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Titans seek 8-0 start against Packers

Nov 2, 2008 - 2:06 PM GREEN BAY (4-3) AT TENNESSEE (7-0), 1:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Tennessee Titans sent an emphatic message to the rest of the NFL on Monday night - they should not be doubted.

Fresh off their convincing victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Titans look to improve to 8-0 on Sunday when they host the Green Bay Packers.

The combined record of Tennessee's first six opponents was just 12-26, so the Titans looked at Monday's contest against the Colts as an opportunity to prove themselves.

They passed the test with flying colors, taking control after Indianapolis scored on its first possession of the second half to grab a 14-6 lead. Kerry Collins, the Titans' 35-year-old quarterback, engineered the comeback to win his sixth straight start.

Collins posted his second straight game without an interception, completing 24-of-37 passes for 193 yards in another solid - if not spectacular - performance.

"We made a statement,'' Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "The Colts are definitely no slouches. They came in and played good, but we held. Now, the Titans are the team to beat."

Monday may have seen a changing of the guard in the AFC South, which has been dominated by the Colts for the past five years.

With a four-game lead with nine to play, the Titans would need a historic collapse not to win the division. No team in NFL history has failed to finish first when enjoying a lead of at least four games.

Tennessee has won 10 straight regular-season games - the longest active streak in the NFL and the second-longest run in franchise history.

The Packers (4-3) have won two straight and head to Nashville tied with the Chicago Bears for first-place atop the NFC North.

Green Bay also has a win over Indianapolis this season, hammering the Colts, 34-14, in its last game on October 19. Packers safeties Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse each returned interceptions for touchdowns.

Despite playing with a sprained right shoulder, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 21-for-28 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown amid 30-mile per hour winds at Lambeau Field.

Rodgers used the bye week to rest his shoulder, but still has not returned to his normal passing routine. His throwing in practice has been limited since he sprained his shoulder on September 28 at Tampa Bay.

Rodgers has had his up and down moments as Brett Favre's successor in Green Bay, but he has proved his toughness by playing through the injury.