You have to give the Packers’ management some credit for recognizing talent when it isn’t obvious on the stat sheet, and Matt LaFleur using that talent to fit his offensive scheming that he was not necessarily able to do with Aaron Rodgers. This guy Malik Willis’ stat sheet with the Titans last year labeled him a “project” at best, but somehow the LaFleur offense was made for quarterbacks like him. You have to be impressed by the fact that Packers went on the road against a Titans defense that ranked fifth in total yards allowed (save for the fact that in having the worst turnover differential in the league they were also near the worst in points allowed) and were still dominant on both sides of the ball in a 30-14 win.
Having seen what he could do when he was allowed to throw the ball downfield in the fourth quarter of last week’s game and completing a 39-yarder to Romeo Doubs, Willis was allowed to throw three times downfield in the first half, completing them for 30+ yards, and 141 yards total in the first half, even connecting with Christian Watson for two of those throws (although he wasn’t targeted again).
Josh Jacobs was largely ineffective in the game, but Willis demonstrated a willingness to take off running at will and led the Packers in rushing yards. The Packers hurt themselves unnecessarily with penalties (10 for 75 yards), but it didn’t matter as the Titans offense, one of the worst through the first two games, added another bad day with 237 total yards of offense, 60 percent of them on their scoring drives.
The Packer defense was outstanding again, albeit against that bad offense with a quarterback who makes one wonder why the Titans didn’t think Willis had more upside. The Packer defense contributed a Jaire Alexander interception returned for a touchdown—and three total turnovers contributing the Titans’ league-worst turnover differential—as well as 8 sacks and 12 quarterback hits, and a fourth down stop. Another “positive” was Brayden Naverson going 3 of 3 on field goals, although I put “positive” in quotes because he missed a 48-yard field goal attempt that was negated by a penalty that kept a Packer drive alive.
The Packers mostly coasted in the second half as the Titans mostly sputtered after the Packer took a 27-7 lead in the third quarter en route to victory. Next week the Packers play the 3-0 Vikings who won impressively again, this time shutting down CJ Stroud and the Texans. The Packers are playing at home and Jordan Love is expected to return. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the $220 million dollar man plays poorly and the Vikings win going away—and people start wondering if Willis is really “the guy.”
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