Texans Lead Packers 19-14 at Halftime

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers will host C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans in a battle of elite teams with elite quarterbacks on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Follow along all day for updates.

Halftime

Texans 19, Packers 14

The Packers are in trouble, trailing on the scoreboard and with the Texans getting the ball to start the second half.

Green Bay has thrived on turnovers all season but gave it away three times. Jordan Love’s first interception became a field goal, a muffed punt turned into a touchdown and another interception was turned into a touchdown.

The Packers lead 156-121 in yards and Love has 131 passing yards compared to just 44 for C.J. Stroud. But the Packers can’t get out of their own way and they can’t tackle Joe Mixon, who has 81 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries.

Second Quarter

Texans 19, Packers 14 (0:00 remaining)

Green Bay’s 2-minute drive was foiled by Tim Settle’s sack on second down. On third-and-9, Jordan Love threw a bomb to Jayden Reed, who had a step on rookie safety Calen Bullock. Reed had the ball for a diving catch but couldn’t hang on as he hit the turf near Houston’s 25. So, the Packers punted and the Texans took a knee to run out the clock.

Texans 19, Packers 14 (1:13 remaining)

Joe Mixon’s 4-yard touchdown run has given the Texans the lead. Evan Williams made a great play to stop Mixon on the 2-point run.

Mixon went to work after Jordan Love’s second interception of the game. After breaking Lukas Van Ness’ tackle for a gain of 6, he got around the corner for 32. Cornerback Jaire Alexander came firing toward the backfield but never laid a finger on Mixon, who sprinted up the left sideline before being pushed out of bounds at the 19. After Van Ness jumped offside, Mixon ran for 10 by spinning out of defensive tackle TJ Slaton’s for 7 additional yards. On the touchdown, Mixon had a big hole and plowed through linebacker Eric Wilson at the goal line.

Packers 14, Texans 13 (4:18 remaining)

Jordan Love sailed one into double coverage, just over Christian Watson’s head and into the hands of rookie safety Calen Bullock. Love, even while missing two games, has a league-worst eight interceptions.

A huge possession awaits with the Texans set to get the ball to start the second half.

Packers 14, Texans 13 (4:30 remaining)

A series of missed tackles put the Texans in scoring position before they settled for Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 52-yard field goal. First, the Packers missed a tackle on Dameon Pierce’s 42-yard kickoff return. Joe Mixon (twice) and Dare Ogunbowale (one) broke tackles on runs. But Green Bay got the stop. Rashan Gary’s pressure forced a throwaway on first down, Eric Wilson blew up a screen to Mixon on second down and Kingsley Enagbare’s pressure forced an underthrown pass on third down.

A key drive is coming for the Packers; the Texans will get the ball to start the second half.

Packers 14, Texans 10 (8:51 remaining)

Green Bay wasted no time recapturing the lead, with Jordan Love throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks beat backup cornerback D’Angelo Ross, caught the ball at the 5 and stayed inbounds for the touchdown.

Two key plays: First, on third-and-3, Love checked it down to Emanuel Wilson. Safety Eric Murray had a chance to drop Wilson for a loss of yards. Instead, Wilson eluded Murray and gained 4, which included 12 yards after the catch. Next, on second-and-11, Love bought time to his right and zinged one to Jayden Reed, who was tackled by Wilson for a gain of 30 on interference.

Texans 10, Packers 7 (11:52 remaining)

What a horrendous play on special teams, and it cost the Packers a touchdown. After Green Bay forced a three-and-out punt, Keisean Nixon not only didn’t catch the punt but failed to get his teammates out of the way. The ball hit Corey Ballentine and was recovered at Green Bay’s 11. Two plays later, Houston was in the end zone. First, Joe Mixon ran for 9 yards; he broke Kenny Clark’s tackle for 5 additional yards. Next, he scored from the 2 by running through Edgerrin Coopers tackle near the goal line.

Injury update: Packers LB Quay Walker (concussion) is questionable.

Packers 7, Texans 3 (13:16 remaining)

The Packers have taken the lead as Jordan Love’s fastball to Tucker Kraft just beat safety Calen Bullock. On third-and-4, Kraft streaked up the seam. He was wide open – or so it appeared. Bullock came screaming across and almost made the play – but Love’s heater got there just in time, and Kraft made a sensational catch.

Starting from their 8, the Packers zoomed past midfield on an 11-yard pass to Tucker Kraft (he broke a tackle and gained 10 after the catch), a 13-yard run by Josh Jacobs (he broke two tackles with 11 yards after contact) and an 11-yard pass to Romeo Doubs. On third-and-5, Bo Melton beat backup cornerback D’Angelo Ross for 8 and a first down.

First Quarter

Texans 3, Packers 0 (5:06 remaining)

The Packers had two sacks. First, right tackle Tytus Howard tripped and fell, allowing Rashan Gary to come in untouched for a sack. Next, on third-and-6 with the Texans almost in field-goal range, Xavier McKinney blitzed from C.J. Stroud’s blind side and dropped him for a sack to force a punt.

