Unless you’ve been completely out of touch you probably know that the Packers came to Houston on Sunday night and made mincemeat of the vaunted Texans.  In every facet of the game, except garbage-time blocked punts and mocking of the opposing team’s star players via meaningless celebration of individual accomplishment, the Packers dominated this contest.  It was a great weekend to be a Packers fan in Houston!

On Saturday evening, packerseverywhere.com hosted a rally held at the Brick House Tavern & Tap on HWY 290 in Houston.  The event was attended by roughly 300 Packer backers.

Team President Mark Murphy, Packer Radio Network play-by-play man Wayne Larrivee, former Packer players Greg Koch and Robert Ferguson, and several members of the Packers office and media staffs attended the event.

Many of the fans at the event were from Texas, but there might have been just as many from Green Bay or even further away in attendance.  I spoke to folks from Colorado, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, California, and Tennesse, and many other locations – but they were all Packers fans and all were excited to be in Houston for the game.

I haven’t been around that many passionate Packers fans in a long time, and it was awesome to see them displaying their support for the Pack!  Packers fans honked and waved when they saw the wife’s CheeseMobile.  Texans fans…well, let’s just say we didn’t have to read between the lines!

It’s no secret that many harbored serious doubts about the ability of the Packers to come into Reliant and hand the Texans their first loss of this season. The Packers needed to win this game more than the Texans did, and it was immediately obvious who wanted it more.

Rodgers was especially sharp, although even he missed a couple of open throws he probably wishes he had to do over.  What seemed different about this game was that when a play wasn’t executed the offense or defense didn’t seem to dwell on it.

Rather, they rebounded and continued to work harder than the Texans did for the win. WRs Nelson and Jones had three and two TDs, respectively, and they weren’t easy catches either.  All I’ll say about the officials is that they still need to gain and maintain consistency in how they call OPI and DPI.

I wrote on Saturday how I thought things might go down in H Town. I was right about several things and wrong about a few.

Here are a few of them re-examined:

Three takeaways – right on. Casey Hayward has potential. Points off turnovers- only 7, but it was enough.

The Packers did score first. In the first quarter. A touchdown indeed!

Rodgers did have his best game of the season. At exactly the right time.

Alex Green did lead the Packers in rushing…not Rodgers. But Rodgers had a better average.

Not a blowout…well, you can’t guess ’em all right. I’ve never been happier to be wrong than here.

The Texans did indeed miss Cushing. Their defense has to reset without him. Now they know it.

Pack O and D consistent for the whole game? Pretty much correct.

Packers fans did take over Reliant Stadium in the 4th quarter, but the Packers owned it for most of the game.

I don’t think NBC mentioned the similar appearance of Clay Matthews and Brooks Reed, but I could have missed it.  I was tweeting like a madman during the game.

34-27 score prediction? What can I say? I saw a victory, but not the shellacking the Packers performed on Sunday night. I’ll take 42-24 Packers any time!

If the Packers, and especially Aaron Rodgers, actually laid the “Shhhhhhhh” on the critics last night – if only for a few days, then that’s great, but not important. They needed this win. They’ll need the next one, too.

As fun to watch as this game was, it was one game. Aaron Rodgers has his “edge” back – the chip on his shoulder is there again. I see no downside to that. It looks as if Alex Green can carry the load at RB for a while, but the Packers better hit the wire because Brandon Saine went down last night and James Starks looked, at least to me, slow to hit the holes and tentative overall. One cut and go James.

Other injuries to Nick Perry, DJ Smith, and Sam Shields will have us wondering who the next man up will be and what kind of dropoff might result. We’ve seen this before. Not to diminish the importance of the injured players, but the defense didn’t seem like it missed a beat.

We’ll see.

The Texans made some really silly mistakes too, and some of them undoubtedly kept Packers drives alive. Would the Packers still have won the game had the Texans not made these mistakes? I say probably, maybe even certainly. But leaping? Really? And lining up offsides? The local media here today tried to sell the idea that Texans rookie DeVier Posey hasn’t played on the punt team before.

