GAME AT A GLANCE
- Final Score: Packers 24, Texans 22
- Winning Play: Brandon McManus 45-yard FG (0:00)
- Game Changer: 3 GB turnovers = 16 HOU points
- Defensive MVP: Eric Wilson (2 sacks, 6 rush attempts)
- Offensive MVP: Joe Mixon (115 yards, 2 TDs)
- Biggest Surprise: C.J. Stroud held to 86 passing yards
- Game Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay
Brandon McManus had been a Packer for exactly four days when he lined up for the biggest kick of Green Bay’s season. The 33-year-old veteran, signed Wednesday after Brayden Narveson’s release, drilled a 45-yarder through the uprights as the clock hit zeros. Packers 24, Texans 22. Sunday’s Week 7 matchup between Houston and Green Bay produced wild statistics that defied conventional football wisdom.
When Good Teams Play Ugly Football
Green Bay turned the ball over three times. Houston forced zero turnovers. In the NFL, that formula produces a loss 87% of the time.
Not this Sunday at Lambeau.
Jeff Hafley’s defense turned C.J. Stroud, one of the league’s brightest young quarterbacks, into a struggling rookie. The second-year phenom completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards. No touchdowns. Four sacks. A passer rating of 58.8 that matched his worst professional performance.
Quarterbacks: A Study in Pressure
QB Comparison: Love’s Rollercoaster vs. Stroud’s Nightmare
All of the data complied from MatchPlayerStats.co.uk Analysis of this Match.
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Love (GB) | 24/33 | 220 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 95.5 |
| C.J. Stroud (HOU) | 10/21 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 58.8 |
Love’s afternoon started terribly. First possession, first pass: deflected at the line, intercepted by Neville Hewitt. The linebacker’s 45-yard return gave Houston the ball at Green Bay’s 11-yard line. Three plays later, Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 23-yard field goal.
The Packers quarterback shook it off. Thirteen plays and 92 yards later (both season-highs), Love found Tucker Kraft breaking free in the end zone. The 14-yard touchdown gave Green Bay a 7-3 lead and momentum.
His second interception came courtesy of rookie safety Calen Bullock, who jumped a route near midfield. Houston converted that gift into another Mixon touchdown. By halftime, Love’s two picks had spotted Houston 10 points.
Stroud faced a different kind of problem. ESPN’s analysis shows the Packers pressured him on 48% of his dropbacks. Four times, Green Bay rushers came completely unblocked. The result? Houston’s net passing total: 55 yards.
“Everything is on the table,” DeMeco Ryans said postgame about potential offensive line changes.
Ground Game: Mixon vs. Everyone Else
Rush Attack Breakdown
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Mixon | HOU | 25 | 115 | 4.6 | 2 | 27 |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | 12 | 76 | 6.3 | 0 | 27 |
| C.J. Stroud | HOU | 5 | 19 | 3.8 | 0 | 8 |
| Emanuel Wilson | GB | 5 | 11 | 2.2 | 0 | 7 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 |
| Dameon Pierce | HOU | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 |
Mixon kept Houston alive when their passing game flatlined. First half: 81 yards on 11 carries, slashing through Green Bay’s front seven. His 3-yard touchdown run capped a two-play drive after Corey Ballentine’s muffed punt. His second score from 4 yards made it 19-14 Houston at the break.
Pro Football Focus graded Mixon at 86.3, elite territory. But Green Bay’s halftime adjustments worked. Fourth quarter: 10 carries, 26 yards. The Packers sold out to stop him late, daring Stroud to beat them through the air.
Jacobs provided steady production for Green Bay. His 27-yard burst in the third quarter set up his first career receiving touchdown. After 212 catches without one, the drought finally ended on a 5-yard slant from Love.
Passing Game: Night and Day
Green Bay’s receivers produced while Houston’s disappeared. The individual player statistics from this matchup highlight just how different these passing attacks performed under pressure.
