The Tennessee Titans need a strong second half to avoid an 0-3 start after falling behind in their Week 3 NFL game against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
Malik Willis shined in the first half, setting career highs in single-game passing and rushing yards and scoring a 5-yard touchdown run on the Packers’ opening drive.
Willis was traded from Tennessee to Green Bay for a 2025 seventh-round pick on August 26 after spending his first two seasons and this preseason with the Titans.
Will Levis threw a touchdown pass to Nick Vannett on the Titans’ first drive, but otherwise struggled, including throwing a pick-six to Jaire Alexander in the first quarter.
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Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers: Live updates and highlights from Week 3 NFL game
Result Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers
Good drive for the Titans defense to make it 3-and-out after the Packers decided to hand the ball off to Josh Jacobs three times in a row. Very conservative by Matt LaFleur. The Titans will get there.
For the first time since the first drive, the Titans’ offense comes alive. The drive is started by a 29-yard catch-and-run by Tyjae Spears and capped by an 11-yard touchdown catch by DeAndre Hopkins, who outplays Eric Stokes. Quick reaction.
Will Levis looked much better on this drive, but can he hold on? And can the Titans defense stop Malik Willis?
Malik Willis throws a screen pass to Emanuel Wilson, the Packers’ backup running back, who uses a few blocks to scamper through the Titans’ defense and scores a 30-yard touchdown pass. An ugly, ugly play in all three phases.
A penalty saved by Jeffery Simmons negates a missed field goal by Brayden Narveson.
This is another major error by the Titans special teams. The Green Bay Packers offense is back on the field and the penalty results in a first down for the Packers.
Tennessee decides to go for a 4th and 2 from their own 37-yard line, and Will Levis rolls out and has to run to the marker with all options. He’s far from the line to catch up. The Packers will take over Tennessee territory. Interesting decision by Brian Callahan.
After the first half:
Tennessee Titans
- Will Levis: 7-10, 66 yards, TD and INT
- Tony Pollard: 4 runs, 7 yards
- Calvin Ridley: No catches, 1 target
- DeAndre Hopkins: 1 catch, 6 yards on two targets
- Tyler Boyd: 2 catches, 21 yards
- Nick Vannett: 1 catch, 1 yard, TD
- Kenneth Murray: Total of six tackles, two sacks
Green Bay Packers
- Malik Willis: 9-11, 158 passing yards; 6 carries, 73 rushing yards, TD
- Josh Jacobs: 7 carries, 11 yards; 1 catch, 5 yards
- Christian Watson: 2 catches, 67 yards
- Jayden Reed: 2 catches, 39 yards; 2 carries, 19 rushing yards
- Romeo Doubs: 1 catch, 18 yards
Green Bay defeated Tennessee 266-79 in the first half.
Brayden Narveson scores from 26 yards to extend the Packers’ lead on the final play of the first half.
Tennessee’s defense brought the Packers to third and 18 after several penalties from the midfield, but Malik Willis found Christian Watson in the middle of the field, who gained 37 yards and set up the short field goal.
Willis has set career highs in passing yards (158) and rushing yards (73) after 30 minutes of play.
After the Packers reach the halfway line, a sack by Kenneth Murray on a blitz throws the Packers offense off balance. The Titans defense forces a punt.
Tennessee’s defense applied pretty aggressive pressure in the first half.
Will Levis throws a quick out to DeAndre Hopkins, but Jaire Alexander is on the route and leaps over the pass for an easy pick-six on a 35-yard return. Ouch.
Levis must not have noticed that Alexander crouched down on the route. Another turnover for the Titans quarterback, and this one costs a full seven points. PAT good.
Tennessee started well in Weeks 1 and 2, but not today.
Brayden Narveson scores a 21-yard field goal to give Green Bay a 10-7 lead.
The Titans defense tried to put extra pressure on Malik Willis, but he managed to get two first downs on this drive while also keeping a read option open for a 29-yard gain to set up the 1st down and goal.
Willis has 72 passing yards and 62 rushing yards in the first quarter.
