The streaky Texans make the trip to Lambeau Field to play the Packers who share the same 5-7 record. The season opened with a four game skid, followed by three straight wins. Three straight losses came next and now the Texans have a chance in Green Bay to win their third straight and inch within one win of the .500 mark.
After creating just 9 turnovers in their first ten games, Houston forced 8 in just the last two games - both convincing wins over Cleveland then Jacksonville on Monday night. Of course they won the turnover battle in those two games. Under Coach Kubiak they have had positive turnover margin 14 times in his 44 games. he team is 12-2 in those games. Doesn't that sound like a simple plan for success?
The Texans had plenty of heroes from their successful Monday night debut. Defensively Mario Williams showed why he is one of the premier defensive ends in football. Three sacks and a forced fumble which the Texans turned into a touchdown, he was just too much to handle the Jaguars. Much-mailgned Jacques Reeves still had a couple of instances when he neglected to turn his head to make a play on the ball, but he also made a very good play to pick off his fourth pass of the season. His interception came on the first play after the Texans only turnover and was a huge momentum shifter. It was his 4th interception this year, only one other AFC cornerback has more - Cortland Finnegan of the Titans has 5.
On offense, Andre Johnson had another solid night and put the Texans on the board during their opening drive by turning an 18 yard catch into a 31-yard touchdown by outracing the Jaguars defense to the endzone. Rookie Steve Slaton cranked out 182 total yards including a pair of electryfying explosive plays - a 46-yard catch and run that put the Texans at the one-yard line and a 40-yard touchdown balst off right tackle that put the final points on the board for Houston and capped a solid all-around offensive night for the team.
I talked to several players following the win in front of the national audience and they agreed that the team was amped up - the atmosphere in the building was too, yet they could have played better. That is encouraging that they soundly beat their second straight opponent and could still play sharper football.
The Packers are playing for their playoff lives, while the Texans are trying to prove they can win away from home. They almost certainly will have to deal with the elements for this December tilt in Lambeau. Matt Schaub will probably be healthy enough to draw his first start since the Vikings game 5 weeks ago. Sage Rosenfels has started 5 games just like last year, although with a bit less success. He was 4-1 last year, just 2-3 this year with 4 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Not much will change with Sachaub back, provided his knee i sfully healed.
Green Bay started their season with 2 wins, but have gone just 3-7 since under first year starting QB Aaron Rodgers. They've lost their share of close ones, inlcuding this past weekend's loss to Carolina, their 4th loss by less than a touchdown. Rodgers rates in the top ten in both yards passing and passer rating and they are the league's 5th highest scoring team, but they are just 22nd in points allowed.
For two consecutive weeks - the only two this season - the Texans have been more aggressive on defense. They've showed different looks, they have blizted more frequently and they have finally made a couple of offensives look uncomfortable. One can only what took so long to prompt the Texans to get out of their lazy, sit back and get picked apart tendencies.
To get a win in Green Bay, the story remains the same, no matter the conditions, win the turnover battle. Take care of the football and continue to make the other team uncomfortable when they have the ball by not sitting back and playing passively Either way - it should be fun to see the Texans playing in the extreme cold. They have fared well before, see Pittsburgh in December of 2002 (W, 24-6) and Chicago in 2004 (W, 24-5).
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