Tag: Texans vs. Packers 2024

Texans-Packers Week 7: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

Here’s the snap count from Sunday’s matchup between the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers.

Ka’imi Fairbairn had bailed the Houston Texans out of trouble three times over the first six games. 

There was almost a fourth time, but Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus had other plans heading into the final drive. 

Five days after being signed to the active roster, McManus kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give Green Bay a 24-22 victory over Houston on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field. 

Despite a stable rushing performance by Joe Mixon, Green Bay (5-2) overcame three turnovers to win its third straight and snap Houston’s three-game winning streak.

“We didn’t pass the ball well all day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So, it wasn’t good all the way around. We ran the ball well. I thought Joe did a good job running the ball. We needed to pass it. It was not good enough, starting with the protection. If we can’t protect, then that’s going to be difficult for the quarterback to make the plays.”

Mixon, who inked a three-year extension in the offseason, lived up to the billing with his third 100-yard outing in four games. On top of rushing for 115 yards on 24 carries, he also scored a pair of red-zone touchdowns to give Houston the 19-14 lead at halftime. 

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud never found a consistent rhythm on offense. He completed 10 of 21 pass attempts for a career-low 86 yards and was sacked four times in a game with seven lead changes.

“We just have to be better in protection, and I have to be better at getting the ball out on time. It is a multitude of things,” Stroud said. 

The Texans didn’t have five defensive starters with tackle Mario Edwards Jr. serving a suspension while linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Jimmie Ward were injured. Denico Autry, who recently returned from a six-game suspension, was being eased back into the lineup. 

Offensively, the Texans were down three receivers with Nico Collins, Robert Woods and Steven Sims all being out with injuries.

That changed up the snap count. Here’s the total for Sunday’s game at Lambeau.

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Offensive snaps: 64
Defensive snaps: 58
Special teams snaps: 19

Diggs, who finished with a team-leading five catches for 23, also led Houston’s skill players in snaps with 51. Mixon was on the field for 64% of snaps, while Dare Ogunbowale and Dameon Pierce combined for 22 snaps.

Defensively, Neville Hewitt played all 58 snaps at middle linebacker and served as the Texans’ most complete player. He registered eight tackles and an interception.

For the first time this season, rookie Calen Bullock played 100% of snaps at safety. He picked off Jordan Love in the second quarter to help set up Mixon’s 4-yard touchdown run.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at noon CT.

Packers 24, Texans 22: Highlights from Week 7 loss

Here’s the highlights from Sunday’s performance at Lambeau Field as the Texans return to NRG Stadium for Week 8.

Joe Mixon and the defense made sure to keep fans interested for four quarters during Sunday’s outing at Lambeau Field.

Mixon rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but it wasn’t enough to stop kicker Brandon McManus from drilling a 45-yard field goal as time as the Green Bay Packers secured a 24-22 win over the Houston Texans.

Defensively, Houston stepped up. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. each totaled a sack. Tim Settle Jr. found success slowing down Packers running back Josh Jacobs and recorded two tackles for loss. Neville Hewitt, who was filling in as a starter for the injured Azezz Al-Shaar, totaled a team-high nine tackles.

Hewitt also picked off Jordan Love on the opening drive to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal. Before halftime, rookie Calen Bullock notched the third pick of his budding career, helping set up one of Mixon’s touchdown runs before halftime.

Unfortunately, not all was promising. C.J. Stroud finished with 10 completions for a career-low 86 passing yards. Stefon Diggs caught five passes for 23 yards. No one recorded a catch over 28 yards and the offensive line allowed four sacks.

The 24-22 loss against the Packers moved the Texans’ record to 5-2 after seven games. Houston had won three straight games and five of the last seven since the start of the regular season.

Watch the highlights from Sunday’s game below:

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.

Watch: Texans WR Stefon Diggs involved in pregame incident with Packers CB Jaire Alexander

Jaire Alexander and Stefon Diggs already have the tempers flaring before kickoff at Lambeau Field.

Tempers are flaring early at Lambeau Field between Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexader.

Expect this to be a storyline of the afternoon between the two All-Pro talents.

Diggs appeared to get into it with several Packers players, including Alexander, during pregame warmups. Coaches and others got involved as separated, but not before a few words were exchanged between the two.

Here’s a look at the incident below.

This isn’t the first time these two have had beef. It dates back to Diggs’ time with the Minnesota Vikings and Alexander’s rookie season with the Packers back in 2018.

It continued to Diggs’ stint with the Buffalo Bills. In 2022, the two went up against one another in coverage and had multiple fights between reps.

Diggs finished that game with six catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Alexander allowed four catches for 68 yards and the score. Sunday will mark the sixth time the two have faced each other in coverage.

In the five previous games, Diggs has totaled 44 receptions for 419 yards and six receiving touchdowns against Alexander. The 6-foot Alexander has one interception and six pass deflections in those games.

Earlier this week, the four-time Pro Bowler declined to comment on his skirmishes with Alexander in the past.

“I could say yeah, but it’s no different than our approach any other week,” Diggs said. “I try to earn it each and every week in practice, try to get on the same page with my quarterback. I don’t really try to get into all the extra stuff.”

The Texans will receive the ball to begin the second half.