Malik Willis proves Titans wrong, leads Packers to 30-14 victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Malik Willis shined on the field as he led the Green Bay Packers to a convincing 30-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He showcased his skills by scoring both through the air and on the ground, marking his best performance in the NFL to date.

Willis’s impressive outing included running for a touchdown and throwing for another, which helped him claim his second consecutive victory while substituting for Jordan Love. This win also served as a nice revenge story for Willis against the Titans, the team that traded him to Green Bay in August. In the opening quarter alone, Willis contributed to 134 of the Packers’ 137 total yards, wrapping up the game with 202 yards passing and another 73 yards rushing.

Defensively, Green Bay thrived as well, with cornerback Jaire Alexander making his mark by scoring on a pick-6 late in the first quarter. This interception helped the Packers establish a solid 17-7 lead after just 15 minutes of play. By halftime, the score was 20-7, and the Packers added to their dominance with 20 unanswered points, stretching their lead to 27-7 midway through the third quarter, much to the delight of the Green Bay fans chanting “Go, Pack, Go!”

The Packers’ defensive unit was notably aggressive, recording eight sacks—their highest total since January 2005—and forcing three turnovers throughout the game. First-year coach Brian Callahan faces a challenging season with the Titans, who have now stumbled to an 0-3 start, their worst since losing their first six games back in 2009. After trading Willis and receiving a seventh-round pick in return, Tennessee has struggled overall, losing 21 of their last 27 matchups.

Prior to the game, Green Bay opted to rest Love, allowing him time to recover from a sprained left knee. Willis, utilizing head coach Matt LaFleur’s play-calling, ensured the team experienced no hiccups on offense, demonstrating why the Titans had ultimately decided to stick with Will Levis as their starter and Mason Rudolph as his backup. Levis managed to throw two touchdowns, connecting with both Nick Vannett and DeAndre Hopkins.

Despite showing flashes of talent, Levis has encountered challenges, compiling eight turnovers across three games, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. A pivotal moment came early in the third quarter when, following a timeout called by Callahan, Levis was stopped for no gain on a crucial fourth-and-2 attempt.

Tennessee’s defense made its presence felt, forcing its first three-and-out after a touchdown from Hopkins pulled the Titans closer, narrowing the score to 27-14. Levis drove the Titans to the Green Bay 31; however, he was sacked shortly thereafter by Kingsley Enagbare, leading to a fumble that was recovered by Lukas Van Ness near midfield. This play essentially sealed the game, prompting many Titans fans to exit the stadium as the afternoon heat intensified.

Packers’ defense has been impressive throughout the season, leading the NFL with five interceptions and six takeaways coming into this game. Following this performance, they now have seven interceptions to match their entire total from the previous season.

On the injury front, Green Bay’s tight end Tucker Kraft aggravated a previous shoulder injury, while Titans’ cornerback Chidobe Awuzie sustained a groin injury early in the game and did not return. Safety Amani Hooker also exited the game after taking a knock to the head as the second quarter concluded.

Looking ahead, the Packers are set to host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday, while the Titans will travel to face the Miami Dolphins on prime time, as they navigate the challenges ahead with another backup quarterback leading the charge in that matchup.

Source: AP