Who Caught What
| Player | Team | Rec | Targets | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romeo Doubs | GB | 8 | 10 | 94 | 0 | 19 |
| Dontayvion Wicks | GB | 3 | 6 | 41 | 1 | 30 |
| Tucker Kraft | GB | 3 | 4 | 33 | 1 | 14 |
| Josh Jacobs | GB | 5 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 5 |
| Stefon Diggs | HOU | 5 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 8 |
| Dalton Schultz | HOU | 1 | 2 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | HOU | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Cade Stover | HOU | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| Joe Mixon | HOU | 3 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| Tank Dell | HOU | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Doubs operated as Love’s safety valve all afternoon. When the pocket collapsed, Love knew where to look. Eight catches, 94 yards, and several crucial first downs kept drives alive.
Love’s touchdown distribution showcased Green Bay’s offensive balance. Wicks hauled in a 30-yarder down the sideline. Kraft’s 14-yard score came on the opening drive. Jacobs caught his on a simple slant that fooled Houston’s linebackers.
Houston’s receiving corps disappeared. Stefon Diggs, the $22.5 million man, managed 23 yards. Tank Dell saw four passes sail his way and caught none. Dalton Schultz’s 28-yard catch represented Houston’s longest play through the air.
Defense Wins Championships
Pass Rush Domination
| Player | Total | Sacks | QB Hits | Pass Def | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GB
Eric Wilson
|
5 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
|
HOU
Neville Hewitt
|
9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
|
GB
Xavier McKinney
|
6 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
GB
Rashan Gary
|
5 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
|
HOU
Danielle Hunter
|
2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
|
HOU
Will Anderson Jr.
|
1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
HOU
Tim Settle Jr.
|
4 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
|
HOU
Calen Bullock
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Eric Wilson put on a clinic. Six pass-rush attempts. Two sacks. That’s a 33% success rate in a league where 10% is considered good. His 88.2 PFF grade topped all defenders.
The matchup flipped every pregame prediction. Houston entered ranked fourth in pass-rush win rate. Green Bay sat at 30th. But Jeff Hafley’s scheme won the day. Third-and-6 from Green Bay’s 36: the Packers showed a standard four-man rush. At the snap, Rashan Gary looped inside. The stunt occupied both guards. Xavier McKinney, showing blitz, actually dropped into coverage before charging late. Stroud never saw him coming. Eight-yard loss.
Houston played this game missing five defensive starters. Linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter. Safety Jimmie Ward. Defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. served a suspension.
Neville Hewitt filled the gaps. Nine tackles, one interception, two passes defended. His 87.5 PFF grade proved backups can ball too.
Situational Defense
Third downs decided this game. Houston converted just 4 of 13 attempts (30.8%).
First quarter, Texans ball at Green Bay’s 11 after Hewitt’s pick: three plays, three yards, field goal.
Third quarter, after Wilson sacked Stroud on consecutive third downs: two punts that flipped field position.
Fourth quarter, Houston in the red zone again: another field goal instead of a touchdown.
Evan Williams made the play of the game nobody remembers. Mixon took a pitch on Houston’s two-point attempt. Williams met him in the backfield. No gain. Those two points loomed large when Houston kicked their final field goal for a one-point lead instead of three.
Special Teams: Heroes and Goats
The Kicking Game
| Player | Position | FG Made/Att | Long | Punts | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brandon McManus
(GB)
|
K | 1/1 | 45 | – | – |
|
Ka’imi Fairbairn
(HOU)
|
K | 3/3 | 52 | – | – |
|
Daniel Whelan
(GB)
|
P | – | – | 5 | 56.8 |
|
Tommy Townsend
(HOU)
|
P | – | – | 6 | 51.2 |
McManus earned every penny of his contract in one swing. Houston called timeout, trying to ice him. He kicked it anyway. Good from 45. Timeout negated. Line up again. Same result. Packers win.
