In what easily stood out as their signature victory of the 2024 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers did, in fact, deliver what they hope is their winter warning to the rest of the league.
The Packers’ 24-22 win over the Houston Texans certainly showed their mettle in gritting out a comeback win that was sealed by a 45-yard game-winning field goal by new kicker Brandon McManus. On a day where their offense sputtered for large stretches — whether it was buckling under the Texans’ pass rush or Jordan Love throwing two interceptions — the Packers found a big lift due to their defense.
Thanks to a brilliant game plan by defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers executed it to a T by terrorizing Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud all day long.
It wasn’t just the four sacks that the Packers got on Stroud throughout the day. The constant pressure that was spearheaded by maligned Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary bounced Stroud out of the pocket repeatedly. His 86 passing yards was the lowest of his young career and he averaged just 4.8 yards per completed pass.
Still, the Texans had plenty of help through the Packers’ mistakes. Houston feasted on Love’s aforementioned interceptions and the same went for the disastrous bounce that touched Corey Ballentine’s leg while in punt coverage. A pair of touchdowns and a field goal scored by Houston for 16 of their 22 points came as a result of the Packers’ three turnovers.
Nonetheless, Green Bay made the plays when they needed to.
You’ll live with Love’s interceptions if it means he’s threading the needle to a diving Tucker Kraft that got the Packers on the board. Or uncorking a deep ball to Dontayvion Wicks that put the Packers up 14-10 midway through the second quarter. When Love needed to make big throws, he turned to his trusty target in Romeo Doubs, who finished with eight catches on 10 targets and 94 receiving yards. Love, meanwhile, finished the day by completing 24 of his 33 passes, had 220 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 95.5 passer rating.
For his part, Josh Jacobs lifted the Packers with a very efficient performance as he finished with 12 carries, 76 rushing yards and 92 total yards of total offense. His 8-yard receiving TD was shockingly the first of his NFL career and it put the Packers back up to 21-19 midway through the third quarter.
With just 277 yards of total offense, it’s not a shock that it ranks as the fewest yards the Packers have produced in a game this season.
Not only did they find comfort in their defense being the ultimate security blanket, but the second half stonewalling the defense reigned down on Stroud and the Texans would not have been possible without the field-flipping punts Daniel Whelan unleashed well within Packers territory. McManus’ first field goal as a Packer as time expired helped salvage a special teams performance that was truly all or nothing.
Listen to this solo episode by yours truly if you want more reaction to the Packers’ big win over the Texans!
Packers seal comeback victory over Texans with a kick