No soap.

They teach players not to line up in the neutral zone when they start playing football – not when they get to the NFL. He wasn’t a little bit in the neutral zone – his whole helmet and part of his shoulders were lined up in there.  Rock ‘em sock ‘em at the bottom of the pile – hitting a player with a helmet on in the head? Come on man!

For the Texans this was one game, too. They’re still a talented team that might end up in the Super Bowl this year, but there or not it won’t be because they won or lost their game against the Packers. The same is true for the Packers. Should they get back to the promised land this season, this win might have helped get them back on the right track, but there will be more important games and wins than this one to come.

Bring on the Rams!

GO PACK GO!

Oct 14, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

Aaron Rodgers only tied a franchise record with six touchdown passes tonight … that’s all.

But everyone in Packers Nation knew it was coming. An Angry Aaron Rodgers was fed up with all the negativity he had been hearing all week after the meltdown in Indy last week. Add to that a defense that showed it’s own brand of aggression and it all added up to a Packers beatdown of the previously undefeated Houston Texans, 42-24.

Capitalizing on some rather stupid penalties, the Packers scored early and often in this one – getting three touchdown catches from a previously quiet Jordy Nelson and two more from James Jones. Add to that a huge touchdown grab from tight end Tom Crabtree at a critical juncture in the game and you have a recipe for a Packers win.

And when the Packers running game also got 65 yards from second year running back Alex Green, the route was on as Green Bay got back to even at 3-3.

“This is a team with a lot of pride … theres on quit in this locker room … We kind of band together. People tried to pull us apart this week and we stuck together. We stuck together and found our motivation in that,” Rodgers said after the game. When asked about whether this could be a turning point for this team, the Packers quarterback said, “I think so. I really do. We talked about it this week getting momentum against a very good fball team.”

It was the most points allowed by a Wade Phillips-coached team in Houston, but Rodgers has always played well against the former Bills, Dallas and wherever else he’s been a head coach. In fact, Rodgers has never lost to a Phillips-coached team.

In his post-game comments, Head Coach Mike McCarthy said the Packers came to play, no matter what the team records were before the game.

“I don’t think it really mattered what the records were. Two teams tonight, we knew when the season started this was a very good football team. When we had an opportunity to view our schedule, we knew the first few weeks were going to be a little bit of a challenge because it was just different and then the three road games with the one in the middle on Sunday Night Football. We have a lot of respect for Gary Kubiak and his staff, and their team, and the video they put forth going into the game. We really, truly stayed focused on improving ourselves and that will always be our message and our approach, and with that I was pleased with the way we played.”

And when talking about defeating an unbeaten team, McCarthy said that he was pleased that his team stayed focused on the goal of winning the game:

“We won a football game. Tough week is really kind of your viewpoint, not ours. I thought our team did a very good job staying focused on what it’s really about and that’s the preparation phase of it, staying in tune and getting ready to play these guys in this environment. We were able to accomplish that, but our goal is we need to go into St. Louis and we need to win two games-in-a-rows. That’s our focus and stack success for the first time this year.”

Consider what James Jones told Jason Wilde of ESPN last night. He told us a lot about Aaron Rodgers with a single quote:

“I don’t think he was mad, but I ain’t never seem him that focused. He was extremely focused today. You could see it in his eyes. You could see it when he talked to us. You know, he calls us up before every game, and he was just like, ‘I’m going to be the lead dog. Follow me. I’m going to make some plays. I haven’t been playing that well. I’m going to make some plays.’ I think he was just extremely focused tonight, and it showed up out there on the field. He made some crazy throws, some great plays with his legs.”

If there was a negative to come out of this game, it was the injuries. McCarthy said the injuries to D.J. Smith and Brandon Saine were “significant.” Also going down were Sam Shields and first round draft choice Nick Perry.

And like McCarthy said, celebrating this one will be short-lived as the Packers start preparing early in the week to play a much-improved St. Louis Rams team under the guidance of longtime NFL coach Jeff Fischer.

