NASHVILLE - Wide receiver Donald Driver tied former receiver Sterling Sharpe's record for consecutive games with a catch in style Sunday when he caught a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter.
The catch gave him 103 straight games with a reception. Driver now has a chance to break Sharpe's record next Sunday when the Packers travel to the Metrodome to take on the division rival Minnesota Vikings.
Driver had his best performance of the season Sunday, posting his first 100-yard game in '08 as he led the team with seven catches for 136 yards. The touchdown catch gave him three on the season, topping his total of two in 2007 with half the season left.
"It starts with him," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "It really does as far as the wide receiver group. He sets the tempo for those guys and leads by example.
"He practices all of the time regardless. He just plays with incredible passion. I just can't say enough good things about Donald."
Driver's afternoon was highlighted by several big plays, including a 44-yard grab on a short pass from Rodgers that he took down the right sideline to the Titans 12 to help set up a 25-yard Mason Crosby field goal. Driver added receptions of 19, 29 and 20 yards in the fourth quarter.
Driver now has 19 career 100-yard receiving games, which moves him into a tie for fifth in team history with Boyd Dowler. He is just one away from No. 4 Antonio Freeman. Driver has 539 career receptions, trailing only Sharpe's 595 in the franchise record books.
Returns and a debut
Defensive tackle Justin Harrell took the field for the first time since last season's NFC Championship game after missing the first seven games following two offseason back surgeries.
Harrell, who was activated on Saturday from the physically unable to perform list, recorded three tackles, including one stop for a loss when he brought down RB Chris Johnson for a 1-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
"I felt good just being out there, but I'm just disappointed like everybody else in this locker room," Harrell said. "I didn't want to come out here and just be happy because I played. I wanted to go out here and get a victory and that didn't happen."
Al Harris, who missed the past four games with a spleen injury suffered in Week 3 vs. Dallas, returned to his customary starting spot at right cornerback and saw a normal workload.
Atari Bigby, who was sidelined the past five games because of a hamstring injury suffered at Detroit in Week 2, started at strong safety.
Double down
The Titans entered Sunday's game with just two sacks allowed in the first seven games, tops in the NFL. The Packers matched that total in a three-play stretch on Sunday.
On the second play of the second half, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett brought down Titans QB Kerry Collins for a four-yard loss. It was the first time Collins had been sacked since the second quarter at Cincinnati in Week 2, a stretch of 24 quarters.
Two plays later, defensive end Michael Montgomery brought Collins down for a seven-yard loss.
The sacks were the first this season for both Pickett and Montgomery.
Rookies step up
The Packers got production from three rookies Sunday, with a couple of them accomplishing career firsts at Tennessee.
{sportsad300}Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who didn't practice on Friday after sustaining an ankle injury during Thursday's practice, had two receptions for 34 yards. He caught a quick-hitting pass from Rodgers at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter, and made a nice spin move on Titans cornerback Nick Harper to take the grab for a 24-yard gain on Green Bay's lone touchdown drive of the day.
Nelson also returned his first kickoff since Week 5 against Atlanta, and took the second-quarter kick for a career-long 40 yards.
Tight end Jermichael Finley saw extensive playing time and posted his first career NFL reception when he hauled in a 6-yard pass from quarterback Rodgers in the second quarter.
Rookie Josh Sitton, who has played strictly on special teams this season in two games, got his first pro start when he opened up at right guard.
Injury/participation update
Other than tackle Chad Clifton (illness), the Packers did not have any other injuries to report from the game.
Green Bay's gameday inactives were Brian Brohm (third quarterback), cornerback Pat Lee, running back DeShawn Wynn, linebackers Desmond Bishop and Danny Lansanah, tackle Breno Giacomini, guard Allen Barbre and wide receiver James Jones.
