Tensions were high for Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs and members of the Green Bay Packers defense leading up to Sunday’s game. Before kickoff, Diggs got into a heated exchange with corners Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon before they had to be separated.
Tempers flaring ahead of Texans Packers 👀 pic.twitter.com/hCwgw6yJGH
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
Alexander and Diggs have a long history dating back to the Diggs’ time with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2022, the two were caught exchanging words while running out of the tunnel when Diggs was a member of the Buffalo Bills.
However, Alexander has consistently gotten the better of Diggs whenever they have met. According to Pro Football, Alexander and Diggs matched up against each other six times prior to Sunday. In those six matchups, Diggs had been targeted seven times against Alexander’s coverage for three receptions and 21 yards. Essentially, Alexander had been dominating. On Sunday, that domination continued. Per PFF, Diggs had one target against Alexander, which was incomplete.
It wasn’t just Diggs who struggled against Green Bay’s pass defense. Houston quarterback CJ Stroud completed less than 50 percent of his passes and posted a new-career low for passing yards with 86. Diggs was responsible for 23 of those yards- his lowest of the season- on five receptions.
Despite being shut down, Diggs still had plenty to say about the pregame altercation.
“I don’t give a f— if I’m by myself or with a million. I’m never the bigger person. I ain’t letting s— go,” Diggs said postgame via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. “They picked it up or whatever. But I ain’t with the football tough guy s—.”
Alexander did not speak after the game, though edge rusher Rashan Gary did share his thoughts: “Every game that we play is a big game, but just understanding the type of team they are, understanding where we want to get to in the season, you’ve got to take care of business today. And all of that chirping before the game, we don’t like that fake, tough stuff because we’ve got 60 minutes to play ball, and that’s what we did today.”
The Packers overcame three first-half turnovers to defeat the Texans 24-22 on a walk-off field goal by kicker Brandon McManus. The defense deserves a ton of credit for keeping them in the game and making it a very frustrating day for what was a top-five passing offense.