasn't been spared, either. Titans captain and middle linebacker
Colin McCarthy hoping to play Sunday for the first time since
suffering a concussion Nov. 25.
"It's
difficult, but you learn a lot about your team and the guys on your
team," Locker said. "It's real easy, I think, to cash it
in and say, 'I don't want get hurt' or whatever. There's a bunch of
different reasons to shut it down and say, 'You know what? I'll come
back next year ready to go.' I don't feel like this team has done
that at all. That's something that I'm very proud of and happy to be
a part of."
The Titans
snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the Jets on
Monday night, and their defense has become one of the NFL's
nastiest. Since Nov. 11, they lead the NFL in sacks per game (3.4),
and are second in interceptions (10) and total defense (286 yards).
And for all
those folks who have dissed Chris Johnson, saying he has too many
miles on him, he ripped off a 94-yard scoring run against the Jets,
a franchise record.
"Did you
watch the Monday Night Football game?" McCarthy said. "He
looks like he's running all right to me."
A blizzard
Thursday dumped several inches of snow on Green Bay, and the high
Sunday is only expected to be in the mid-20s. That's quite a change
for the Titans, who are used to temperatures nearly 30 degrees
higher.
Not that
they'll use that — or anything else — as an excuse. The Titans
and Packers may be finishing the season in different spots, but
their goals are still very much the same.
"Even
though the record may not be pretty," Titans safety Michael
Griffin said, "you still play this game to win football
games."
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