Texans 3, Packers 0 (9:39 remaining)

The Packers went three-and-out, short completions to Jayden Reed and Josh Jacobs sandwiching a run for minus-1 on an end-around by Bo Melton.

Texans 3, Packers 0 (11:48 remaining)

Jordan Love’s interception turned into a field goal for the Texans. On third-and-3 on Green Bay’s opening possession, Love telegraphed a pass to Dontayvion Wicks. Slot defender Jalen Pitre got in front of the pass for a deflection, which was intercepted by linebacker Neville Hewitt, who returned it 45 yards to Green Bay’s 11.

Green Bay’s defense held, though. Keisean Nixon made an outstanding stop on Joe Mixon on first down. On second down, Tank Dell dropped what should have been a touchdown; C.J. Stroud’s pass made it a tough opportunity. On third down, Rashan Gary’s pressure forced an incompletion. Ka’imi Fairbairn booted the 23-yard field goal.

Love and the Titans’ Will Levis hold the dubious NFL lead with seven interceptions.

They’re Explosive

Both offenses excel in creating explosive plays. Defined as a pass for 16-plus yards or a run for 12-plus yards, here are the NFL leaders entering Week 7:

Ravens: 59

Packers: 55

Texans: 54

Buccaneers: 50

Lions, Colts: 48

Only the Packers and Ravens are in the top five in each category. For explosive runs, only the Ravens (26) have more than the Packers (24). For explosive passes, the Texans have a league-high and the Packers are tied for fourth with 31.

On passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, Green Bay’s Jordan Love is seventh with nine completions despite missing two games.

“He is willing to take some of those shots and put the ball up there and trust his receiver,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “I think there is an element of trust and belief in the system and just launching it, so there is going to be balls going down the field. I don’t think they shy away from that.”

The Packers create “chaos,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryan said, with all their motion and shifting.

“The structure of their motions and their shifts and pre-snap stuff that puts you on edge,” Burke continued. “Now you’re worried about I’m shifting and moving and the ball is snapped and is it a run and now it’s a pass.

“That’s how they try to marry their whole thing up, so trying to keep our guy’s eyes in the right places and keep sort of a calm mind about us will be a part of the feeding and all that. They try to put you at unease before the snap even happens, so then that gets you step up and create that space behind you. There are probably a few different factors there.”

Motion is a big part of coach Matt LaFleur’s offense. The emphasis has been heightened through conversations with his defensive coaches.

“Any time that you can create some confusion– especially I would say in this role, sitting in more with defensive coaches than when you’re just solely on the offensive side of the ball – all the discussions that go on in terms of how everybody sees the motion. Is it a fast motion? Is it a normal motion and how it can manipulate rules? So that is kind of by design, I would say, and I think a lot of teams are doing that.”

Brandon McManus’ Packers Debut

After six weeks of shaky kicking, the Packers hope their issues have been solved with the addition of veteran kicker Brandon McManus.

McManus went through a tryout on Tuesday and kicked at practice on Wednesday and Friday to build chemistry with snapper Matt Orzech and holder Daniel Whelan.

“I’ve been through this before,” McManus said. “I never had a true, consistent person in Denver. I had eight different holders through my time there, so I’m used to getting used to new people. But these guys are consummate pros. I’ve really enjoyed working with them so far.

“Obviously, our coach, Rich Bisaccia, has been around a long, long time and he has a routine that even before me getting here they’re constantly working on certain things, constantly practicing holding and snapping, on top of what they’re already prepping in practice. That’s kind of tripled our ability to work so they can get used to what I like and visually be able to see what I am asking them to do. So, it’s been great so far.”

Bisaccia thought McManus’ experience would help create an easy transition.

“He’s very particular,” Bisaccia said this week. “He’s been through a lot of different situations. He knows how he wants the ball held, he knows where he wants it placed, he’s really confident in his time, he’s really confident in his alignment.

“So it’s been, to some degree, a breath of fresh air, someone who knows exactly what they want to do, and it’s also a comfort a little bit to Daniel. Now he’s got to get used to the hold and how he wants the ball and how he wants it leaned, and those things, so there’s a lot more snaps being placed by Daniel then there are kicks being made over the course of the last three days.”

McManus has plenty of leg strength. He was good from 65 in this video.

And from 60 with the snap and hold in this video.

Camp 3:16

Last week, the Packers produced three takeaways in a blowout win over the Cardinals. One of them was a forced fumble by safety Evan Williams.

Explained Williams: “We have a saying that, our linebackers coach, his name’s (Anthony) Campanile, so we say, ‘Campy 3:16 is God loves those who run to the ball.’”

That brought a smile to the face of defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. 

