NASHVILLE, Tenn. --The Tennessee Titans (5-9) play their final road game of the season this week, traveling to Green Bay to face the NFC North Champion Packers (10-4). Kickoff at historic Lambeau Field (capacity 73,094) is scheduled for Noon CT on Sunday, Dec. 23.
The two clubs have met only 10 previous times in the regular season. The Titans own a 6-4 advantage in the series, including a 4-1 mark against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties while Dan Dierdorf provides analysis.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
LAST WEEK
The Titans will play the Packers on a short week after hosting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. They forced five turnovers and scored on rushing touchdowns by Chris Johnson and Jake Locker to defeat the Jets by a final score of 14-10.
Johnson's touchdown was one of the most memorable of his five-year career. In the second quarter, with the Titans trailing 3-0, he scored on a 94-yard run, the longest single rushing attempt in franchise history. It eclipsed the previous record of 91 yards, set initially by Sid Blanks in 1964 and matched by Johnson in 2009. Johnson's 94-yarder was the NFL's longest run since 2006 (Chester Taylor) and the second-longest ever on Monday Night Football (99 yards by Tony Dorsett). Johnson's six career rushing touchdowns of 80-plus yards are twice the number of any other player in NFL history.
With two games remaining in the season, Johnson has reached the 1,100-yard mark for the fourth time. He has 1,159 yards and five touchdowns on 244 carries, an average 4.8 yards per attempt. He has five 100-yard games in 2012.
In his ninth career start, Locker completed 13 of 22 passes for 149 yards with no interceptions (79.5 passer rating). He also rushed for 43 yards on seven carries, including a 13-yard touchdown run.
Defensively, the Titans got two sacks and a fumble recovery from rookie linebacker Zach Brown. Cornerback Jason McCourty and safety Michael Griffin each posted a pair of interceptions.
THE PACKERS
The Packers, winners of eight of their last nine games, clinched their second consecutive division title last week with a 21-13 road victory over the Chicago Bears. They currently own the NFC's third seed behind the Atlanta Falcons (12-2) and San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1).
Against the Bears, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 291 yards and completed three touchdown passes to wide receiver James Jones. The Green Bay defense recorded an interception and four sacks, including a pair of sacks by linebacker Clay Matthews.
Mike McCarthy is concluding his seventh year as head coach of the Packers. The Packers have now qualified for the playoffs five times under his direction, including a run to a Super Bowl XLV Championship at the conclusion of the 2010 season.
Rodgers is in his eighth NFL season and his fifth campaign as Green Bay's starting quarterback. The former first-round pick won the Associated Press Most Valuable Player Award in 2011 after passing for 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns. In 2012, he leads the NFL with a 104.7 passer rating, completing 316 of 474 passes for 3,588 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
