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| ATL at NO | CIN at IND | CLE at TEN | DAL at PIT | HOU at GB | JAX at CHI | KC at DEN | MIA at BUF |
| MIN at DET | NE at SEA | NYJ at SF | OAK at SD | PHI at NYG | STL at ARI | TB at CAR | WAS at BAL |
Week 14 Game Recap: Houston Texans 24, Green Bay Packers 21
What you need to know
| Houston Texans |
Matt Schaub made a triumphant return after missing four games with a knee injury. Schaub got the Texans on the board early; on the third play of the game, Schaub stood tough against two Packer pass rushers and absorbed their blow while lofting the ball to Kevin Walter. Walter was able to adjust to the underthrown pass while two Green Bay defensive backs fell down leaving him a clear path to the end zone for a 58 yard touchdown. Schaub ended the game with 414 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Rookie running back Steve Slaton had another strong game. Slaton finished with 120 yards and surpassed 1,000 for the season. He also added 40 yards on three receptions.
Houston put up 549 yards of total offense in the game, but kept the Packers alive with four costly turnovers.
Jacoby Jones muffed two punts during the game. He recovered the first, but Green Bay recovered the second mistake and drove the rest of the field for a touchdown.
| Green Bay Packers |
The Packers entered the game with playoff hopes fading fast. After suffering another late home loss, those hopes are on life support. Although Green Bay's defense gave up more than 500 yards of offense, the unit helped keep the team in the game by creating four timely turnovers that led to all of the Packers' points. Green Bay leads the NFL with 114 points created from takeaways this season.
Despite being outplayed for much of the game, Green Bay took a 14-13 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Houston answered with a touchdown and two point conversion before the Packers tied the game at 21 with six minutes to play. However, once again the Packers' hopes were dashed late (this time on the final play of the game) when Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired.
Aaron Rodgers played well enough to win. Rodgers completed 19 of his 30 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He spread the ball around to nine different receivers with no player catching more than three passes.
Ryan Grant played well. Grant totaled 104 rushing yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.
Will Blackmon returned a kickoff for a 99 yard touchdown late in the first half, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty.
What you ought to know
| QB Matt Schaub, Pass: 28 - 42 - 414 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 0 - 0 |
Schaub saw his first action since week 9 after missing four games with a knee injury. He showed no signs of rust. Schaub was able to roll out and scramble without problems. He also showed that he could stand in the pocket and take a hit in order to deliver a pass. Schaub's 414 passing yards were a career high. Charles Woodson nearly intercepted a Schaub pass in the first half. Schaub was penalized for intentional grounding once in the game.
| RB Steve Slaton, Rush: 26 - 120 - 0, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (3 targets) |
Slaton totaled 160 yards of offense on the day. He topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark during the game. Slaton has the speed to create big plays; he had five plays of at least 12 yards in the game, including a 34 yard run and a 21 yard reception. Slaton is also proving adept at running between the tackles and will likely be a staple in the Texan offense for years. Slaton did lose a fumble in the red zone that likely cost Houston points.
| RB Vonta Leach, Rec: 3 - 48 - 0 (3 targets) |
Leach, the big fullback, caught all three of his targets. He had receptions of 21 and 22 yards. Leach welcomed contact by refusing to go out of bounds. A fifteen yard facemask penalty was added to his 21 yard gain. Leach was penalized for a false start.
| RB Ryan Moats, Rush: 2 - 6 - 0 |
Moats had two three yard runs.
| RB Cecil Sapp, Rush: 1 - -3 - 0 |
Sapp had one attempt on a third and short. He was stuffed for a three yard loss by Desmond Bishop who reached the backfield unblocked. Sapp had no chance on the play.
| WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 6 - 146 - 1 (9 targets) |
Walter caught his eighth touchdown pass of the season on the game's third play. He was able to adjust to Schaub's underthrown pass and jog to the end zone for a 58 yard touchdown after the Packer defenders collided. Walter was targeted deep a few other occasions and also hauled in a 46 yard catch. Walter fumbled the football, but was spared when the officials ruled him down instead. Because the whistle had blown, the play was not reviewable.
| WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 4 - 55 - 1 (9 targets) |
Johnson entered the game leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. He caught four passes for 55 yards. His 11 yard touchdown catch and two point grab gave Houston a seven point lead in the fourth quarter.
| WR David Anderson, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (5 targets) |
Anderson chipped in three receptions for 34 yards.
