Inbox: Packers know what they're facing here

[Cheesehead]

Zak from Verona, WI


Do you think the Packers will try to extend drives to keep the Titans (read: Henry) off the field, limit his touches, and rest the defense? Or would they rather score fast and furious to turn the game in to a shootout and limit Henry's touches that way?


If I know LaFleur, he'll just want to score points no matter how long or short it takes. Score enough to win, period.


David from Aurora, CO


Have you noticed how similar are the points scored and the points allowed for the Packers and the Titans? They seem evenly matched.


Offensively, these teams constitute two of the league's top 10 in all of the following categories: Total yards per game (and per play), rushing yards per game (and per attempt), passing yards per attempt, interception percentage, sacks per pass play, third-down efficiency, and points scored. Defensively, the Packers rank significantly better in a number of categories. It'll come down to making one or two key stops.


LeeAnn from Carefree, IN


Good mourning Mike. What do you think goes through the Packer LBs' and DBs' minds when they watch the Monday highlights and see a Derrick Henry would-be tackler get destroyed by the stiff arm? Are they mostly thinking I don't want to be on one of those highlight reels next Monday mourning, or more yeah, that's not gonna happen to me?


Oh, it's mostly the latter. The true pros relish the challenge, no matter how daunting. If they do end up on such a highlight, they're measured by their teammates and coaches for how they pick themselves up and keep fighting after that, even if no one else will see those clips.


Bruce from New Canaan, CT


Have you seen this much anticipation, or angst, about facing a running back since the Packers had to go up against AP twice a year in his prime?


Dalvin Cook is no slouch, man. What he did in Week 8 is still fresh in my mind. With his yards per carry, if he had as many carries as Henry, he'd be only 75 yards shy of his rushing total. The Packers know what they're facing here.


A.J. from Brisbane, Australia


Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin: Is this the week we learn the true value of our young gems?


Scott from De Pere, WI


A lot has been discussed on stopping Derrick Henry, and rightly so, but don't sleep on A.J. Brown and Corey Davis.


Both guys are likely to post 1,000-yard seasons, and they have 15 TD catches between them. A productive running game is a passing game's best friend, but the ball still has to be thrown and caught. Ryan Tannehill has 31 TDs vs. just five INTs for a 110.4 passer rating. That's better than Russell Wilson and Josh Allen, and a measly two-tenths of a rating point behind Patrick Mahomes. This Titans' offense can hurt you with way more than Henry.


Matt from Bloomington, IN


After seeing the ineffective quick passes to Davante Adams late in the game, do you think the soft coverage and crashing down on short routes is something that could be exploited? Like if Davante looked immediately to Aaron Rodgers and Aaron threw a pump fake, do you think the DB would fly down and be vulnerable to Davante quickly taking off deep? It would be about the strangest "double move" I've ever seen run, but I wonder if it would work or if the DBs only crash down once the ball is thrown.


They can take a chance and crash like that when they have deep safety help over the top. The counter is to run the football.