NASHVILLE – Malik Willis did it again, with a lot more to prove and in a much tougher spot.
Willis wasn't going to get into the emotions or any revenge factor after he beat a Titans team that gave up on him less than a month ago. The 30-14 victory Sunday at Nissan Stadium said plenty.
Afterward, he played it as straight-laced and steady as he did during the game in a practically flawless performance that makes him 2-0 in place of Jordan Love.
Any emotions coming out of the tunnel? "Not really," he said. "I was going to be playing football out there. That's cool."
How about walking off the field? No again, instead thinking, "Who am I going to give my little towel to, and my hat?"
Or this win feeling any different? "I think all wins count the same. It was cool to see some of my old guys."
This dude really doesn't get caught up in any of the outside noise, and clearly it has served him well.
In throwing for 202 yards and a 120.9 passer rating, Willis gave the Packers and play-caller Matt LaFleur a major jolt of confidence early. On the fourth snap of the game and initial third down, he hit a leaping Christian Watson on a go route down the sideline for 30 yards.
The original play was a quick pass, according to LaFleur, with a "can" or an option to run something else. He canned it to the alternative and made it work, leading to an opening touchdown.
LaFleur had no issue asking him to let it rip when needed after that, and conversions on third-and-14 (18 yards to Romeo Doubs) and third-and-18 (37 yards to Watson) on the same drive late in the first half – with a pair of rifled throws across the middle – were the Packers' reward.
"A change of scenery can be good for some guys," LaFleur said of Willis beating his old team. "I cannot articulate the job that he's done in a short period of time. People can't fathom that, I promise you."
LaFleur made sure to praise QB coaches Tom Clements, Connor Lewis and Sean Mannion for all the extra work they've put in with Willis since his arrival.
In the meantime, as appears to be his nature, Willis was crediting everyone else. He sees his job as giving the offensive playmakers "a chance, and letting them do what they're blessed to do."
The defense did its part, too. "I think it would've been easy for anybody playing with a defense like that," he said in reference to the eight-sack, three-takeaway outing. "I'll pay whatever I can out of my pocket if they keep doing that."
He even deflected the credit for his ball security, as he hasn't come close to a turnover in two starts, to LaFleur and the weekly meeting with the coaches in which "winning the ball" is emphasized.
But it shoudn't be minimized what Willis has done the last two games, and particularly on Sunday. While LaFleur admitted "a change of scenery can be good for some guys," Willis' teammates really wanted this for him.
"I don't care … if he doesn't think it's a revenge game," Watson said. "I'm going out there and playing for him. I want him to be able to go out there and win this thing, considering his situation."
Willis found an organization that believes in him, and he's doing his part to make this team believe as well.
"I think that can galvanize our team," LaFleur said of a win like this. "And we needed everybody."
