Jeff Hafley’s Green Bay Packers defense produced a smothering and dominant performance during Sunday’s 30-14 win over Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
While the Titans twice drove for touchdowns, the Packers otherwise stuffed the run and consistently pressure Levis on the nine other scoreless possessions.
Hafley’s group produced eight sacks for -56 yards, three takeaways and a defensive touchdown. The Titans rushed for 33 yards (including only 21 from running backs), averaged 4.5 yards per play and finished 3-for-10 on third or fourth down.
Jaire Alexander’s pick-six in the first quarter extended the Packers’ lead to 17-7 and would have, without Green Bay scoring another point, been enough to win the contest. Later, a strip-sack from Kingsley Enagbare provided a tide-turning play in the third quarter, and Xavier McKinney slammed the door shut with his third interception in as many games.
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Through three weeks, the Packers have an NFL-high nine takeaways, including seven interceptions — which matches the team’s total over 17 games last season. The defense has three takeaways in all three games.
Levis completed 26 of 34 attempts but couldn’t handle the unrelenting pressure. The Packers finished with 12 quarterback hits. The defense’s eight sacks were the most by the Packers since 2005. Seven different players had at least a half sack.
While DeAndre Hopkins caught a touchdown pass, free agent addition Calvin Ridley caught just one pass for nine yards while being shadowed by Alexander.
The run defense was stifling. Tony Pollard rushed six times for 14 yards, and Levis’ 8-yard scramble was the longest running play of the afternoon. Once the Titans abandoned the run and got pass-heavy, the Packers’ pass-rush feasted on an overmatched offensive line and inexperienced quarterback.
Over 60 percent of the Titans’ 234 total yards came on the two scoring drives. Nine other possessions produced only 99 yards, or right about 11 yards per drive.
While Malik Willis and the Packers offense did enough on the other side, the defense consistently made stops and gave coach Matt LaFleur the confidence to play it safe down the stretch in the second half.
Through three games, the Packers have proved capable of getting off the field on third down and producing takeaways. After containing Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson in the pocket over the last two games, the pass-rush teed off on Levis on Sunday. And any major concerns over the run defense, which gave up over 100 yards to both Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor during the first two weeks, were partially alleviated.
The Packers are now 2-1, thanks largely to back-to-back terrific performances from the defense. The next test for Hafley and the Packers? Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, Justin Jefferson and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings next Sunday at Lambeau Field.