The Green Bay Packers didn’t play their best, but they still did enough to get past the Houston Texans on Sunday at Lambeau Field. In a game that featured seven lead changes, the Packers got the final field goal from Jordan Love and the game-winning field goal from Brandon McManus to give them a 24-22 victory.
The Packers are currently 5-2 after winning three straight games.
Here are the stars, studs and duds from the Packers’ Week 7 victory over the Texans:
Stars
LB Eric Wilson: Quay Walker went down after just 13 snaps. Wilson came to the fore and played as many crucial plays as any Packers defender this season. The veteran linebacker picked off Joe Mixon twice behind the line of scrimmage, had two sacks on CJ Stroud’s rushing tackles on third down, broke up a pass intended for Dalton Schultz on third down and even made a special teams tackle. In several games this season – Sunday and Week 2 against the Colts – Wilson has been a game-changer for the Packers’ defense.
Heels
Sr. Evan Williams: Newbie security keeps flashing. He played all 64 defensive snaps against the Texans and led the team in total tackles with nine. The tackles were not without impetus. On four different series, Williams made a tackle at or within four yards. He also stuffed a two-point attempt by the Texans with a perfect open field tackle on Joe Mixon.
WR Romeo Doubs: He continued to be productive after his suspension, completing eight of 10 targets for a team-high 94 yards. PFF credited him with making four contested catches, including several on hard entry routes in traffic. Doubs caught two passes on the final drive, proving again that Jordan Love trusted him in huge moments.
DE Rashan Gary: Things are starting to heat up for the Packers offense. He had several tackles on Sunday, including a sack by Stroud and two quarterback hits. Jeff Hafley moved him all over the defensive front and was productive, both in established tackles and stunts. Gary also had two stops per run.
Mr. Daniel Whelan: He completed five punts, averaging nearly 58 gross yards and over 51 net yards. During a three-punt second half, Whelan completed three straight punts for 60 yards. Not only did he consistently throw the ball, but catching and holding a bad snap saved the game-winning field goal.
K. Brandon McManus: The veteran arrived in Green Bay on Wednesday and connected on all four of his kicks on Sunday, including the game-winning 45-yarder on a indigent throw.
QB Jordan Love: Leading a game-winning play as a quarterback is an instant performance to say the least. Love had two bad interceptions that gave the Texans points, but he also threw three touchdown passes, including incredible throws to Tucker Kraft (third in the red zone) and Dontayvion Wicks, and his game-winning drive to set the field goal was surgical.
RB Josh Jacobs: He only got 12 carries, but three gained 10 or more yards, continuing his ability to create explosive runs. His long 27-yard jump netted him his first career touchdown catch. On one run, Jacobs dodged a running back and turned a 3-yard loss into a 4-yard gain. Great defenders make explosive plays on well-blocked runs, but also generate gains on poorly blocked runs. Jacobs does both.
Duds
WR Jayden Reed: A infrequent dud from Reed. He threw one low pass that was almost a back pass and a fumble. He failed to complete a deep pass to Jordan Love that would have put the Packers on a field goal behind schedule in the first half. He then returned a punt at the first-yard line and was intercepted at the five. Reed’s three touches on offense allowed him to gain just 10 yards.