The Packers travel to St. Louis next Sunday for a noon start to conclude their three-game road trip. After that, the Packers come home to Lambeau Field for two straight – playing the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Oct. 28, and then hosting the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Complete statistics, courtesy of si.com, are provided below:

Passing

Rodgers

#12 QB

Nelson

#87 WR

Packers

Packers

Oct 14, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) drops back to pass against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

Green Bay Packers reassured its fan base and silenced critics Sunday night with a 42-24 beatdown of the previously unbeaten Houston Texans.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for a franchise-tying six touchdowns and 338 yards and the Packers defense stopped both quarterback Matt Schaub and running back Arian Foster to take the big win and raise their record to 3-3.

“We haven’t gone anywhere,” Rodgers said, after the game. ”Both James (Jones’s TD ) catches were increcible. We had a very good game plan, Mike called a very good game,” Rodgers said.

When Rodgers was asked to respond to the team’s critics, he said, “Shhhhhhh.”

Charles Woodson was also matter of fact in his comments after the game. “We’ve been through this before… next man up … play at a high level. We’e nobody’s underdog. We knew (Houston) is good team, but we know we’re better than that and showed today we still got it.”

So, without further adieu, relive every play of the Packers big win tonight with this play by play:

Packers kick off

Ball to the 18 – crushing tackle by Robert Francois

First down C.J. Wilson sacks Schaub

Second down and 11, Schaub throws it away

Third and 12, run the draw to Arian Foster for 10

Fourth and 2, Punt to Cobb returns it seven yards

Packers first possession

First and 10 from the 27; Alex Green for 3

Second 7, inside handoff to Green for 2

Third and 5, first down pass to Nelson for 8

First and 10 at the 47, Green for seven yards

Second down and 3, pass behind Cobb is dropped

Third and three, Packers in no huddle, Rodger overthrows James Jones – a wide open James Jones.

Punt and fourth down – Texans line up in neutral zone resulting in Packers first down

First and 10 at Texans 41, TD pass to Jordy Nelson down right sideline

Crosby extra point good. Penalties against Texans to be enforced on kickoff.

Packers 7 Texans 0 11:34 in first quarter 

Packers kick off from the 50 after penalties

Crosby kicks to the goal line, ball out to 14

Texans second possession

First and 10 from the 14, first down pass to TE James Casey

First and 10, pressure on Schaub, he throws it away

Second and 10 from the 29, Arian Foster for 5 yards

Third and six, Jerel Worthy gets the sack up the middle – second sack tonight on Schaub

Punt by Texans to Cobb – goes out of bounds

Packers second second possession

First and 10, ball at Packers 30, quick pass outside to Cobb for nine yards

No huddle ball at the 36, Alex Green up the middle for nine more

First and 10, Jermichael Finley for one yard

Second and nine, Rodgers sacked by JJ Watt who does the belt!!!

Third and 15, pass to Cobb for 16 and a first down – Reliant Stadium goes quiet

First and 10, Green for 1

Second and 9, overthrows Jordy Nelson down right sideline

Third and 9 from 42, pass incomplete to Cobb

Punt by Masthay to the Texans 3 yard line

Texans third possession

First and 10 from the 3, Foster for two,

Second and eight, pass to Owen Daniels for four yards

Third and four, Penalty false start on Texans

Third and 9 from the 4, first down pass to Andre Johnson

First and 10 from the 16, Foster for 2 yards,

Second and 8, Matthews shoots the gap and tackles Foster for loss of 2

Third and 10, Matthews rushes and Schaub throws ball away

Punt to Cobb returns 17 yards

Clay Matthews with a huge series by tackling Foster for loss and pressure on Schaub

Packers third possession

First and 10 from the Packers 44, Rodgers escapes a heavy rush and completes pass to Cobb for 24 yards

First and 10 from the Texans’ 34, Pass to Jones who escapes tackle for 9 yards

Second and 1 from the Texans 22, Green for first down

First and 10, Rodgers under pressure and he throws it away

Second and 10, shovel pass on run by Rodgers to Tom Crabtree who is hit and gains 13 down to the 6

