Sunday, November 02, 2008

Halftime: Packers 10 - Titans 13

The good news is that the Packers scored 10 points in the 1st half. The bad news is that the Titans also scored 10, giving them a 13-10 lead at half. In fact, they had a chance to add another 3 points at the end of the half if they had converted a 63-yard field goal attempt, which wound up just being a take-the-knee fake to wind down the last 3 seconds of the clock.

The 2nd quarter began with the Titans in scoring position. The Pack held them to a field goal, 6-0 Titans. The Packers then came back to get a 23-yard field goal of their own, set up by a great 52-yard catch and run by Greg Jennings.

The Pack then went up 10-6 on a series that included another great 24-yard catch and run, this one by rookie WR Jordy Nelson, who took what was intended as a short slant route and turned it around to the outside, leaving the defender to wonder where he went. The TD came on a 5-yard pass to Donald Driver for his third TD catch of the season. With this catch, Driver tied the all-time Packers consecutive game catch streak held by Sterling Sharpe at 103 games.

It then took the Titans only four plays to retake the lead, at 13-10. The key play was a 54-yard run right through the line by LenDale White.

In general, it appears that the time off during the bye week -- instead of aiding the Packers -- has thrown off timing a bit. Ryan Grant seems to be running fairly well, with 42 yards on 9 carries. But it appeared on several occasions as if Greg Jennings and Aaron Rodgers were not in sync. The defense, with the exception of the breakdown on the 54-yard run by White, has been keeping the Titans in check.

The Packers will have to start firing on all cylinders this second half in order to pull out the victory. They can certainly do so, but are right now providing the opportunities for the Titans to stay on top.