Packers-Titans Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Packers must force Collins to beat themThis is a matchup between two teams that are expecting to make it far this season. The Packers are sitting at 4-3 right now, but a lot of that has to do with injuries to their secondary, and that should not affect them this week versus the Titans' offense. Green Bay is better than its record and is more than capable of going on a winning streak. Tennessee proved us wrong last week. We picked the Titans to win but questioned their ability to score points. Even though it is not pretty some of the time, they find ways to create offense. Tennessee is coming off an emotional divisional win versus the Colts. Couple that with a short week and an out-of-conference opponent, and this one might be a little closer than people think.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
GNB	6-10	419	380	4-4	2-6	4-2	5-7
TEN	13-3	375	234	7-1	6-2	4-2	9-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 64.7 4434 30 7 Flynn 58.3 58 0 1

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Young 58.7 1879 10 7 Collin... 55.1 1225 6 8

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 282 1253 4.4 11 Rodger... 58 316 5.4 5

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 358 2006 5.6 14 Young 55 281 5.1 2

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jennin... 68 1113 16.4 4 Driver 70 1061 15.2 6

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 42 701 16.7 3 Washin... 47 569 12.1 6

Full Player Stats: Green Bay | Tennessee

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	GNB	351.0
	TEN	314.0
Yards Passing	GNB	238.3
	TEN	176.2
Yards Rushing	GNB	112.8
	TEN	137.4
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	GNB	334.3
	TEN	293.6
Pass Yds Allowed	GNB	202.8
	TEN	199.8
Rush Yds Allowed	GNB	131.6
	TEN	93.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Tennessee leads 3-0
Oct 11, 2004	GNB 27, @TEN 48
Dec 16, 2001	GNB 20, TEN 26

Kerry Collins has been asked to pass frequently in prior matchups with the Green Bay Packers. He isn't likely to have to carry that much of a burden this time.

The Titans, who continue to get efficient play from Collins, look to remain the NFL's last unbeaten team when they face the Packers on Sunday.

Tennessee (7-0) has been winning with dominating defense, a strong running game and sound decision-making from Collins. The veteran is averaging 28.0 passes in his six starts, completing 58.2 percent of them with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He's gone five straight games without being sacked, and has been sacked once in 170 attempts on the season.

Collins, though, was asked to throw the ball more than usual Monday night against AFC rival Indianapolis, and went 24-for-37 with 193 yards and no interceptions in a 31-21 Titans win. He needed to put the ball in the air with the Colts using four linebackers to slow a Tennessee ground game that set a franchise record with 332 yards rushing against Kansas City the previous week.

"We can't be happy," Collins said. "We've got to put this game behind us and focus on the next game. I think that's what allowed us to put this streak together is the fact that regardless of what happened the week before, we are able to put it behind us and move on to the next opponent."

That performance, however, was still a far cry from what was required from Collins in his last two games against Green Bay (4-3). He set a career high with 59 pass attempts -- which he has since matched -- for the New York Giants in a 34-25 loss Jan. 6, 2002, and put the ball in the air 53 times for Carolina in a 37-30 defeat Sept. 27, 1998.

Those were two of the three highest pass-attempt totals of Collins' career, but he might not come close to approaching that in this contest with the Packers struggling to stop the run.

Green Bay is allowing 141.9 yards per game on the ground. The Titans, meanwhile, have averaged 145.0 rushing yards a contest.

The running back combination of Chris Johnson (626 yards, four touchdowns) and LenDale White (327 yards, 10 TDs) has helped Tennessee score 30 or more points in four of its last five games, its best stretch since scoring at least 30 in five straight early in 2003.

The outstanding rushing attack has complemented the NFL's best scoring defense. Tennessee has allowed 87 points, 23 fewer than Pittsburgh and Baltimore (110).

"Each week every team gets an opportunity to go out and play. We've had seven opportunities and won each of our games," Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "No one expects us to have an undefeated season, and that's great, but we know every time we step on that field we have a shot to beat anyone we play."

The Titans, though, will be facing a Packers team that has averaged 27.7 points per game, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is healthier after a bye week. Rodgers got a chance to rest after gutting out three straight games with a sprained right shoulder.

Rodgers did manage to play well during that span, completing 70.5 percent of his passes for 707 yards and six TDs with one INT. He completed 75.0 percent (21-for-28) of his attempts for 186 yards and a TD in a 34-14 victory over the Colts on Oct. 19, as Green Bay moved into a tie with Chicago atop the NFC North.

The bye also gave the Packers defense a chance to get healthier. Cornerback Al Harris (spleen) and safety Atari Bigby (hamstring) appear ready to return from injuries.

Harris, coming off his first Pro Bowl last season, was injured in the Packers' Sept. 21 loss to Dallas, and initially there was concern that he might be out for the season.

Bigby's hamstring injury has been overshadowed by Harris' absence, but the safety's physical presence was an important part of the Packers' success last season. Bigby has missed five games.

"Obviously I think every team in the league has to deal with injuries," Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "How you weather that, in a lot of ways, factors into the success of your season. Now, we obviously had a little skid there. Didn't handle it the way we would have liked to. There's a number of variables for that. But that's in the past. We've got a two-game winning streak here, and we want to make it three."

This will be first meeting between the Packers and Titans since Oct. 11, 2004, when Tennessee won 48-27 at Green Bay.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Pasquarelli: Practice-squad player contributing to Colts' cause

Taj Smith won't suit up for Super Bowl XLIV, but he's played an important role in the Colts' defensive preparations, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Joyner: All-Pro selections determine HOF

OK, so Jerry Rice? Slam dunk to make Canton. But if you want a barometer for guys getting robbed and such, well, it's quite simple: If a person has six consensus All-Pro selections in their career, they're likely going to make it. Let K.C. Joyner explain.

S Atari Bigby isn't back yet, but he's ready to go

Atari Bigby says he feels great, and that's saying something, considering how the Green Bay Packers' strong safety limped through the 2008 season.

Packers Daily Briefing 06.01.09

Jun. 1, 2009 6:00 a.m. Good morning. Here is your PDB for Monday, June 1, 2009. It contains all the links, info, analysis and occasional humor you'll need to start your day.

Tauscher's replacement will be green

The Green Bay Packers won't anoint a new starting right tackle until August, but they'll go to training camp with a pretty good idea about the identity of Mark Tauscher's successor.

Rodgers looks to expand leadership

Aaron Rodgers' strong 2008 season has him operating the 2009 Packers offense with confidence - much more so than last year at this time.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.