Titans Put Packers’ Playoff Plans on Hold

The Green Bay Packers have only themselves to blame for failing to clinch their first playoff berth since 1998.

Steve McNair threw for two touchdowns and 283 yards as the Titans beat Green Bay, 26-20, Sunday, preventing the Packers from making the playoffs for at least another week.

The Packers (9-4) needed Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Washington to lose, and they all obliged. But the Titans (6-7) played the unaccustomed role of spoiler by playing keepaway from one of the NFL’s best offenses.

The Titans’ playoff hopes remain remote even with the victory. They looked like the team that won 26 games the past two seasons as they held the ball for more than 37 minutes, and the Packers couldn’t do much when they did have possession.

Green Bay Coach Mike Sherman denied that his Packers experienced a letdown after taking control of the NFC Central last week with a victory over Chicago.

“When people said we should come down here and win this game, I knew it wasn’t going to be that easy because I knew Jeff [Fisher] would have his team ready to go. We didn’t have any letdown,” said Sherman, whose team now trails the Bears by a game. “They weren’t going to just roll out the red carpet. This isn’t some sort of shocker.”

The Packers led, 10-2, after the first quarter but managed only 41 yards in the second and third periods.

Titan tackle Jason Fisk, who tackled Ahman Green in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter, said it seemed like the Packers weren’t playing as hard as he has seen them on tape.

“I don’t know if they were expecting us to lie down because we are not fighting for as much as they are fighting for at this point in the season,” Fisk said.

Brett Favre came in leading the NFL with 25 touchdown passes, with a chance to add more against the league’s worst pass defense. But he looked out of sync as he tossed one ball short to Dorsey Levens and even bounced one off Bill Schroeder’s shoulder. He fumbled once, had a pass intercepted and was sacked twice.

Green, the NFC’s leading rusher, was held to a season-low nine yards on nine carries.

“Mentally, I think we could have done some things better,” Favre said. “The guys played hard. [Tennessee] is no slouch. I can assure you of that. Sometimes records make people think differently.”