Tag: Houston Texans vs. Green Bay

Texans WR Stefon Diggs explains pregame scuffle with Packers CB Jaire Alexander

Stefon Diggs offered a direct and candid answer following Sunday’s altercation with Jaire Alexander

Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs made it clear that while his pregame scuffle with Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander caused a commotion, he doesn’t regret calling out the All-Pro defender.

“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 told reporters. “They picked it up or whatever. But I ain’t with the football tough guy s—.”

While walking back to the locker room, Diggs said he heard “chirping” coming from the Packers’ sidelines. He found Alexander and called him out.

Soon enough, other Green Bay players started to get involved. Eventually, multiple coaches had to break up Diggs, Alexanders and others so the two sides could head back to the locker room.

Following Green Bay’s 24-22 win, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said would’ve preferred for Diggs to “be the bigger person.”

“We don’t want to encourage that,” Ryans said. “We just want to go out and play ball the right way and make sure it’s settled on the field. We can’t be about chirping and all the extra stuff, we’ve just got to be about executing when the ball is snapped.”

Sunday marked the sixth time Diggs and Alexader went up against each other and the first since 2022. Back with the Buffalo Bills, Diggs finished with 108 receiving yards and a touchdown.
For his career, the four-time Pro Bowl receiver had totaled over 400 receiving yards and six touchdowns in coverage against Alexander. On Sunday, the Packers held Diggs to five catches for 23 yards and one first-down reception.
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“How we played offensively is just not good enough for us,” Ryans said. “We have to play better. Guys have to execute better. Have to step up.”
The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at noon CT.

Instant Analysis: Texans’ passing game struggles in road loss against Packers

The Houston Texans move to 5-2 on the season after falling short on the road against the Green Bay Packers

This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

Jordan Love made one more throw than C.J. Stroud.

It was the one to set up the eventual game-winning field goal.

Five days after being signed, Brandon McManus drilled a 45-yard field goal as time expired to help the Green Bay Packers secure a 24-22 victory over the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field.

Both teams sit at 5-2 entering Week 8. Houston falls to 2-2 on the road, while Green Bay improves to 3-1 at home.

Love, who tossed a pair of interceptions during the first half, orchestrated a clean final drive after Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 35-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. The 2020 first-round pick went 4 of 6 for 44 yards, including a pair of 10-yard completions to Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs.

Stroud, who last week tossed three touchdown passes, constantly was under duress and never found an identity pass. He threw for a career-low 86 yards and completed just 10 pass attempts.

But the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year saved his best drive for last, driving Houston 45 yards in 13 plays late in the fourth quarter to set up Fairbairn’s kick.

On third-and-10, Stroud connected with a diving Xavier Hutchinson for a gain of 11 to keep the drive alive.

If Houston’s offense was looking for any promise, it starts with Joe Mixon’s consistency on the ground. He rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.

The offensive line made the offense one-dimensional in the second half after allowing four sacks.

Defensively, the Texans set the tone early thanks to a pair of turnovers. With Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o out due to injury, Neville Hewitt stepped up and proved his value as a No. 3 option with an interception against Love on the opening drive.

Rookie Calen Bullock picked off Love with just under four minutes remaining in the first half to set up Mixon’s second touchdown before halftime. Bullock, a third-round pick out of USC, recorded his third interception in seven games.

The Texans’ special teams set up Mixon’s first score after M.J. Stewart recovered a fumble after the ball ricocheted off Corey Ballentine’s leg. Sunday marked the second consecutive week where Houston registered three turnovers.

Houston returns to NRG Stadium following a two-game road trip to take on the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday at noon CT.

Watch: Texans RB Joe Mixon continues dominance with TD run vs. Packers

Joe Mixon remains the bell cow for the Houston Texans’ offense entering halftime at Lambeau Field.

Joe Mixon is cashing in on being the Houston Texans top running back.

The Texans are cashing in on the Green Bay Packers‘ mistakes.

Following a muffed punt recovered by the defensive back M.J. Stewart, Mixon punched in a 2-yard touchdown to give Houston a 10-7 lead at Lambeau Field.

The only downside of the play? His Lambeau Leap was foiled thanks to the Packers’ faithful keeping him out of the stands.

Since returning from injury, Mixon has lived up to billing as being the top option for Houston’s ground game. He finished with 102 yards and a touchdown run in Week 6’s victory over the New England Patriots. Mixon also caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown reception in the second half.

As the Texans enter the second half, Mixon remains the head honcho on offense. He’s averaging 7.4 yards per run with three first-down conversions.

The Texans will start the second half on offense while looking to improve to 6-1.

What did Packers QB Jordan Love say about Texans star C.J. Stroud?

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love only has positives to say about Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud.

Jordan Love considers C.J. Stroud a friend.

He also knows what the Houston Texans’ did last season is something that most could only dream of as a rookie.

“You don’t see too many quarterbacks that come in and ball out the way he did,” Love told reporters of Stroud in Green Bay earlier this week. “Definitely a testament to the work he’s put in to get there. I’m proud of him. You don’t see too many quarterbacks that do come in and play well right away.”

Love, a 2020 first-round pick, had three seasons to sit and learn under four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers before taking over as the face of the Packers.
Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in 2023, was thrust into the starting role for a franchise that hadn’t had a winning season since 2020.

Over three seasons, the Texans had posted a combined 11 wins.

In one year with Stroud, the Texans total 10 regular-season victories and a playoff win over Deshaun Watson’s Cleveland Browns. Stroud would win Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for over 4,00 yards and 23 touchdown passes.

Love, who played for Liberty High School in Bakersfield, California, is three years older than Stroud but said he knew of the former Ohio State quarterback’s potential from his time at Rancho Cucamonga High School in San Bernardino County just outside Los Angeles.

“I’ve been watching him for a while now, since high school, so watched him in college and then watched him ball out last year,” Love said. “Me and C.J. are close.”

Not only are the two California passers close off the field, but they’re also close in the hunt for MVP honors. Stroud ranks fifth in passing touchdowns (six), sixth in passing yards (1,577) and ninth in completion percentage (68.3).

Love, who missed two games with a lower-body injury, is second in passing touchdowns (12) and second in yards per game (282.9).

“Jordan is a great dude,” Stroud said Wednesday. “I think he’s a great quarterback. He’s definitely a friend of mine and somebody who I look up to.”

A win for either side not only strengthens their chances of making the playoffs but it also sets the tone for an MVP push. Love knows Stroud’s a unique talent in the pros.

The same goes for the coach looking to take the Texans down.

“I do have a lot of respect for him and what he was able to do a year ago just to be able to come into the league as a young player and put up the type of numbers that he did and lead them into the playoffs,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “I think that was pretty impressive.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT at Lambeau Field.