GREEN BAY, Wis. – C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans’ passing offense struggled to offer much support for their beleaguered defense, which has been hit hard by injuries. Despite a commendable effort, the defense ultimately succumbed in the closing seconds of a 24-22 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers, ending Houston’s three-game winning streak.
A last-second 45-yard field goal from Brandon McManus denied the Texans the chance to achieve their first four-game winning streak since 2018, when they managed to win nine consecutive games. “I think our defense did a great job today,” Stroud remarked after the game. “I was sacked four times and only managed 86 passing yards, which is not good enough. Our special teams performed excellently, but the offensive unit needs to step up. Simply put, this loss is on us.”
Houston’s defense was depleted, missing five regular starters. Tackle Mario Edwards Jr. was suspended, while linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, cornerback Kamari Lassiter, and safety Jimmie Ward were sidelined due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, the Texans (5-2), who lead the AFC South, managed to force three turnovers in the first half, which resulted in 16 points, allowing them to hold a 19-14 lead. Neville Hewitt and Calen Bullock each intercepted a pass from Jordan Love, and MJ Stewart recovered a fumble when a punt hit Green Bay’s Corey Ballentine on the leg.
The offense struggled to keep pace, compounded by the absence of key wide receivers Nico Collins and Robert Woods, and receiver/punt returner Steven Sims. Joe Mixon contributed significantly to the ground game, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns. This performance marked the second consecutive week he surpassed 100 rushing yards and scored at least twice, having previously achieved 102 yards and a touchdown run along with a TD catch during a 41-21 win against the New England Patriots.
However, the aerial attack fell short, with Stroud completing only 10 of 21 passes, which significantly hampered the offensive production. Coach DeMeco Ryans noted, “We executed the running game well, and Joe performed admirably. However, we needed to improve our passing. The protection was inadequate. If we can’t provide the quarterback with time, making successful plays will be exceedingly difficult.”
The wide receivers collectively managed only six catches for 34 yards, with Stefon Diggs leading with five receptions for 23 yards. Xavier Hutchinson added one catch for 11 yards, while Tank Dell was targeted four times but didn’t record any receptions. Diggs reflected on the challenges of playing on the road: “When you’re away from home, execution at a high level is crucial. You can’t let yourself ride the roller coaster of ups and downs. We faced a capable opponent, and they were ready to compete.”
Entering the week, Houston ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards per game, but this was the first game this season in which Stroud did not throw a touchdown pass. Part of the struggle was attributed to the pressure from the Green Bay defense, which had managed no sacks against the Arizona Cardinals the week prior. Stroud was pressured heavily, resulting in four sacks.
After the game, guard Shaq Mason expressed uncertainty about how to rectify the passing game’s issues. “I don’t have an immediate answer. Once I review the tape, I can provide more insight. For now, it feels like we all need to be more synchronized and perform at a higher level.”
Despite the offensive challenges, the Texans had a chance to claim victory, thanks largely to their defense. Following a touchdown pass from Love to Josh Jacobs that put the Packers ahead 21-19 in the third quarter, Green Bay faltered during their next three drives, failing to convert any first downs. Houston leaned on Mixon during a crucial 13-play, 45-yard drive, which concluded with a 35-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn that gave Houston a 22-21 lead with just 1:44 on the clock.
Ultimately, the Texans could not secure a stop when it mattered most. With the ball on their own 30-yard line and one timeout remaining, the Packers executed several successful passes to move closer to field goal range. Love connected with Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion Wicks for critical completions. A 12-yard catch by Romeo Doubs brought Green Bay into the Texans’ territory, and a final 6-yard pass to Doubs set up McManus’ game-winning field goal.
“We had a solid outing defensively,” Ryans commented. “However, we failed to make the plays necessary to secure victory in the end. Regardless of who is missing, we have to execute our techniques properly and capitalize on our opportunities.”