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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- If teammates didn't hear his outbursts from outside the locker room last Sunday and the purpose for them, Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels may have to remind them in a similarly loud way. Daniels expects the Packers to show up at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday as an ornery bunch.
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"It's got to be a violent one. It has to be noticeable, like this team is pissed off, they're angry," Daniels said. "(Like) somebody pissed in their Cheerios this morning, you know what I mean? That's what it's got to be when you step onto that field. It has to be noticeable, and if it's not, then we're not getting it done."
At stake for the Packers this weekend when they travel to play the Tennessee Titans is trying to avoid a three-game losing streak and another eruption from Daniels.
The leader of the defensive line lashed out at no one in particular in the aftermath of Green Bay's stunning 31-26 loss to the visiting Indianapolis Colts. Despite being out of sight from those in the locker room, including a horde of media, Daniels made it known loud and clear he's tired of losing.
A subdued Packers team for most of the game dropped to 4-4 and into third place in the NFC North. Green Bay last was no better than .500 at the midway point of the season in 2009.
To avoid more fury from Daniels, the Packers will have to prevail against a Titans squad that is on the rise with a 4-5 record, good for a tie for second in the AFC South.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers quickly dismissed the suggestion that he and his teammates are in must-win territory Sunday.
"I've never liked that term," Rodgers said. "World War II was a must win. Football is football. It's an important one, but it's just the next one."
Yet, Rodgers knows Green Bay is entering a critical stretch with only two months left in the regular season. The Packers play their next three games on the road.
"We've got November and December football, which is really where you figure out where you're slotted there coming down the stretch," he said. "So, we've got to make sure we're putting ourselves in position to be in the conversation (for the playoffs), and it starts with this week. We're not going to look past any teams moving forward. We're going to start better and hopefully start this week and go on a run."
Veteran linebacker Julius Peppers insisted the team's letdown at the midway point of the season isn't cause for alarm.
"There's nothing to be low about," he said. "We're still 4-4, still have all of our goals in front of us. We're going to keep working. That's all we know how to do.
"We're going to be fine," Peppers added. "Nobody's worried. We're not necessarily concerned about anything. We just have to make more plays and play better situational football. There's really no explanation for it. We've just got to be better."