First and goal, touchdown pass to James Jones on right side of end zone; juggling catch called TD

Crosby extra point

Packers 14 Texans 0

Texans possession

First and 10, Foster no gain

End of first quarter

Rodgers stats 

Second and 10 pass to Andre Johnson for 11

First and 10 from the 31, Foster for five, Packers offside

First and 5, Foster falls down after one yard  -

Nick Perry injury – Erik Walden replaces him

Second and 5, Ben Tate falls down

Third and 3, Pass for first down to Kevin Walter

First and 10, Schaub under pressure gets ball to Owen Daniels for first down

First and 10 from Packers 31, Foster cut down after gain of 1

Second and 11, Schaub again under pressure – Shields pass interference

First and goal, Ball placed at 4, Foster for 3

Second and goal, Foster walks into end zone for TD

Packers 14 Texans 7 – 10:13 of second quarter

 Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards in 5:11 aided by questionable pass interference call against Sam Shields

Kickoff by Texans – Cobb to the 22

Packers fourth possession

First and goal, Green up the middle for 8 yards

Second and 2, pass to Nelson for 1

Third and inches, Rodgers sneaks over the left guard for the first down

First and 10, Green has initial hole, but gets tripped up for 1 yard

Second and 9, pass to Green for 8

Third and 1, Quick pass right to Nelson for first down

First and 10 from 49, pass down sideline to Jones pass interference

First and 10 ball at 21, TD to Jordy Nelson 21 yards over the middle

6:45 Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards in 3:2

Packers 21 Texans 7

Packers kickoff touchback

Texans possession

First and 10 at 20, pass to Andre Johnson for 10

First and 10, foster runs to right side for five,

Second and 5, ball at 35, pass to Johnson

First and 10, ball at 47, pass to Garrett Graham for 1st down

First and 10, Foster for three – D.J. Smith goes down with injury

Second and 7, ball at Packers 37, false start Texans

Second and 12, Schaub fumbles snap, loss of 2

Third and 14 from Packers 46, pass to Foster for 12

FG attempt for Graham from 51 – good 2;15 left in second quarter

Packers 21 Texans 10

Texans kickoff – Cobb to the 16

Packers fifth possession

First and 10, Green for 2

2 minute warning

Packers second and 8 from the 18, Finley for 12 first down

First and 10, ball at 29, Rodgers runs to 45 yard line, 15 yard gain

First and 10, incomplete pass toward Jones

Second and 10, Kuhn inside handoff to 49, four yards

Third and 6, pass to Finley for first down, but penalty on Packers offensive pass interference on Finley

Third and 15, Cobb pass completion

Fourth down and seven, 16 seconds left, ball at Packers

Masthay punt – fair catch at 12

Foster for minus 2 yards

Packers timeout

Second and 12, Foster for 1 yard

End of first half

First half statistics

Packers

Packers

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2012/10/14/4982/index.html#ixzz29KS1m8nr

Texans

Texans

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/gameflash/2012/10/14/4982/index.html#ixzz29KRm7Lyo

 Second half

Texans kickoff is a touchback

Packers first possession of first half

First and 10 at the 20 yard line, Green for four

Second and six, pass complete to Cobb for 14 – penalty on Texans holding – declined

First and 10, from 37, Green for 1,

Second and 9, pass to Cobb for 25

First and 10, Green loss of 3

Second and 13, Pass to Nelson for 14 – Nelson six catches for 98 yards

First and 10 from the 29, Green for six

Pass to Nelson, first down to the 10

First and 10, pass to Nelson dropped

Second and 10 at 11 – Rodgers rushes for TD, but Newhouse called for holding.