But Daniel Whelan deserves equal credit. The Packers’ game recap details his heroics: three consecutive punts of 62, 66, and 61 yards when Green Bay’s offense stalled. Each one pinned Houston deep, forcing long fields against a defense playing angry.
The game’s biggest special teams play went Houston’s way. Second quarter, Tommy Townsend’s punt bounced off the turf and hit Corey Ballentine. Live ball. Houston recovered at the 11. Two plays later, Mixon scored. Seven free points in a game decided by two.
Return Game Statistics
| Player | Team | Kick Returns | KR Yards | Punt Returns | PR Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keisean Nixon | GB | 2 | 58 | 3 | 13 |
| Dameon Pierce | HOU | 1 | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Tank Dell | HOU | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 |
Pierce’s 42-yard return set up Fairbairn’s 52-yard field goal. Field position matters in defensive struggles.
Crunch Time at Lambeau
Clock showing 8:11. Houston ball at their own 20. Time to milk clock and steal a road win.
Stroud finally found a rhythm. Short passes to Diggs. Mixon grinding out first downs. Thirteen plays chewed up 6:27. The key moment: third-and-10 at Green Bay’s 23. Stroud stood tall, found Xavier Hutchinson for 11 yards. First down. Three plays later, Fairbairn’s 35-yarder split the uprights. Houston 22, Green Bay 21. Clock showing 1:44.
Love took over at his own 30. One timeout left.
First down: Kraft for 8. Second down: incomplete. Third down: Wicks for 13. Ball at midfield. One minute remaining.
Next series started with an incompletion. Second down brought a 13-yard strike to Doubs at Houston’s 37. After an incompletion, Love found Doubs again. Six yards to the 26.
Timeout. Three seconds left. McManus time.
Film Study: Protection Nightmares
The Houston Chronicle’s breakdown exposed Houston’s blocking failures. Example one: Green Bay showed seven potential rushers pre-snap. At the snap, only four came. The other three dropped into coverage. But those four ran a coordinated stunt that left left guard Kenyon Green blocking air while Kingsley Enagbare walked in clean.
Example two: Third-and-4, Texans in scoring position. Running back Dare Ogunbowale and left tackle Laremy Tunsil both turned to block the same defender. Problem: another rusher came from the opposite side. Nobody touched him. Stroud ate dirt.
Twenty sacks in seven games. Over 100 pressured dropbacks. Those numbers get quarterbacks hurt and coaches fired.
Missing Bodies, Stepping Up
Both teams dealt with injuries. Houston’s five missing defensive starters meant practice squad guys played significant snaps. Green Bay lost Quay Walker in the first half after teammate Kingsley Enagbare’s leg caught him in the head during a tackle. Concussion protocol. Didn’t return.
Eric Wilson replaced Walker and delivered the game of his life. Sometimes opportunity meets preparation at the perfect moment.
Context and Consequences
Green Bay (5-2): They survived playing bad football. Three turnovers usually equals a loss. But elite defense and clutch special teams covered for offensive mistakes. Matt LaFleur handed defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley a game ball in the locker room. Message sent: this defense can carry them places.
Houston (5-2): Warning signs flash everywhere. The offensive line can’t protect Stroud. Without protection, their weapons become useless. DeMeco Ryans faces tough decisions. Bench starters? Change the scheme? The Colts come to NRG Stadium next week with their own dangerous pass rush. For comparison, Houston’s offense operated much smoother in their previous game against Detroit.
Indianapolis just watched this film. They know exactly how to attack Houston.
Final Stats That Matter
- Turnovers: Green Bay -3, still won
- Net passing yards: Houston 55
- Red zone defense: Green Bay held Houston to 10 points on two possessions inside the 11
- Third down conversions: Houston 4-13 (30.8%)
- Clutch kicks: McManus 1-1, including the timeout re-kick
Sunday’s Texans-Packers game showcased football at its strangest. Bad teams lose games like this. Good teams find ways to win them. Championship teams? They make sure it never gets this close again.
