Five keys to 5-2 Texans’ narrow, 24-22 road loss to Packers

GREEN BAY, WI – Dominated at the line of scrimmage at times and unable to decipher and solve the Green Bay Packers’ aggressive stunts and blitz packages, the Texans came up short in a road game at historic Lambeau Field.

The Texans’ three-game winning streak was snapped despite Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud being under constant siege. He was sacked four times and hit seven times overall, but never turned the football over. And kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 35-yard game-winning field goal in the final minutes that was answered by Packers kicker Brandon McManus in the final seconds to ice the game with a 45-yard game-winning kick. The Texans allowed the Packers to have too much time left on the clock before Fairbairn’s field goal, and that gave Green Bay the opening it needed to win the football game as time expired.

• Tempers flare between Texans’ Stefon Diggs and Packers, Jaire Alexander before kickoff at Lambeau Field

Here are five reasons why the Texans dropped to 5-2 overall this season and fell to 0-2 against NFC North opponents following a previous blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

1. Pass protection was a major issue Sunday. Stroud was under heavy duress all game as delayed blitzes and stunts gave the Texans’ offensive line fits. Stroud completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards and no scores. He had a 54.3 passer rating. He was sacke three times on third downs and went 2 for 7 for 13 yards on third downs as they converted 4 for 13 overall on third-down tries. Stroud only completed passes to two wide receivers as Stefon Diggs caught five passes for 23 yards on seven targets with Tank Dell going 0 for 4 on his targets and dropped a potential touchdown pass. Linebacker Eric Wilson got home for two sacks, both blitzing up the middle. Rashan Gary had one sack and three quarterback hits.

And safety Xavier McKinney crushed Stroud on a blindside hit as he was unblocked on another sack. Stroud rallied, though, and completed a key pass to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson to position the Texans for a late field goal from Fairbairn for a short-lived lead.

2. Texans running back Joe Mixon carried the offense on his back. He punished the Packers’ defense with 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, but the Texans went away from the running game in the second half for the most part. The Packers’ traditionally stout defense had difficult tackling Mixon in the open field as he found the corner for a long run of 32 yards.

3. The Texans won the turnover battle, going plus-3 in the first half. However, they failed to capitalize on those opportunities enough to build a lead. And Jordan Love, the Packers’ star quarterback did enough damage through the air as he went after cornerback D’Angelo Ross in his second NFL start. Love passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions on 24 of 33 passing. Ross allowed one of the touchdowns on a deep pass to the corner of the end zone to wide receiver Dontayvion Hicks as he created separation immediately at the line. Tight end Tucker Kraft got behind middle linebacker Neville Hewitt for another touchdown on a perfectly threaded pass over the middle that rookie safety Calen Bullock couldn’t get to in time. Bullock intercepted Love once and has a team-high three interceptions for the season.

4. Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs caught eight of 10 passes thrown to him for 94 yards. He was Love’s favorite target with seven passes thrown his way.

5 Filling in for injured middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, Hewitt held up well as he intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards. Hewitt played a physical game with a team-high nine tackles.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.