Green Bay Packers v. Titans: 3 Key X-Factors in Heavyweight Matchup

Red Zone Defenses

This week’s matchup is between the two best red zone offenses in the NFL. Green Bay has scored a red zone touchdown on 78.4 percent of their trips this season, which is the highest rate in the league. Meanwhile, the Tennesse offense ranks second, coming away with a red zone touchdown 75.4 percent of the time.

So whichever red zone defense can come up with the stop could very well end up being the winner.

The good news for the Packers is that they have a distinct advantage in this area. Green Bay’s red zone defense is ranked 15th this season, and Tennesse comes in at 30th. Whether it’s on the ground or through the air, the Titans give up a lot of yards, and they don’t generate much pressure either. In fact, their 14 sacks are the fewest in football, and to make matters more difficult for them, Aaron Rodgers has been lights out in the “Gold Zone.”

Green Bay is coming off what I believe was their best all-around defensive performance of the season against Carolina. They held the Panthers to just one touchdown on five red zone trips while coming away with a turnover, and they were also able to get off the field on third downs. Overall, the run defense is trending in the right direction, Krys Barnes was very good at linebacker, and the secondary has been solid as well in recent weeks.

As I just mentioned, the Packers have the advantage, but as we know, the Titans are a different animal compared to the offenses that they’ve faced recently.