2024 NFL Week 7: Packers vs. Texans Preview & Prediction

Last weekend, Packers fans, Green Bay played its most complete and balanced game so far this season beating the Cardinals 34-13. The Pack dominated Arizona on both sides of the ball. QB Jordan Love threw for 258 yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT (the latter coming after a slip by the receiver). Total yardage for the Packers amounted to 437 compared to 303 for Arizona. The rushing attack amounted to 179 total yards for Green Bay compared to 89 for the Cardinals. The Pack's defense also continued its takeaway binge, recovering 3 fumbles by Arizona and also getting an interception (by Xavier McKinney, of course). The Packers dominated time of possession by nearly a full quarter.

A great win, especially against a team that had just the week before beaten the Packers' kryptonite team, the 49ers.

So that was then. Now is now. Which brings us to the matchup Sunday between the 4-2 Packers and the 5-1 Houston Texans.

You won't be seeing the Packers in their traditional home colors today.

Instead, the Packers will be rolling out their new 'Winter Warning' color scheme.

For more looks, check out these views.

The Preview

This is a game many were looking forward to as it would showcase two hot young quarterbacks — Jordan Love and C.J. Stroud — and teams expected to compete not only for the playoffs but perhaps even the Super Bowl this season.

For the Packers, the Texans are coming to Lambeau Field at an opportune time. Based upon the latest injury reports available, the Packers are expected to be pretty much all-hands-on-deck, with only DL Devonte Wyatt, and TE Luke Musgrave, who was previously placed on the IR list, out. Conversely, the Texans come to town a bit beat up and without several of their key players both on offense and defense which plays to the Pack's advantage.

Jordan Love, as evidenced by his performance vs. the Cardinals, seems to be nearly over his MCL knee sprain, although he will still be wearing a brace on the left knee for protection. WR Romeo Doubs, despite whatever was going on with him the week he was suspended, returned with a subdued vengeance catching two TD passes from Love. WR Christian Watson also seemed to be past his ankle sprain, lengthening the field for a huge and wide open TD pass. RBs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson continue to get the yards on the ground.

Defensively, the Packers are thriving on and benefitting from takeaways. The linebackers and secondary are making plays. Most fans are still waiting for the defensive line to exert more pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. But keep in mind this is the first season under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's 4-3 scheme. It seems over the last few games particularly that he is devising different schemes as he has become more familiar with what his personnel are capable of. So perhaps we'll see more pressure on Stroud who, like Kyler Murray last week, is one of those run-pass threats that has so often given the Packers fits. The key will be containing him. In doing so, the Packers defense will also have to stop Houston's running backs, particularly Joe Mixon. While WR Stefon Diggs will be available for Stroud, Robert Woods is out. So not his full complement of weapons, shall we say. On defense, Houston will be shorthanded at linebacker and in the secondary, which should play to Love's advantage over the course of the game.

If there's any question mark in this game it is, we have to say, the kicking game. Oy. It's been a dumpster fire since the Packers opted to let Mason Crosby walk away. The Packers are now on their third active kicker...actually, they have had seven kickers in the building from preseason till now and, as U2 might say, they "still haven't found what they're looking for". I repeat: oy. The team parted ways this past week with rookie kicker, "Wide Right" Brayden Narveson, and signed veteran Brandon McManus. He has kicked in a Super Bowl, so there's that. You can read all about McManus here. Let's hope he can bring the consistency that Narveson et al were unable to bring in their appearances.

The Prediction

Looking at the records, one would probably give the nod to Houston. But the Packers are healthy and the Texans are not. Some may feel Stroud is the better QB over Love; we would not...a push at best.

With the Packers at full strength, the offense humming, and the defense feeling its mojo, we give them the advantage in this game.

Weather is not expected to be a factor; actually, the forecast is very good for this time of year.

The point spread is favoring the Pack by 2-1/2 points at the time of this writing.

We're call it Packers 34 - Texans 24.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Week 7: Packers vs. Texans Preview and Prediction

A quick look back ...  

Oops.

Before we look at the upcoming game against the Texans in Houston today, we need to acknowledge that things didn't go as planned in last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, did they, Packer fans? After rushing out to a quick and relatively easy 10-point lead, the Pack proceeded to give up 38 unanswered points. An ugly performance on both sides of the ball that saw the Pack fall from the ranks of the undefeated and, for a time anyway, cede first place in the NFC North to Da Bearz (ewwwww!).

The Bucs defense had constant pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers throughout the game, leading to two uncharacteristic interceptions, two within three passes actually (including a pick-6 return), while the Pack's D let a non-mobile Tom Brady go by nearly untouched. The offense couldn't get going and the defense seemed lethargic and out of position constantly. Example: why was DT Kenny Clark dropping into coverage? Who knows. Either out of position or a badly designed scheme. But anyway, that's done. First loss of the season. On to Houston.

One of the things that has been in short supply this season for the Packers has been

turnovers. Here, safety Adrian Amos gets an interception last season against the Bears.

The defense needs to start generating takeaways. (Photo by Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

The game at Houston will pit a potentially explosive offense (Texans) against an actually explosive offense (Packers)...despite the latter not actually being so in last week's game, this year's Packers have been known to put up points. Thankfully, the Texans defense ranks at or near the bottom of the league in terms of defense, which sets things up nicely for the Packers to get back on track after the stumble against the Bucs.

Despite not having LT David Bakhtiari for today's game, perhaps not having RB Aaron Jones (supposedly a game-time decision), and going against all-world (and Wisconsin native) DE JJ Watt, this game sets up well for the Packers offense to put up points.

On the other side of the ball, the Packers defense — which clearly has some of its own issues to resolve — will be going up against the type of quarterback in Deshaun Watson that has typically given them fits over the years. Yes, a different year and set of players. But for the last few years, the same defensive coordinator and scheme. Watson is dangerous when flushed from the pocket. He will be hard to corral and sack. And if he is able to get around the end he can either open things up downfield for a pass or scamper to keep the chains moving.

The Prediction

The Packers come into this game (at the time of this writing) as 3-1/2 point favorites. The Packers need to get the running game going today to not allow Watt and company time and opportunity to get after Rodgers the way the Buccaneers did last week. As noted earlier, it's not clear at this time whether Jones will be active in the backfield today. So Jamaal Williams, A.J. Dillon and other backs, such as Dexter Williams just activated off the practice squad (perhaps a sign that Jones won't be available today), will have to carry the load. If they can do so successfully we should see the offense we saw in the first four games of the season, not the last one. Of course, it would help if the defense could generate a turnover or two, as well, something that they've only done three times in five games so far.

We're calling it Packers 34 - Texans 27.

Go Pack Go!!!