“We have that meeting about the ball every week and we’ve picked a coach each week to present to the whole team so it stays fresh, and guys come up with some creative ways to have their meetings. One of the things Camp came up with when he did one of the first ones is he said, ‘God loves those who run to the football,’ so we said it’s ‘Camp 3:16.’

“It just goes back to talking about running to the ball constantly and you’re usually rewarded if you do.”

The “meeting about the ball” – appropriately named the Ball Meeting – is all about the need to take it away on defense and protect it on offense.

It’s worked. The Packers are an NFL-best plus-nine in turnovers. On defense, they lead the NFL with 17 takeaways and eight fumble recoveries and are third with nine interceptions.

“We call it the Ball Meeting. I mean, I didn’t even think about it, but that’s what we call it. There’s not another name for it,” Hafley said. “Why was it important when I brought it up to him (coach Matt LaFleur)? You get what you emphasize, right? 

“What’s always been really important to me philosophically is taking the ball away, and I don’t think it happens by accident, by any luck. I think you’ve got to talk about it. You’ve got to be about it and you have to go out and practice it, and then it’s going to show up in games. And then once they believe in it, it’s going to show up more and more.”

The Texans are even in turnovers, with seven giveaways and seven takeaways.

Packers-Texans Inactives

Receiver Dontayvion Wicks is active, giving the Packers a full-strength receiver corps against a beat-up Texans defense.

The Big Matchup: Jaire Alexander vs. Stefon Diggs

Remember when Aaron Rodgers owned the Bears? Well, Stefon Diggs owns the Packers.

Diggs has scored against the Packers in eight consecutive games. If he scores a touchdown on Sunday, he will tie Mel Gray for the second-longest streak of games with a touchdown reception against a single opponent in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Hayes (12 vs. the New York Giants) has a longer streak.

Diggs will be in the spotlight against the Packers. With star receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, Diggs figures to be the top target for quarterback C.J. Stroud.

How dominant has Collins been? He leads the NFL in receiving yards even while being on IR last week and playing only nine snaps the week before.

“I know Nico’s out but Diggs is a great player,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said.

Diggs is in his 10th season. Acquired in a trade with Buffalo this offseason, he has topped 100 receptions in each of his last four seasons. With a fourth-ranked 37 catches through Week 6, he’s on pace for 105 catches this season.

Among active players, he is sixth in receptions, seventh in receiving touchdowns and eighth in receiving yards.

Back in the lineup last week after missing two games with a groin injury, Alexander gave up one catch (a touchdown) vs. the Cardinals.

What Channel for Packers-Texans Game?

TV: The game will be on CBS, with Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romeo (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline). Here’s the broadcast map from 506 Sports. Most of the nation will get to watch the game.

Records: Green Bay is 4-2 after consecutive wins. Houston is 5-1 after three consecutive wins.

Where: Lambeau Field.

Date and time: noon.

Coaches: Green Bay – Matt LaFleur (60-29, sixth season). Houston – DeMeco Ryans (15-8, second season).

Weather: It will be sunny and 73 at kickoff – almost a record for this date, making it an odd juxtaposition with the “Winter Warning” theme.

The line: The Packers are 3-point favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook and 2.5-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 48.5.

Power rankings: In Packers On SI’s Consensus NFL Power Rankings, the Packers come in at sixth this week and the Texans are fifth.

Measuring Stick

Are the Packers a Super Bowl contender?

What better way than to play another Super Bowl contender. The Texans are 5-1 with an elite quarterback and strong defense.

“Yeah, 100 percent” this is a measuring-stick game, Christian Watson said. “Yeah, I think the mentality should be the same every single week, but anytime you get a chance to play a team that’s had the success they’ve had this season, it’s just a good opportunity to see where we’re at and put our best foot forward and go out there and compete. That’s exactly what we’re here for so we’re excited for it.”

Injuries could be a big factor. For the Texans, four starters on defense are out due to injuries and premier receiver Nico Collins is on injured reserve.

But quarterback C.J. Stroud is a premier player at the position and pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are key reasons why Houston is No. 1 in completion percentage allowed.

“He’s one of those guys that got a high motor,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said of Anderson, the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a three-sack performance at New England.

“He’s always going 100 percent and he finds ways to wreak havoc in the backfield, so he’s a really good edge rusher. I think Danielle Hunter on the other side is a really good edge rusher, as well, so they got two really good guys on the outside.”

The Action Report

Here are some game notes, courtesy of The Action Report’s Evan Abrams:

– The NFC North will take a combined record of 17-5 into this week’s games. Plus, the teams are 18-4 against the spread, the best for a division in the wild-card era (since 1990).

– The Texans are 5-1 but underdogs. Since 2003, teams with a winning percentage of 80-plus percent but underdogs in October and November are 75-52-7 against the spread.

– Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 28-15 against the spread vs. teams who are better than .500. That’s the fifth-best winning percentage for any coach since 2003. The others on the list? Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh, Sean Payton and Mike Tomlin.

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