That was a gut punch in Green Bay for many reasons, but probably the biggest reason was that this game was right there for the taking.
It just didn't happen and now the Texans have to prepare for the Colts after a rough outing in Wisconsin. Let's dive into my Harris Hits from the afternoon spent at beautiful Lambeau Field.
1) I walked off the field on Sunday in Green Bay for the eighth time in 11 years with the Texans having lost on the last play of the game. Walked straight out the tunnel once it went through.
At Dallas in overtime in Jerry World in my first year.
At Philadelphia in 2018. Man, that one stung.
At New Orleans on MNF to start the 2019 season.
At Tennessee in overtime in Nashville and then in Houston in the COVID season
At Chicago in 2022.
Against the eventual champs Kansas City in overtime in Houston in 2022
At Atlanta in 2023. Younghoe Koo, dammit.
At Charlotte against Carolina in 2023
2) Most of those involved field goal attempts on the last play of the game, including the one in Green Bay on Sunday. K Brandon McManus' kick started outside the stick where I was standing, but he drew that sucker right inside the upright to seal the win. For a guy that hadn't kicked a field goal in just under a year, he nailed his first attempt beautifully…unfortunately.
3) The Texans picked off Jordan Love twice and the first one was a wonderful play made by Jalen Pitre. He read Love's eyes and saw that Love wanted to hit the hitch route to Pitre's right. Pitre took off as Love cocked his arm but the ball went off of his hands and right into the hands of LB Neville Hewitt, who took off for the end zone, running as fast as he could.
4) The 15-yard penalty notwithstanding, Hewitt played his guts out. He stepped to the forefront without Azeez Al-Shaair on the field and this defense didn't really miss a beat. Hewitt led the team with nine tackles, two passes defensed and one interception.
5) Hewitt got his hand on a late fourth quarter pass that nearly ended the game. He dropped into his coverage spot and as Love looked for WR Romeo Doubs, Love fired for #87. Hewitt leapt and tipped the pass, which then forced Doubs to just tip the pass too. The last person to touch it was Texans S Eric Murray, who, because of the fact that he was moving toward the middle of the field where the ball was originally thrown, could only get a hand on it as the game winning interception fell to the turf. A few plays later, McManus hit the game winner.
6) This Texans run game has flourished with RB Joe Mixon playing a full game. Mixon has started and finished three games this year. Here are his numbers in all three
Indianapolis - 159 yards, one TD
New England - 102 yards, one TD
Green Bay - 115 yards, two TD
7) The second touchdown run was a thing of beauty for sure. Here's how I described in my Big Play Breakdown
The Texans ran it right down the Packers' throats after Bullock's interception and moved it to the 4-yard line. This time the Texans came out in 11 personnel (one RB, one TE, three WR) to get the Packers to try to match the personnel with an extra DB on the field. It worked. They initially aligned with a bunch set to the left side with TE Dalton Schultz, WR Stefon Diggs and WR Tank Dell. Then, Tank went in motion to the right side to draw eyes and bodies away from where the Texans REALLY wanted to run. C.J. was under center, took the snap and handed to Joe Mixon on a mid zone play to the left side. The Texans front got a hat on a hat BEAUTIFULLY, in particular a Kenyon Green block that opened the A-gap. Mixon saw it and took off like a shot. Juice Scruggs locked up the linebacker and Mixon did the rest, sauntering into the end zone from four yards out to give the Texans a 19-14 lead before the half.
8) That run was so perfectly blocked that it's that much more frustrating that the pass protection was as shoddy as it was.
9) On that drive, the two tight ends mostly in the game at that point - Teagan Quitoriano and Cade Stover - threw some outrageously great blocks. Quitoriano looked much like I remembered him back at Oregon State a few years ago. He put his helmet on dudes and drove them against their will. He drilled Rashan Gary on a run later in the game four yards downfield. Stover, on Mixon's second touchdown, put a Packer into the turf.
10) Needed more of that for sure, especially in the pass protection.
11) DT Tim Settle continues to give the Texans great play inside. He racked up his third sack of the season with what he told me is his go-to move for years. With Mario Edwards suspended, it was great to see Settle step in and go to WORK again.
12) I said this during the game broadcast as well, but that TD throw from Jordan Love to Tucker Kraft was one of the fastest fastballs I've seen from the sideline. Ever. That ball was freakin' ripped. What made that so frustrating was that rookie S Calen Bullock NEARLY made the play with the ball just millimeters from his hands. A few series later, Bullock did get his third interception with a great play over the top of Packers WR Christian Watson. Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr was in tremendous position in man coverage on Watson on the inside route. DE Danielle Hunter forced Love off his spot and Love, floating to his left, just heaved it downfield, nearly falling down in the process. The ball sailed and Bullock was right there for his third pick of the year. IF he had gotten his hands on the Love throw earlier, who knows where this one would've headed?
13) But, he unfortunately didn't. With three seconds remaining, McManus put toe to leather and knocked it home as time expired for the Packers fifth win of the season and the Texans second loss. Unfortunately, the Texans will go another year with no better than a .500 record against their crossover NFC division - the NFC North. Of course, the NFC North has the best overall record in the NFL with the Lions and the Vikings 5-1, the Packers 5-2 and the Bears 4-2. The Texans can only finish 2-2 against the NFC North this year, at best. The last year the Texans went 3-1 or better against their crossover NFC division was 2009.
Alright, that's enough for this one. Colts week is BACK and it's time to clean it all up just before Indy arrives. See ya on Sunday, everyone, for hopefully a better result.
