Malik Willis Shows the Titans What They Gave Up, Leading the Packers to a 30-14 Rout

The Packers had eight sacks, their most since getting eight at Chicago on Jan. 2, 2005. They also forced three turnovers.

“Oh my goodness, they went crazy,” Willis said. “That was amazing. Eight sacks, right? Oh my goodness. That was super. They won the game for us.”

Green Bay receiver Christian Watson, one of seven to catch at least one pass, said Willis may not think of this as a revenge game, having been gone less than a month.

“I want him to be able to go out there and win this thing considering his situation,” Watson said. “I know that he’s always going to be humble.”

First-year coach Brian Callahan has the the Titans (0-3) off to their worst start since losing the first six in 2009. Tennessee, which got a seventh-round pick for Willis, has lost 21 of 27 overall. Callahan said he has not done a good enough job.

“It’s embarrassing and disappointing,” Callahan said. “I’ve got to be a lot better than I’ve been, and this is frustrating and unfortunate and not what I thought we were capable of to start the season.”

Green Bay scratched Love before the game, giving him another week to heal his sprained left knee. Willis, with LaFleur’s play-calling, made sure the Packers had no issues. The quarterback showed the Titans what they gave up when they stuck with Will Levis as their starter and Mason Rudolph as his backup.

Levis threw two TD passes, one to Nick Vannett and the other to DeAndre Hopkins.

The 33rd pick overall in 2023 out of Kentucky has eight turnovers in three games, including two interceptions returned for TDs. When Callahan took a timeout and sent the offense back in for the punt team, Levis was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-2 to start the third quarter.

Tennessee’s defense forced its first three-and-out after Hopkins’ TD pulled the Titans within 27-14. Levis drove the Titans to the Green Bay 31 but was sacked two plays later by Kingsley Enagbare. Lukas Van Ness recovered the fumble near midfield.

That sent Titans fans streaming for the exits on a steamy afternoon.

Picky Packers

Green Bay came in leading the NFL with five interceptions and six takeaways. Now the Packers have seven picks through three games, matching their total from all of 2023. Xavier McKinney got the other interception in the final minutes.

Flagging issues

LaFleur wasn’t happy with his Packers being flagged 10 times for 75 yards. But he credited his receivers with patiently blocking more than looking for passes for a second straight game. Green Bay ran 37 times and threw 19 passes. A week earlier, the Packers had 53 rushing attempts.

Injuries

Packers: TE Tucker Kraft aggravated the shoulder injury that had him limited in practice.

Titans: CB Chidobe Awuzie hurt a groin muscle early and didn’t return. S Amani Hooker came off the field holding something to his right temple at the two-minute warning and did not return.

Up next

Packers: Host Minnesota next Sunday.

Titans: Visit Miami and another backup quarterback in prime time on Monday, Sept. 30.