Packers-Titans Series History

Well, people, it's Tuesday, and that means it is time for another Packers series history report. Today, I will be writing about Green Bay's history against the Tennessee Titans. Currently Tennessee holds a 6-4 edge in this series, so this will not be as long as some of the recent divisional posts. However, there are some notable games in this series.

The Titans were a charter AFL member, but they were not called the Titans. Instead, they played in Houston, and were the Houston Oilers. The Oilers had some success in the AFL and then later joined the NFL in the 1970 merger.

A curious note about the Packers' games against the Houston Oilers is that before the Oilers left Houston, the road team won every game in the series. This trend continues with the current Houston Texans as well. The first game between the teams was in the Packers' magical 1972 season, when they went into Houston and defeated the Oilers 23-10.

The Oilers won a close one in Green Bay in 1977 and then blew out the Packers 22-3 in 1980, again in Lambeau Field. Then, in 1983, an all-out scoring festival took place in Houston. The teams moved up and down the field throughout, and the game was tied 38-38 at the end of regulation. In overtime, Jan Stenerud booted a game-winning field goal and the Packers escaped Houston with a 41-38 victory.

Three years later, the Oilers atoned for that defeat. They went into Lambeau Field and routed the Packers 31-3. The Packers' final game against the Houston Oilers was in 1992. The Oilers, a perennial playoff contender in the late 1980s and early 1990s, were poised for another run at the postseason. The Packers went into Houston and won in an upset, 16-14. The Oilers would end up losing in the playoffs that year in the Frank Reich comeback game in Buffalo.

The Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 but retained the Oilers name for two seasons while there. Late in the 1998 season, the Oilers went to Green Bay, but the Packers won 30-22, for their first home win against the Oilers. Tennessee would drop the Oilers name for the Titans the following season.

In 2001, the Packers, 9-3, and fresh off a sweep of the Chicago Bears, went to Tennessee in a must-win game. The Titans, however, won, 26-20, and the Packers finished one game behind the Bears despite winning both games against Chicago in 2001. In 2004, Tennessee made its first trip to Lambeau as the Titans. Behind Chris Brown, the Titans blew out the Packers 48-27. It is still the most points ever for a visitor at Lambeau Field.

Most recently, the Packers took the undefeated Titans to the limit in 2008. The game was tied 16-16 at the end of regulation. In overtime, however, Rob Bironas kicked a game-winning field goal, and the Titans eked by the Packers 19-16.

What are your memories of the Packers playing the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans?