Lambeau leaps were alive and well on a gorgeous autumn day in Green Bay as newly signed K Brandon McManus gave the cheesehead faithful something to celebrate. QB Jordan Love shook off a pair of first half interceptions with a brilliant two minute drill drive in the fourth quarter finishing the game throwing 24/33 220 YDS 3 TD and 2 INT with a QBR of 95.5. WR Romeo Doubs had 8 REC for 94 YDS and S Evan Williams led the team with 9 total tackles continuing his stand out rookie campaign. In case you missed it, here is the recap:  

GB chose to receive as the ball started at their own 20. The first play was a 23-yard completion from QB Love to WR  Doubs. On third-and-3, QB Love threw an ill advised pass into double coverage as the ball was tipped and intercepted by LB Neville Hewitt returned to the GB 11. This was QB Love’s fifth straight game throwing an interception. After an offsides called on DT Preston Smith setting up third-and-4, QB CJ Stroud felt pressure from DT Rashan Gary forcing an incomplete pass. K Ka’imi Fairbarn made the 23-yard field goal attempt for the first points of the game. HOU 3 GB 0 with 11:48 left in the first quarter.

After a couple of short plays to WR Jayden Reed and WR Bo Melton, QB Love threw a completion to RB Jacobs who was stopped short of the first down as the Packers offense looked stagnant. P Daniel Whelan punted the ball 47 yards to the HOU 20. QB Stround found a wide open TE Dalton Schultz for a 28-yard gain. After DT Gary got his second sack of the season, HOU was able to make up the loss yardage as QB Stroud scrambled for 6 yards on third down picking up the first. On third-and-6 at the GB 36, Packers brought the safety blitz as S Xavier McKinney sprinted untouched sacking QB Stroud for an 8-yard loss knocking them out of field goal range forcing the HOU punt.

Starting at their own 8-yard line, the GB offense got the ball rolling with an 11-yard completion to TE Tucker Kraft and a 13-yard run by RB Josh Jacobs. On third-and-5 at the HOU 45, QB Love threw a perfect back shoulder pass to WR Melton for an 8-yard first down gain to the HOU 37. The last play of the first quarter was a double wide receiver reverse as HOU defense read it perfectly tackling WR Christian Watson for the 4-yard loss. HOU 3 GB 0.

Second Quarter: Texans 3 Packers 0

The first play of the second quarter was a 6-yard completion to WR Reed with an additional 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness with an aggressive tackle slam setting up GB at the HOU 20. On-third-and-4, QB Love called an audible at the line and threw a cannon in the end zone to TE Kraft for the 14-yard touchdown. With that touchdown, QB Love tied Aaron Rodgers for the franchise record 17th straight game with throwing a touchdown pass (2015-2016 season). K McManus made the extra point as the Packers took the lead GB 7 HOU 3 with 13:16 left in the second quarter. 

GB defense swarmed on WR Diggs for a 1-yard completion, but LB Quay Walker was injured on the play after getting kicked in the head and did not return to the game with a concussion (he had played every snap this season). On third-and-9, GB brought the blitz as QB Stroud had to rush throwing it away. The GB special teams had a moment of negligence as the punt took an unfriendly bounce into CB Corey Ballentine and HOU recovered the ball at the GB 11 (why do you not fair catch that?). It took two RB Joe Mixon runs to get into the end zone. The extra point was good making the score HOU 10 GB 7 with 11:52 left in the second quarter.

After a couple of RB Emanuel Wilson runs setting up third-and-3, QB Love found RB Wilson in the backfield maneuvering out of the pocket pressure turning on the jets for the first down. After a 30-yard pass interference call putting the ball at the HOU 30, QB Love completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to WR Dontayvion Wicks down the sideline. The successful extra point by K McManus made the score GB 14 HOU 10 with 8:51 left in the second quarter.

HOU started their drive with a 42-yard kick return to the HOU 43. HOU kept the ground game going as the GB defense continued to struggle stopping RB Mixon. After a timely stop on an RB screen by LB Eric Wilson (who deserved a game ball) for a 2-yard loss, the Packers D brought blitz pressuring QB Stroud to throw an incomplete pass with S Williams on the tight coverage. K Fairbairn made the 52-yard field goal attempt bringing the score to GB 14 HOU 13 with 4:30 left in the second quarter. 

