Packers “rally” for final second victory over Texans in game they should have won in a blowout

 

The Packers played a Texan team whose only loss of the season was a 34-7 blowout to the Vikings, and today’s game had the makings of another blowout loss to the Packers. Although the Packer defense forced zero turnovers, they held the Texans to just 197 yards of total offense as C.J. Stroud looked awful in this game, just 86 yards passing, 55 yards net, spending his time in the backfield with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Yet the Packers trailed by 5 at halftime, and the game came down to a field goal on the final play of the game, this time by the veteran kicker the Packers signed off the couch, Brandon McManus, who managed to put a ball through the uprights from 45-yards out to win the game 24-22.

This wasn’t a game where Jordan Love and Packers offense was particularly on the mark; only 277 yards of offense would put you in the bottom quarter of league, and on seven possessions, the Packers in their “winter warning” uniform (OK, so it looks kinda “cool”) managed to run just 21 plays, as if they had trouble seeing each other. Only 20 rushing plays that netted 82 yards meant that it was the Texans who had more time of possession despite their meager yardage total. Love threw two interceptions, and a “muffed” punt that accidentally brushed off a blocker who wasn’t paying attention led to 16 Texan points on short fields. The Texans did not commit any turnovers or turn the ball over on downs, so the Packers outscored them 24-6 negating points after turnovers.

Texans running back Joe Mixon was basically the entire offense on their side, accounting 124 of the 197 total yards, but minus a couple of long runs, his impact of the game was limited as long as Stroud was ineffective. Love only had a better game relatively, completing 24 passes for 220 yards; although his 3 TD passes overcame his two interceptions, if Tucker Kraft had not made a spectacular diving catch in the end zone, and Dontayvion Wicks kept the ball inbounds at the goal line on a 30-yard pass play, that would be another reason why final result of this game could have been much different despite a defensive effort that did enough to expose a Texans team that might be bit overrated. Of course the same could be said about the Packers; Love might have 15 TD passes in 5 starts, but he also has 8 interceptions. If this continues there will be a price to be paid eventually.

Next time the Packers play a 2-5 Jaguars team saddled with another overpaid quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, who seems to play “best” when he does the least. On the road the Packers are heavy initial favorites, and again if this is a “game” at all, it will come down to how much luck smiles down on Love and Packers if his bad habits continue.