Two of the three highest scoring teams in the NFL collide on Sunday Night Football when the Tennessee Titans visit the Green Bay Packers in what could be a Super Bowl preview. Of course both teams have to first qualify for the postseason and the Titans aren’t quite there yet, thanks to a congested AFC. The Packers have secured a playoff berth and another division title while looking to clinch the best record and No. 1 seed in the NFC. Green Bay is positioned as a field goal favorite on the current NFL betting line.
The matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers will take place on Sunday, December 27, 2020, at 8:20 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. The game will be televised nationally on NBC.
Titans vs Packers Week 16 Odds
Tennessee Titans +3
Green Bay Packers -3
Over/Under 56
(Source: BookMaker.eu)
There’s a lot going on in this game. We have two of the top teams in the league that each has an MVP candidate. And the clubs are battling for playoff positioning within their conference making this a highly-intense matchup. If you believe the Titans want it more taking them and the points makes sense. They are getting 3-points and the Titans are 4-1 ATS in their last five outings. Since losing to Cleveland in Week 13, the Titans outscored Jacksonville and Detroit 77-35 with payouts in each outing. And if you trust their offense to churn out the yards and points the OVER has some value. That number sits at 56, the highest currently on the Week 16 board. Eight times the Titans have played against a total higher than 50 with the OVER going 6-1-1.
The Packers have already clinched the NFC North title, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to play for. They enter Week 16 with the best record in the NFC by the slimmest of margins. They do have control of their own destiny to secure the top spot and the only first round playoff bye that comes with it. That might have more meaning for Aaron Rodgers, who has played in four conference championships but never at home. After building a big lead last week the Packers tiptoed through the second half of their eventual 24-16 victory. They failed to cover the 9.5-point spread falling to 8-6 ATS for the year.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans franchise has had some of the best running backs in the game. Going back to their days in Houston there was Earl Campbell. Eddie George bridged the two locations starting his career in Texas before reaching stardom in Nashville. And Chris Johnson is one of only seven backs to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Move over because Derrick Henry has joined the list. The league leader in rushing yards with 1,679 and touchdowns with 15 leads the way for the NFL’s highest scoring offense.
With a defense that’s been average at best the Titans need all the offensive production they can get. Ryan Tannehill is doing his part throwing for 3,482 yards with 31 touchdowns and only five interceptions. But if the Titans are going to have any success stopping Aaron Rodgers they need to find a way to deliver pressure. The NFL’s 29th-ranked pass defense would be much better with a pass rush. The Titans have only 14 sacks this season, fewest in the NFL. “We certainly have to do a better job of everybody being involved in helping disrupt the passing game,” Mike Vrabel said.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers defense will get a heavy dose of Henry so they will have their own challenges. But the Packers do have Aaron Rodgers, who has to be among the favorites to win another MVP award. Rodgers leads the third-ranked scoring offense throwing for 3,828 yards with a league-high 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He had a season-low 143 passing yards last week in a win over Carolina and admitted that the club can’t take its foot off the gas. The Packers hit paydirt the first three times they had the football and were held to a field goal the rest of the way.
The defensive game plan for the Packers is to stop, or better yet contain Henry, forcing Tannehill to throw the football. Tannehill has decent numbers that are a direct result of the run game. Green Bay can then use its pass rush to fluster the Titans quarterback, as long as Henry is held in check. And look for Rodgers to take some shots against a Tennessee defense that ranks 29th against the pass allowing 276 yards per game.
Titans at Packers Prediction
Best Bet: Titans +3 and UNDER 56
With two high scoring clubs going at it the total opened at 56, the highest on the Week 16 board. And considering how average the defenses on both sides are, the OVER has some value. You can expect a playoff atmosphere, which typically lead to tight, lower scoring games. And with that in mind I have to follow the points.
