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Thursday October 31, 2024
LEAPING TO VICTORY: Packers Walk It Off, 24-22

Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and hear post-game comments from the victorious Packers players.

ASHWAUBENON, Wis.---Brandon McMannus kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired, and Josh Jacobs caught his first-ever receiving touchdown, as the Green Bay Packers beat the Houston Texans, 24-22, Sunday, at Lambeau Field.

The game was played under unsually-warm conditions, 72 degrees at gametime, the fourth-warmest October game ever played at Lambeau Field. The paid attendence was a sell-out, with 78,197 people filling the seats. And nearly all were dressed in white, anf the Packers players also wore white jerseys in the "winter warning whiteout" that was anything but winterlike.

But there was some white there. In the hair of McManus, the journeyman kicker brought in to shore up a position that has been a disaster for the Packers this season. And the self-described "old man" on the tea, came through in the clutch, kicking the 45-yard walk-off field goal after the Texans called a time out as he missed his first attempt. Not this time. Money.

"I've never missed back-to-back kicks in my career, so I felt pretty confident," McManus said. "I knew one more score would probably win the game. The average margin of victory in the NFL is three points, so you've got to go into each game understanding that it might come down to you. That's why I chose this position many moons ago."

"I love the pressure situations. I was happy to have that opportunity today. I'm just living in the moment. Super excited. I'm honored to be able to help the team on the last play of the game."

The unsung hero of the game is young second-year punter Dan Whelan, who grabbed the low snap off of the Lambeau Field grasstops and put it where McManus could bang home the winner, which set off a wild celebration throughout this ancient stadium.

"Danny did a phenominal job with great holding all dau, and Matt did a great job snapping all day," said McManus, who also knocked through three extra point kicks for Green Bay. "We practiced hard all week and harped on things. I know I'm older and a little more strict on what I want them to do. So, they did a great job all week. I've kicked a million balls. I know Danny when he was a rookie last year was practicing snapping in a hotel. He just did a great job."

On the game's first series, quarterback Jordan Love threw an interception,which was returned 45 yards to the Packers 11-yard line. The Packer defense stiffened and held the Texans to a 22-yard field goal, giving Houston the early lead.


The Green Bay offense, though, struggled, and went three-and-out, punting back to the Texans.

On the first play, Houston quarterback CJ Stroud completed a 28-yard pass into Packers territory, but Rashawn Gary sacked Stroud for a six yard loss. Gary moves into tenth on the Packers All-time sack list. Moments later, CJ McKinney blindsided Stroud for a eight-yard sack, knocking the Texans out of field goal range with five minutes left in the first quarter.

After the game, Packers Coach Matt LaFleur called that sequense a "huge " part of the win.

Moments later, Love moved into tenth place on the Packers' passing record list as he drove the team from the eight yard line into Houston territory. And on the first play of the second quarter, it was 2nd and 14 when Love dumped off a short six yard pass.

The Texans were called for a personal foul penalty for throwing the receiver to the ground. That moved the Packers into the red zone.
 

Love found tight end Tucker Kraft in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown reception, capping the Packers' longest drive of the season: 92 yards in 13 plays.

The extra point kick from McManus gave Green Bay a 7-3 lead.

The Packer defense then forced a three-and-out, but Green Bay fumbled the ball at their own 11 yard-line, giving Houston a golden opportunity to take the lead. And two plays later, Joe Mixon cruised into the end zone from two yards out for the touchdown. The extra point kick gave Houston a 10-7 lead with just over 12:00 left in the half.

When the Packers got the ball back, they faced a third down, but a 30-yard pass interference penalty gave Green Bay the ball at the Houston 30 yard-line. On the very next play, Love found Dontayvion Wicks all alone in the end zone for the touchdown, giving the Packers a 14-10 lead with 8:51 left in the half.

Houston replied with a 52-yard field goal off the foot of Ka'imi Fairbairn, cutting it to 14-13, and then Love was picked off for the second time in the game, giving the Texans the ball at the 45 yard-line.
 

Mixon broke off a 32-yard run, and Houston was in the red zone at the two minute warning. And the Texans cashed in with another touchdown run. The Packers stuffed the two-point run, but Houston had a 19-14 lead going into the locker room.

The Packers opened the second half with a 71-yard, nine play drive that ended with an eight yard touchdown pass from Love to Josh Jacobs. It was Love's 50th career touchdown pass, and the first receiving touchdown for Jacobs. The extra point kick gave the Packers a 21-19 lead midway in the third quarter.

"It was long overdue," Jacobs said. "We talked about it all week. They were like, this is the week we're gonna get you one. We had like, three or four plays in the red zone for me. So, I appreciate my coaches and my teammates who wanted me to get that."

It then went down to the final two minutes of the game. Stroud led the Texans down the field, and inside of the two minute warning, set up for a Fairbairn 35-yard field goal. He connected, giving Houston a 22-21 lead with 1:44 left in the game.

But Love engineered a drive to take the Packers into Houston territory, and McManus welcomed himself to Green Bay with a 45-yarder right down the middle to win it.
 

"We knew we were gonna take some punches and it would all be about how we responded," LaFleur said. "I was proud of the effort of our guys. You know, it's hard to overcome losing the turnover battle by three in this league. I don't know if we've ever done that, and still come out and find  way to win the game."

Packers linebacker Eric Wilson says that this was a total team effort.

"Offense did their thing, and special things showed up," Wilson said. "Daniel was booting that thing. Brandon showed up with the kick. We had great coverage with our cutters going down and our defense making stops."

For his part, Love shook off the fact that he now has eight interceptions in just five games played, which is the worst of all NFL quarterbacks. But somehow, Green Bay is now 5-2.

"We were just trying to move the ball (on that last drive) and I think that we did that," Love said. "We threw a couple of slants right there. Just trying to get those yards and chip away."