Quarterback Aaron Rodgers solidified his league MVP case. Wide receiver Davante Adams showed that Rodgers isn’t doing it alone. And the Green Bay Packers demonstrated why everyone else in the conference should be very afraid that the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC probably will go through the smallest NFL market known as Titletown, USA.
On a wintry night at snow-covered Lambeau Field, Rodgers threw four touchdown passes and the Packers remained on course toward securing the top playoff seed in the NFC by beating the Tennessee Titans, 40-14.
The Packers extended their winning streak to five games and improved to 12-3. They did not clinch the No. 1 seed; that would have required a loss by the Seattle Seahawks earlier Sunday. But the Packers remained in position for that top seed, which would bring the conference’s lone opening-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. They previously had clinched the NFC North title.
Rodgers is vying for MVP honors with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes as the two star quarterbacks barrel toward a possible Super Bowl encounter. Rodgers may be in the MVP lead. He threw only his fifth interception of the season Sunday night. But his four touchdown passes — which came as part of a 21-for-25, 231-yard performance — upped his season’s total to 44.
Adams had three touchdown catches, giving him the league lead with 17 on the season. He had 11 catches for 142 yards overall. Rodgers’s other touchdown pass went to wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
The Packers also amassed 234 rushing yards. Tailback Aaron Jones ran for 94 yards on only 10 carries. Rookie A.J. Dillon added 124 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The Packers scored 21 straight points after the Titans drew to within 19-14 in the third quarter.
The Titans squandered their opportunity to clinch the AFC South title and their record dropped to 10-5. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw for one touchdown and ran for another. But he also threw two interceptions. Tailback Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher, ran for 98 yards.
The Titans made some costly mistakes and had some misfortune. They extended one Green Bay touchdown drive with a defensive penalty. They had a long return of a blocked field goal negated by a dubious offside call. And Coach Mike Vrabel failed to issue an instant-replay challenge when the on-field officials missed Jones stepping out of bounds on a 59-yard run for the Packers that set up a Rodgers-to-Adams touchdown. (Final score: Packers 40, Titans 14)