| WR Andre Davis, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (4 targets) |
Davis had a 21 yard reception. His other catch went for one yard. He was also targeted deep on another Schaub attempt.
| TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 6 - 65 - 0 (6 targets) |
Daniels tied for the team lead with six catches. Daniels nearly had a touchdown, but fumbled on his way into the end zone in the second quarter.
| TE Joel Dreessen, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Dreesen caught his only target for a four yard gain.
| PK Kris Brown 3 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points |
Brown hit the game winning 40 yard field goal as time expired. He was wide right, however, on a 41 yard attempt to close the first half. Brown did hit a 30 yard try on his first attempt. He converted his only extra point try; the Texans went for two on their other touchdown.
| HOU Rush Defense |
The Packers rushed for 108 yards and averaged better than five yards per attempt. Ryan grant had all but four of those yards, including a six yard touchdown run. DeMeco Ryans led the unit with seven solo tackles and two assists.
| HOU Pass Defense |
Aaron Rodgers was effective at times against the Houston pass defense. Rodgers passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns. He completed passes of 63 and 59 yards. However, Green Bay was only one of ten on third down conversions. Dunta Robinson picked off a Rodgers pass. DeMeco Ryans and Tim Bulman each had sacks.
| QB Aaron Rodgers, Pass: 19 - 30 - 295 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0 |
Rodgers completed nearly two thirds of his passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Rodgers spread the ball around to nine different Green Bay receivers with no Packer catching more than three passes. Green Bay struggled to sustain drives, however; the Packers did not successfully convert a third down until the fourth quarter and only converted one during the game.
Rodgers completions included a 63 yard pass to Greg Jennings and a 59 yard pass to Donald Driver. He lost a 45 yard completion to Driver due to offensive pass interference. The pass was right on the money. Rodgers also missed Driver on another potential big gainer early in the game, but that might have been due to the fact the Dunta Robinson grabbed the receiver once Driver had beaten him.
Rodgers gained four yards the only time he ran. He also avoided a potentially crushing sack near the Green Bay goal line and was able to dump off a pass for a six yard gain.
| RB Ryan Grant, Rush: 19 - 104 - 1, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Grant was effective, gaining 104 yards on his 19 attempts (no other Packer running back had a carry in the game.) His six yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Green Bay their first lead of the game. Grant has been slowed by injuries this season, but looked good in this game. He caught his only target for an eight yard gain.
| RB Brandon Jackson, Rec: 2 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jackson caught two passes for six yards in the first half. He had no rushing attempts.
| WR Jordy Nelson, Rec: 3 - 25 - 1 (6 targets) |
Nelson caught the second touchdown of his rookie season. He lost a 12 yard catch to a penalty, but picked up a ten yard gain on the very next play.
| WR Donald Driver, Rec: 3 - 75 - 0 (6 targets) |
Driver was often targeted deep in this game. He caught a 59 yard pass and had a 45 yard catch called back due to offensive pass interference. Driver also beat Dunta Robinson early in the game, but was held and couldn't catch up to Rodgers' pass.
| WR Greg Jennings, Rec: 2 - 74 - 0 (7 targets) |
Jennings was targeted a team high seven times. He had receptions of 63 and 11 yards.
| WR Ruvell Martin, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Martin had a 16 yard catch and another reception for a one yard gain.
| WR James Jones, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (3 targets) |
Jones caught two passes for 20 yards.
| TE Donald Lee, Rec: 3 - 48 - 1 (3 targets) |
Lee's 20 yard catch was Green Bay's first touchdown. He also had a 25 yard gain.
| TE Tory Humphrey, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (1 targets) |
Humphrey caught his only target for a 22 yard gain in the first half.
| TE Jermichael Finley (1 targets) |
Finley was targeted once unsuccessfully.
| PK Mason Crosby 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points |
Crosby hit all three of his extra point tries.
| GB Rush Defense |
Houston rushed for 141 yards at 4.5 yards per attempt. Steve Slaton was effective. Slaton had runs of 12, 13, and 34 yards. Mike Montgomery forced a Steve Slaton fumble that was recovered by Johnny Jolly. Desmond Bishop led the unit with eight solo tackles and three assists.
| GB Pass Defense |
Matt Schaub passed for a career high 414 yards and two touchdowns. However, the pass defense created two turnovers: Tramon Williams intercepted a pass. Desmond Bishop saved a touchdown by forcing Owen Daniels to fumble at the one yard line. Williams recovered the loose ball.