Second and 20 – Finley drops the ball

Third and 20 ball knocked away

Crosby 39 yard FG good – points off the board – Texans called for leaping

Automatic first down

Ball at Texans 11

First and 10, Watt with sack takes helmet off Rodgers no call

Second and 14, Packers timeout 9:24

Second and 14, Cobb drops quick pass – third team drop of drive

Third and 14, pass to Cobb to the 4 yard line – Texans unnecessary roughness on Danel Manning

First and goal at the 2, Green for 1

Second and goal from the 1 Packers have had ball nearly 7 minutes, Pass to Nelson TD

Packers possess ball for more than 8 minutes – TD 8:16 Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards in 6:44

Packers 28 Texans 10

Packers kickoff – out to the

Texans first possession of second half

First and 10, Johnson catch of 2 yards

Second and 8, pass to Kevin Walter for first down

First and 10 from the 36, Foster for 1

Second and 9, Hawk with the sack – did he just vie the finger again? No, it was “the Shocker”

Third and 20 incomplete pass

Punt

Cobb hit immediately

First and 10, ball deflected incomplete

Second and 10, ball at 20, Green loses 1

Third and 11 pass to Nelson for 10, just short of the fist down

Punt by Packers

Keyshawn Martin returns to the 35

Texans second possession

First and 10, pass to Daniels for 27 yards – blown coverage

Ball at Packers 38, pass to Johnson for 9,

Second and 1, Foster for 2

First and 10, pass incomplete

Second and 10, pass to Marin down to the 13,

First and 10, pass to Johnson in end zone incomplete

Second and 10, pass to Martin down at goal

First and goal, Foster stopped cold

Second and goal, Foster walks in … TD Houston 65 yard, 9 plays less than 4 minutes

Packers 28 Texans 17

Texans kickoff – Cobb runs it back to the

Packers third possession 

First and 10 from 43, Green for 9

End of 3rd quarter

Second and 1, long pass down left sideline incomplete

Third and 1, Tom Crabtree pass over the middle for 43 yards TD!!!!!

Crabtree was wide open on that pass play

Packers 35 Texans 17

3 plays, 57 yards in 0:31

Packers kickoff touchback

First and 10 from the 20, pass incomplete to Andre Johnson

Second and 10, pass intercepted by Sam Shields at the 27

Packers ball at Texans 27

First and 10, Green for 5

Second down and 5, Green for 5 – first down

First and 10, ball at 17, Green no gain

Second and 10, pass to Jones – tremendous one-handed catch -

Rodgers 6 TD catches

Packers 42 Texans 17

Rodgers

#12 QB

Packers kickoff touchback

Texans from the 20 first and 10, Run for 3 – Sam Shield injured not he play

Second and 7 incomplete

Third and 7, pass to Johnson for first down – over 10,000 yards receiving

First and goal, pass to Johnson for 2

Second and 8, pass to Forsett for 1st down

First and goal, ball at Packers 42, pass to Graham for 2,

Second and 8, Forsett runs for a first down

First and goal, ball at Packers 32, Forsett for 8

Second and 2, pass incomplete to Johnson

Third and 2, run for first down

First and 10, ball at 21, pass knocked away by Casey Hayward

Second and 10, pass incomplete

Third and 10, Casey Hayward interception in end zone 

Packers first and 10, ball at 13, Green no gain

Second and 10, Green for no gain

Third and 10, ball batted down

Fourth down – punt

Masthay punt is blocked for a TD

Packers 42 Texans 24

onside kick recovered by Packers

First and 10, Graham Harrell in for Rodgers and hands off to James Starks for his first run of the season – 2 yards

Second and 8, Kuhn quick hitter for 2

Texans timeout

Third and 6 Green for 2

Fourth down

Texans final timeout

Masthay punt – fair catch

Texans pull Schaub – Yates in for Texans

First and 10 ball batted down

Second and 10, pass to James Casey first down

First and 10, pass to Graham for first down

First and 10 ball at 33, pass incomplete

Second and 10, 4:28 left in game – Forsett for 4

Third and 6, Casey Hayward second interception of the night (three in last two games) – Jaron McMillian tips ball to Hayward

Packers ball at Texans 36, Starks for 3

Second and 7, Starks for no gain

Third and 7, Starks for 6

Fourth down – Starks for 2 give up ball on downs

Texans – Forsett for four

Second and six, Forsett for four

Third and 2, Forsett runs for 10 on game’s final play

Final – Packers 42 Texans 24

Passing

Rodgers

#12 QB

Nelson

#87 WR

Packers

Packers

Oct 7, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) celebrates scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers play the Texans Sunday night in Houston.  The Packers come into the game against the 5-0 Texans with a record of 2-3. Of course we all know it should really be 3-2, but that’s no excuse for last week’s second half meltdown against the Colts. Come to think of it, there isn’t any excuse for that second half.