Will Levis opens the Titans’ first drive with 5 of 7 passes for 59 yards, with notable throws over the middle to Tyler Boyd and Josh Whyle for first downs.
Levis caps the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Nick Vannett, who scores his first touchdown as a Titan. PAT good.
Malik Willis completes a 30-yard pass to Jayden Reed on the first play of the game, hits Christian Watson on a 1-on-1 go route on 3rd and long, and caps the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Well then.
The Titans defense had no answer for Willis on this attack. Roger McCreary was beaten on the catch by Watson and was unable to keep Willis out of the end zone when he had a chance to tackle him just before the goal line.
The Titans win the coin toss and head into the second half. Malik Willis will be the first to get the ball in tonight’s game thanks to the intriguing quarterback dynamic.
The Packers announce that Jordan Love will not play in Sunday’s game. Malik Willis will be the Packers’ starting quarterback today.
Cornerback Carrington Valentine is also out.
Tyjae Spears is active for Tennessee after being listed as questionable due to an ankle injury.
The complete inactive Titans:
- DB Julius Wood
- RB Jabari Klein
- OLB Caleb Murphy
- Career: James Williams
- OL John Ojukwu
- TE David Martin-Robinson
- TE Thomas Odukoya
Packers quarterback Jordan Love practices on the field at Nissan Stadium ahead of the 10:30 a.m. inactive announcement and looks pretty good.
Titans running back Tyjae Spears is expected to play on Sunday, according to NFL Network. He injured his ankle last week against the Jets and was listed as questionable.
The Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers game will be broadcast live on FOX; streaming options are available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to prospective subscribers.
Watch Titans vs. Packers live on Fubo (free trial)
- Move by move: Kevin Kugler
- analyst: Daryl Johnston
- Sideline reporter: Laura Okmin
Odds according to BetMGM on Saturday, September 21
- OPPORTUNITIES: Titans of 3
- Over/Under: 37.5 points
- MONEY LINE: Packers +130, Titans -155
Titans beat reporter Nick Suss’ prediction: Packers 17, Titans 13
Unless the Titans offense proves otherwise, it’s hard to expect too much rhythm. Levis and Co. will make some plays, but the Packers defense is a little too solid and the offense can do just enough to pull off another win even without Love.
The players who are unable to play will be announced on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. For now, here is the complete injury report for both teams before the game.
Titans injury report
- RB Tyjae Spears (ankle) – questionable
Packers injury report
- OL Jordan Morgan (shoulder) – Out
- CB Carrington Valentine (ankle) – questionable
- QB Jordan Love (knee) – questionable
Tickets for Sunday’s game are available on StubHub starting at $81 before fees.
According to the National Weather Service, a slight chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms is forecast for downtown Nashville during the afternoon on Sunday. The game-time temperature is expected to be 90 degrees with a heat index of 97 degrees. The NWS is forecasting a 22% chance of precipitation by midday Sunday.
All times centrally
Regular season
- Week 1 (September 8): at Chicago Bears, loss 24-17
- Week 2 (September 15): New York Jets, loss 24-17 (Record: 0-2)
- Week 3 (September 22): Green Bay Packers, 12:00 on FOX
- Week 4 (September 30): at the Miami Dolphins, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN
- Week 5: OPEN DATE
- Week 6 (October 13): Indianapolis Colts, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 7 (October 20): at the Buffalo Bills, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 8 (October 27): at the Detroit Lions, 12:00 on FOX
- Week 9 (3 Nov): New England Patriots, 12:00 on FOX
- Week 10 (Nov 10): at the Los Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m. on FOX
- Week 11 (November 17): Minnesota Vikings, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 12 (November 24): at the Houston Texans, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 13 (December 1): at Washington Commanders, 12:00 on FOX
- Week 14 (December 8): Jacksonville Jaguars, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 15 (December 15): Cincinnati Bengals, 12:00 on FOX
- Week 16 (December 22): at the Indianapolis Colts, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 17 (December 29): at the Jacksonville Jaguars, 12:00 on CBS
- Week 18 (4/5 January): Houston Texans, to be announced
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