Green Bay's Front Seven Will Have No Excuses Against Tennessee

The Green Bay Packers have surrendered 284 rushing yards in the first two weeks of the 2024 season, and Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor both surpassed 100 yards. The Packers also pressured Anthony Richardson 11 times on 37 dropbacks on Sunday.

Matt LaFleur says the Packers implemented a disciplined pass-rush plan in the last two weeks to keep Richardson and Jalen Hurts in the pocket. Still, they struggled to contain quarterback scrambles, a recurring issue for Green Bay in the 2020s and one reminiscent of the early 2010s.

Green Bay won’t face a mobile quarterback this week when they travel to Tennessee to take on Will Levis and the Titans. The second-year quarterback out of Kentucky has been turnover-prone in his first two games this season.

The Titans enter Week 3 with the seventh-worst pass-blocking offensive line, according to Pro Football Focus. They also rank as the fourth-worst offense overall and have the third-worst passing attack.

Levis enters Week 3 with a 63.6% completion rate, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and two fumbles. He has an equal number of big-time throws and turnover-worthy plays, averaging just 5.4 yards per attempt. His performance has been mediocre at best.

Tennessee’s offensive line allowed the New York Jets to pressure Will Levis 17 times in Week 2. Nicholas Petit-Frere gave up nine pressures, seven hurries, one QB hit, and one sack. In Week 1, Peter Skoronski and J.C. Latham combined to allow 10 pressures on the left side against the Chicago Bears.

Levis doesn't present the same threat as mobile quarterbacks like Richardson and Hurts, which will allow Green Bay to be more aggressive in their pass rush. Rashan Gary had three pressures in the first two games, and he needs to take advantage of his favorable matchup at right tackle, who has allowed 11 pressures. Gary has no excuse not to deliver a strong performance against the Titans.

No Tennessee player earned a PFF run-blocking grade above 71.3 against the New York Jets. While Latham had an 82.6 grade in Week 1 against the Bears, no other player was graded higher than 69.2. Dillon Radunz is the only Titan with a zone-blocking grade above 70 in both weeks.

Last week, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears averaged just 3.6 and 3.3 yards per carry, respectively. Spears left the game early and didn’t return. There’s a possibility that the Titans won’t have him available against Green Bay.

The Packers' best game plan against Tennessee is to stop Pollard and force Levis to beat them through the air. Green Bay’s defense has five interceptions in two weeks, and they should be able to bait Levis into making more mistakes.

However, the front seven must stay sharp for 60 minutes. If they limit Tennessee’s possessions and Matt LaFleur establishes the run with Malik Willis and Josh Jacobs, Levis will likely revert to the turnover-prone form he’s shown so far this season.