For the first time in 2024, the Houston Texans have been on the opposing side of a game-winning kick.
Brandon McManus, who signed earlier this week with the Green Bay Packers, drilled a 45-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 24-22 victory at Lambeau Field.
Houston’s offense barely had life. The defense created two turnovers and the special teams were special, especially M.J. Stewart’s fumble recovery inside Green Bay’s red zone.
Not all is terrible for the Texans as they fall to 5-2 entering Week 8’s matchup at home against the Indianapolis Colts.
It’s time to hand out game balls and pick the play of the game:
Game balls
Offense: RB Joe Mixon — This is the only correct answer because Mixon was the only consistent player Sunday. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt, capitalized on several third-and-short runs and pushed ahead for two touchdowns in the first half.
When Mixon is healthy, the Texans’ offense could be considered one of the league’s best. Sunday marked the third 100-yard rushing performance for the former Bengals’ star and the third game where he’s averaged over 22 carries and 4.5 yards per attempt. Last season, the Texans were one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.
Entering Week 8, they rank 16th in yards per attempt, 15th in rushing yards per game and 11th in rushing touchdowns. That’s mainly because of Mixon’s ability to win at the point of attack and explosive runs in space.
Defense: LB Neville Hewitt — Thrust into a full-time role after Azeez Al-Shaair left last week’s win over New England, Hewitt has been a tackling machine. He also showed off his hands with an early interception after Jordan Love’s pass was broken up by Jalen Pitre to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal in the first quarter. Hewitt finished with eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception. He also helped force two thrid-down stops that led to a punt from Daniel Whelan.
Special teams: DB M.J. Stewart — Situational awareness was essential in Sunday’s outing for Houston to put up points. Seventeen of the Texans’ 22 points came off turnovers, with perhaps the game-changer being on a muffed punt recovered by M.J. Stewart. The ball hit Corey Ballentine’s leg and became live. Perfectly, Stewart pounced on the ball to set up a 4-yard touchdown run from Mixon later in the drive.
Play of the game
After starting off the final drive with a few conservative runs, the Texans were facing a 3rd-and-10 and just were pushed out of field goal range. Stroud barely had time to survey the field before a pair of Packers defenders were in his face.
On the run, Stroud found an open Xavier Hutchinson near the sideline and delivered a strike. The ball was low, so Hutchinson dove to avoid contact with the defenders and secured the ball.
A fresh of downs and three plays later, Houston led by two with just under two minutes remaining in the game. If the play-calling was a bit more aggressive, perhaps the Texans would be up by five, thus forcing Jordan Love and the Packers to go for the end zone.
Biggest play in X Hutchinson’s career to date. pic.twitter.com/aePd5CAUfd
— big ounce (@_bigounce) October 20, 2024
Still, it was a quality reception for Hutchinson as the de facto No. 3 target.