Texans’ Narrow Loss in Green Bay Shows Both Promise and Problems
- Oct 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 23, 2024
The Houston Texans left Lambeau Field on Sunday with a bitter 24-22 loss to the Packers, but there’s a lot more to take away than just the defeat. The Texans may not have played their best football, yet they found themselves with a chance to win in one of the NFL's toughest road environments against a quality Green Bay team. The loss, while frustrating, serves as a reminder of the thin line between winning and losing in the NFL. Had just one of many pivotal plays gone differently, Houston could be sitting at 6-1 instead of 5-2, dramatically shifting the narrative around the team.
It’s easy to get caught up in the disappointment, but the reality is often somewhere in between. As the saying goes, "Nothing is as good as it seems, nothing is as bad as it seems." Despite Sunday’s setback, the Texans are still 5-2 and sit atop the AFC South with a one-game lead over the Colts, who they’ll host at NRG Stadium this weekend. A win would give Houston a crucial two-game advantage in the division, effectively extending the lead to three games due to the head-to-head tiebreaker, thanks to their Week 1 victory in Indianapolis.
Defensive Standouts Amidst Injuries
The Texans’ defense deserves credit for keeping the game within reach despite several starters being sidelined. Filling in for Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, Neville Hewitt and Jake Hansen played exceptionally well, with Hewitt making an early impact by intercepting Jordan Love on the first drive. Rookie safety Calen Bullock was another bright spot, making a jaw-dropping interception that showcased his athleticism.
The defensive front seven, despite being banged up, managed to generate consistent pressure, sacking Love three times and tallying eight tackles for loss. They also did a respectable job containing the Packers' rushing attack led by Josh Jacobs, as well as Love in the passing game. However, the Texans’ efforts were undercut by costly penalties on two of the Packers' three touchdown drives, including a controversial unnecessary roughness call on Hewitt and a pass interference penalty on Eric Murray.
Offensive Struggles: Protection Issues and Missed Opportunities
While the defense rose to the occasion, the Texans' offense sputtered, struggling to capitalize on short fields gifted by turnovers. Of the 22 points scored, 17 came directly off Packers’ mistakes, including two interceptions by Love and a muffed punt. Houston’s high-powered attack was grounded by an inability to protect C.J. Stroud, who completed just 10 of 21 passes for a career-low 86 yards. The rookie quarterback faced pressure on a career-high 48.3% of his dropbacks, finishing 3-of-9 for 40 yards with four sacks under pressure.
The Packers, who entered the game with a below-average pressure rate, managed to exploit Houston's protection issues with relative ease, frequently using simple stunts along the defensive line to create unblocked rushers. This relentless pressure clearly affected Stroud, who appeared rattled as the game wore on, missing several key throws and reads.
The lone bright spot for the Texans' offense was Joe Mixon, who carried the ball 25 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, Mixon's efforts weren’t enough to compensate for the struggles in the passing game. The Texans' ongoing issues with pass protection have been most pronounced in noisy road environments, dating back to last year's playoff loss in Baltimore, and reappearing this season in Indianapolis, Minnesota, and now Green Bay.
Addressing Communication Breakdowns
While the offensive line bears an overwhelming majority of the blame for the protection problems, some responsibility also falls on the coaching staff and Stroud for not getting the plays in quickly enough. Too often, the Texans were snapping the ball with the play clock winding down, leaving the offensive line little time to properly identify the defense and make necessary adjustments. This is a recurring issue that Houston must resolve to be a legitimate playoff contender.
End-of-game management also left much to be desired. The Texans seemed torn between running down the clock and attempting to move the chains, ultimately opting for a questionable third-and-15 pass that fell incomplete and allowed the Packers to preserve a timeout. While it’s impossible to say for certain that this decision cost Houston the game, it undoubtedly affected Green Bay’s approach during their game-winning drive. This decision-making inconsistency highlights a larger communication issue between the head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback—something that will be explored in an upcoming piece.
Looking Ahead: A Chance to Bounce Back
Sunday’s loss exposed areas in need of improvement, but it’s important to keep perspective. The Texans remain in control of their own destiny with a pivotal division matchup against the Colts on the horizon. A win would create crucial separation in the AFC South and help Houston put this narrow loss behind them.
In a league where the margin for error is razor-thin, the Texans' resilience in the face of adversity is an encouraging sign. They may not be playing their best football right now, but the fact that they had a chance to win on a tough day speaks volumes about the team's potential. Now, it's up to them to correct the issues and take advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
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