Tag: Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers

Texans tasked with slowing down Packers trio of talented receivers

Four different receivers can all find ways to eliminate the Houston Texans’ defense come Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.

Most teams have one top receiver for a quarterback to target. 

For the Green Bay Packers, it’s four. 

The Houston Texans have an opportunity to slow down Jordan Love and a revamped Green Bay roster amid its hunt for an NFC North title. The Packers can take advantage of Houston’s injury woes and capitalize in the passing game. 

It’s why Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Tucker Kraft could be the ‘Four Packmen of the Greenpocalypse’ that ceases talk of an AFC title midway through Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. 

“Matt [LaFleur] has done a really good job of structuring the offense and coaching the quarterback to get the ball to where it’s supposed to go,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “You have a coverage, there’s the answer and ball’s out to it quick.”

Reed, a former second-round pick out of Michigan State, has been Jordan Love’s best option through four games. He’s also been the favorite target for Malik Willis when the Pro Bowl passer was out with a knee injury.

A combination of speed, smooth route-running and sticky hands, Reed’s hauled in 27 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 16.4 yards per route and 4.5 catches per game. 

“They try to get the ball in his hands as many ways as possible, whether putting him in the backfield on wide receiver runs or just getting it to him on the short intermediate passes, this kid is explosive he is a big play threat anytime he touches the football and not just catching the ball, but his ability to cut back, his ability to burst past defenders, it’s cool to see,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wedensday. 

If Reed is the headliner, Doubs, Wicks and Kraft are the backup. After serving a one-game suspension, Doubs caught a pair of touchdown passes in Green Bay’s 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

Kraft caught two touchdowns and averaged 22 yards in Week 5’s win over the Los Angeles Rams. 

Wicks took over as the top name in Week 4’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings with two touchdowns to match his 78 yards off 13 targets. 

“They’re all really good players,” Burke said. “I think the structure of the offense is really good and they do a good job of just putting those guys in spots to be successful. We can’t worry about whose where and which guy is doing what.” 

Green Bay enters Sunday’s matchup with the fourth-ranked offense. The run game, headlined by Josh Jacobs, sets up the pass for Love and his underrated five-headed arsenal. 

Five different receivers have caught multiple touchdowns. Six have been targets at least 12 times and have over 100 receiving yards. 

The Packers also can milk the clock off turnovers. Not only did Green Bay hang on to the football for nearly 37 minutes, but also forced three turnovers. 

Green Bay currently leads the NFL with 17 takeaways, the most through six games since 2018, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Star free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney has five interceptions, one of each game he’s played since leaving the New York Giants this offseason. 

“When they get there, they make the play almost every time,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “Every mistake against this defense is costly and that’s in the pass and the run game. You get loose with the ball in the run game, they make you pay.” 

Texans QB C.J. Stroud excited for trip to Lambeau Field

C.J. Stroud is excited to make his first trip to Lambeau Field this upcoming weekend to face off against the Green Bay Packers.

Sometimes, a stadium is more than just a place where NFL games are held.

It’s an experience. It’s unique. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for some.

That’s partially what C.J. Stroud is most pumped for when the Houston Texans touch down at Lambeau Field for a Week 7 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

“You dream as a kid to go play at this stadium and it’s a historical stadium,” Stroud said Wedensday. “A lot of great games played in there and to go for my first opportunity to be up there against a great team is going to be an honor and I can’t wait.”

Stroud, a favorite to win the league MVP, has yet to see Lambeau in his short career. Houston drew the NFC North as its cross-division opponent in 2024, meaning two games would be on the road.
Week 3 sent the Texans to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Week 7 has Houston heading to the mecha of the NFL World to face Jordan Love and a revamped Packers team looking for a signature in their backyard.
“Lambeau is a special place,” coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday. “I told our players that today, it’s a special place to play. You talk about the history of football. It is always special to play there and it is even more special when you can get a victory in Lambeau because they always have a tough team.”
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Stroud agrees. While at Ohio State, he played at several infamous locations in the Big Ten, including Penn State’s Beaver Stadium and The Big House at the University of Michigan.

Lambeau Field has the same energy. It’s a safe haven for Wisconsinites who have rooted for the only fan-owned franchise for decades. They’ve seen ample stars lead their team to Super Bowl titles, including Bart Starr, Brett Favre and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Love, who guided Green Bay back to the postseason last year, looks to be next. That’s of course if he can slow down Stroud and the Texans first.

“Everybody understands the significance of Lambeau and how special that place is,” Ryans said.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.