On the first play of the GB drive, QB Love threw a pass that sailed over WR Watson and the ball was picked off by S Calen Bullock at the HOU 45. RB Mixon carried HOU to the red zone after a 32-yard run on first down. With two minutes to go on second-and-4, RB Mixon picked up another positive gain for 10 yards bringing the ball to the GB 4. RB Mixon scored on the next play continuing to dominate on the ground (78 YDS and two TDS for RB Mixon total in the second quarter). HOU failed on the two point conversion with a beautiful tackle by S Williams holding the score to HOU 19 GB 14 with 1:13 left in the second quarter.

With two timeouts to work with, QB Love and the Packers went three-and-out after a critical sack and a dropped long pass by WR Reed. GB punted and HOU took a knee concluding the first half. HOU 19 GB 14. 

Third Quarter: Texans 19 Packers 14

GB defense came out with some necessary halftime adjustments stuffing the run and LB Wilson getting a third down sack forcing the Texans to punt on a three-and-out possession (shout out to DC Jeff Hafley who has been sensational with halftime adjustments). Looking to clean up the offensive miscues, QB Love hit WR Doubs over the middle for an 11-yard first down gain. RB Jacobs started to pick up momentum with a 10-yard then 27-yard gain bringing the GB offense to the HOU 18. On second-and-goal, QB Love threw a screen to RB Jacobs who ran in the end zone for his first ever touchdown reception (RB Jacobs had a record 212 receptions without a touchdown).  HC Matt Lafleur decided to not go for two as K McManus nailed the extra point giving the Packers the lead GB 21 HOU 19 with 7:25 left in the third quarter. 

HOU called three straight passing plays as the GB defense was able to keep QB Stroud struggling bringing a third down all-out blitz with the pass being broken up by LB Wilson. P Townsend punted a booming 66-yard punt as WR Reed received it and was tackled at the GB 4 (some extra punt receiving practice reps maybe necessary this week). Following minimal positive gains, WR Reed was stopped for no gain on third-and-1 on an interesting WR reverse play call as the HOU defense responded with their own three-and-out. QB Stroud started to heat up with a 12-yard pass to RB Nixon then finding WR Stefon Diggs over the middle for a 17-yard gain. On third-and-7, GB defense brought another blitz resulting in another LB Wilson sack for a 9-yard loss at the HOU 47. Starting at their own 11, QB Love was able to dish out a quick completion to a slanting WR Doubs setting up third-and-3 on what was the final play of the third quarter. GB 21 HOU 19. 
 

Fourth Quarter: Packers 21 Texans 19
 

QB Love was sacked on the first play of the fourth quarter forcing the Packers to punt again in what has turned into a game of chess on field position. After back-to-back scrambles by QB Stroud leading to a 16-yard first down gain, HOU found themselves at another third down with the GB defense finally containing RB Nixon. QB Stroud was pressured on another run and was stopped 10 yards short of the first down as HOU punted the ball resulting in a touchback. At this point in the game, QB Stroud was pressured on 50% of drop backs (wow).  GB offense started the drive by shooting themselves in the foot with an illegal block in the back penalty negating a RB Jacobs positive gain. After a sack setting up third-and-27, QB Love found WR Doubs for an 11-yard gain setting up another beautiful 61-yard punt by P Whelan to the HOU 38. RB Mixon found a gaping hole picking up 17 yards on the first play of the drive. On third-and-5 at the GB 40, the Packers defense was called for their third offsides penalty of the day making it third-and-inches which was converted on a short pass to WR Diggs. HOU kept the ball on the ground killing the clock with a first down pick up by RB Nixon. On third-and-10, QB Stroud completed an 11-yard pass to WR Xavier Hutchinson for the first down to the GB 12 allowing the clock to run down to the two minute warning. The GB defense was able to push the ball back saving one timeout as Fairbairn made a 35-yard field bringing the score to HOU 22 GB 21 with 1:44 left in the game. 

Looking for his fifth ever game winning drive, QB Love was able to hit WR Wicks for a first down on third-and-two bringing the ball to midfield. A 13-yard completion to WR Doubs brought GB into field goal range as the clock continued to run. With 15 seconds remaining, QB Love connected with WR Doubs on a 5-yard pass to the GB 27-yard line with three seconds left in the game. After HOU called a timeout canceling K McManus' first kick, he responded with a successful 45-yard field goal on the second attempt as time expired giving the Packers the victory bringing their record to 5-2. Final score GB 24 HOU 22. 

The Packers next game will be at Jacksonville on Sunday 10/27 starting time at 12:00 PM CT. 

Five Fascinating Stats of the Game:

Turnovers: HOU 0 GB 3
Passing Yards: HOU 55 GB 195
Rushing Yards: HOU 142 GB 82
Penalties: HOU 5-55 GB 8-55
3rd Down Efficiency: HOU 4-13 GB 4-10