Jordan Love wins quarterback duel, Brandon McManus gets final word in Packers' 24-22 win over the Texans
GREEN BAY – One of the NFL’s most anticipated quarterback duels of the 2024 season ended with the football in Jordan Love’s hands. The Green Bay Packers’ $220 million man showed why he received a mega contract extension this summer.
Starting from the Packers’ 30-yard line with 1:44 left and one timeout, Love got the Packers into range for a 45-yard field goal from newly signed kicker Brandon McManus. The veteran kicker added to the roster this week split the uprights to give the Packers a 24-22 win against the Houston Texans. The victory gave the Packers a 5-2 record, while dropping the Texans to 5-2.
Love’s final drive came after Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud put his team in position for a go-ahead field goal with 1:44 left.
Here are some quick observations from a signature win in the Packers season:
Jordan Love continues to be feast or famine midway through his second season
Let’s focus on the good. Jordan Love threw a howitzer through Texans safety Calen Bullock in the second quarter for a 14-yard touchdown to Tucker Kraft, the type of power cannon the Packers used to see from Brett Favre. He showed some touch on the Packers' next drive, dropping a 30-yard pass into a bucket over Dontayvion Wicks’ shoulder for another score. Yes, the Packers quarterback can make big plays, and he does it in a variety of ways. But let’s take a look at the bad. An interception on the game’s opening drive when Love tried to force a pass into double coverage to Wicks on third-and-3, rather than live for a punt that could pin the Texans deep. An even worse pick late in the first half, throwing deep over the middle to Christian Watson in double coverage. That interception allowed the Texans to close the first half with a touchdown, taking a 19-14 lead at intermission. Through seven games, it’s quite possible Love could end this season leading the NFL in touchdown passes and interceptions. He has 15 touchdowns and eight picks in five games this season. Love outplayed Stroud on Sunday because of the big playmaking, completing 24 of 33 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 95.5 to Stroud's 58.8.
Packers stick with workhorse Josh Jacobs, and he’s rewarded with first career touchdown catch
Josh Jacobs gained 33 yards on his first eight carries. That’s a decent, if not extraordinary, 4.1-yard average. There’s a reason the Packers need to stick with Jacobs for four quarters, and he showed why in Sunday’s second half. With his ninth and 10th carry, Jacobs gained 37 yards. His 10th rush was a 27-yarder, Jacobs’ first carry of at least 20 yards since Week 2. Jacobs is a brutal runner, rarely getting pretty yards, but he has an ability to reach the second level — especially after wearing down an opposing defense. The more Jacobs gets the football, the more his bruising run style will fatigue opponents. The Packers were rewarded for their patience with the top tailback. Jacobs’ two breakout runs sparked a touchdown drive that ended with an 8-yard pass from Love to the running back. It was Jacobs’ 212th career reception and his first touchdown catch, ending a historic drought. Even still, the lesson is why it’s important to stick with Jacobs in this offense, even with some carries might be nothing more than a 3-yard pile pusher. He’s a big playmaker when given enough opportunities.
Jeff Hafley has seemingly unlocked Packers pass rush
Jeff Hafley has scrapped his preseason plan to get after quarterbacks with the Packers’ four-man defensive line, and Sunday his creativity unlocked the Packers pass rush. The Packers sacked Stroud four times, their most since eight sacks Week 3 at Tennessee. Only one sack came from defensive linemen, an unblocked path to Stroud for Rashan Gary after Texans right tackle Tytus Howard fell on his butt off the snap. Gary hadn’t had a sack since the Packers opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, which was also unblocked. But it was Gary’s first pressure of the day on a third down inside the Packers’ 10-yard line that showed Hafley’s creativity. Hafley had Gary stand up as a linebacker off the line of scrimmage and rush the middle, rather than the edge. He was untouched on his way to Stroud, forcing an incompletion. Hafley regularly stacked the line of scrimmage with six or seven players, mixing and matching who he brought on the pass rush. The Packers' second sack was a blitz from safety Xavier McKinney off the edge. Linebacker Eric Wilson had two sacks stunting with linebacker Edgerrin Cooper up the middle. It’s a long way from where the Packers started this season with their pass-rush plan, but Sunday was their most sacks since Week 3, a sign Hafley’s creative blitz scheme is here to stay.
Joe Mixon joins growing list of 100-yard rushers against Packers defense
The Packers couldn’t have asked for more from their defense against Stroud, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. But if there’s a flaw in their defensive makeup through seven weeks, it’s how they defense top-shelf running backs. Texans running back Joe Mixon had a field day Sunday, finishing with 115 yards on 25 carries. About the only thing Mixon couldn’t do was complete a Lambeau Leap. After his first touchdown, Mixon tried to jump into the stands, but a Packers fan pushed him back to the ground. Police escorted the fan out of the stadium for being too physical with the player, though it was unwise for Mixon to approach the stands on the road. The Packers had a tougher time being tough on the running back. It was the fourth time in seven games the Packers have allowed a 100-yard rusher, joining Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley (109 yards), Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor (103) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Kyren Williams (102).
(This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.)