Titans Beat Packers in Rain-Soaked, Sloppy Game; Aaron Rodgers Sits
With the heavy rains and wet playing conditions, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't want to take any risks at injuring his key players while the Tenneesee Titans rested their starting quarterback for all but two series.
Titans' running back Jackie Battle scored the would-be game winning touchdown with 5:02 left in a sloppy game that included five fumbles by the Packers (one lost) and one interception and fumble by the Titans.
McCarthy has said that he doesn't want to show the Seattle Seahawks much of a preview of how the 2014-2015 Packers will look this season. Seattle and Green Bay will face-off in the NFL season-opener on Thursday Sept. 4 on national television.
With constant rain likely causing the low attendance figures of between 20,000 and 25,000, fans cheered in the second quarter when the rain stopped temporarily. The rain returned in the third quarter.
Newlyly signed Packer Julius Peppers played 10 snaps in the game that featured mostly second string players for both teams.
The Packers decided to sit quarterback Aaron Rodgers sometime Saturday afternoon. They also sat 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year Eddie Lacy and veteran wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
The Titans gave quarterback Jake Locker two series and finished the day 1-2 for five yards passing. Locker is coming back from a season-ending foot injury he suffered Nov. 2013.
The Packers took the game-opening kickoff and marched right down the field led by backup running back James Starks and backup quarterback Matt Flynn. Starks had six rushes for 49 yards on the drive, capping it off with a 20 yard run.
After the game, McCarthy said Starks looked like he was in "midseason form."
The Titans countered the Packers after a punt was muffed by Packers' rookie wide receiver Davante Adams. After recovering Adams' fumble, the Titans scored on the very next play with a 13-yard run by Shonn Greene.
The NFL is experimenting with moving the extra point attempts back to the 15-yard line, essentially creating a 33-yard field goal attempt, instead of the usual 20-yard attempt after touchdowns. This proved to be trouble for the Titans as they missed their first extra point.
After leading 7-6 at halftime, the Packers turned to another backup quarterback in Scott Tolzien, with the team carrying four quarterbacks this preseason. In his first drive, Tolzien led the Packers on a seven-play, 79-yard drive that ended in a touchdown run by Rajion Neal. During the drive, Tolzien recovered from an 11-yard strip-sack that he was able to recover and threw a 38 yard pass to Chris Harper on the very next play.
After the Packers scoring drive, the team's offense sputtered and the Titans took advantage. Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who played most of the game for the Titans, led them on an 80-yard drive and finished it off with a 5-yard pass to rookie Bishop Sankey.
The Packers couldn't score a touchdown after intercepting a pass by third-stringer Zach Mettenberger on the Titans 13-yard line. They managed to get a field goal and led 16-13 with 7:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Titans quickly responded using the no huddle offense led by Mettenberger. Three straight no-huddle plays covered 66 yards after Mettenberger hit passes of 26, 38 and two-yards. Battle scored the game-winner on a seven-yard rush with 5:02 remaining in the game.
The Packers tried to mount a comeback and were nearly successful thanks to a 41-yard pass interference penalty on the Titans. After the two-minute warning, the Packers faced a second and one from the Titans' 24 yard line.
The Packers decided to run two straight draw plays out of the shotgun. Both plays gained zero yards and led to fourth down.
Again operating out of the shotgun, fourth string quarterback Chase Rettig faked a quick toss to the running back and threw a deep pass down the left side. It was a poor, under-thrown pass that fluttered to the ground and ended the Packers hope at a comeback.
The Titans were able to run out the clock and secure the preseason victory.
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