This week the Packers are beat up, their vociferous tight end has once again found his foot in his mouth, and the Packers faithful seem to have little faith in their ability to improve to 3-3 on Sunday night.

The Packers need to put their problems aside and focus on going into Houston and handing the Texans their first loss of the season. There are some obvious, and not so obvious, things they can and should do to help themselves.

Here are my predictions for the game:

• WR Randall Cobb will be more involved in the offensive game plan. It’s obvious with Greg Jennings out again this week that Cobb should get more playing time. Get him the ball in space and let him work.

• RBs Alex Green and James Starks will get their carries. They’ve both got fresh legs. The Packers will commit to running the ball. It won’t be easy, but the Texans have to at least respect the run in order for the Packers to spring their other offensive options.

• The Packers offensive line will rebound against the Texans. They’re ticked off about their last performance. They should be. They need to regain and maintain consistency in their play. Keeping Rodgers clean against an outstanding pass rush should help them get to where they need to be.

• Clean or not, Rodgers will improve his play.  He’s the team leader.  He’s got to understand by now that as he goes, so goes the offense. I think he does, and he’s due for a whole-game Rodgers-like performance.

•  Special teams will produce big plays. Punter Tim Masthay and kicker Mason Crosby will each contribute in a big way in this game. Masthay will have an opportunity to kick indoors and swing field position in the Packers favor.  Crosby will have at least three opportunities to contribute points off FGs, and he’ll deliver. He should also have at least three PATs on the books after this one.

• LBs Clay Matthews and Nick Perry will meet at the quarterback. Houston QB Matt Schaub is not known for mobility. That spells opportunity for the USC bookend LBs. Outside LBs coach Kevin Greene will have them motivated. They’ll deliver. As long as Nick keeps his head up when he rocks Schaub this week!

•  The defensive secondary will finally deliver more than one turnover. The Packers have been missing the takeaways they’ve been forcing for the last few seasons. Charles Woodson is another leader. He will be as important on defense as Rodgers is on offense.

Fearsome Predictions:

•  The Packers defense will produce three takeaways that lead directly to 17 points.

• The Packers offense will score first. A touchdown in the first quarter.

• QB Aaron Rodgers will have his best game of the season thus far.

• A Packers running back, not Rodgers, will lead the team in rushing.

• The Texans offense will keep the score close, maybe even take the lead, but this will not be a blowout.

• The Texans will miss injured LB Brian Cushing more than the Packers will miss injured DL BJ Raji.

• The Packers offense and defense will both play consistent football for the entire game.

• Packers fans won’t take over Reliant Stadium, but they will be present and they will be heard.

• The Packers fans will get at least one opportunity to do the Kuhn call.

• NBC will mention LBs Clay Matthews and Brooks Reed and their similar appearance – multiple times.

Make no mistake about it.  This might not be a “must win” game for the Packers, but it is an opportunity to take a gigantic step forward and propel the team back in the right direction – and the team must capitalize on the opportunity.

So there are challenges.  Injuries happen.  The Packers won Super Bowl XLV while missing many more players due to injury than appear on their “out” list for this game. These guys are professionals. Sure it’ll be harder without WR Jennings, DT Raji, and maybe TEs Finley and Williams if they can’t go – but the game will be played anyway and players will be there to fill in for them. They’ll need to step up and get the job done. Easy? Probably not.  Necessary? Absolutely.

Dealing with some media-based sniping?  Mild discord in the locker room?  Star “freak” receiver displaying his lack of oral self-control? So what? Deal with it. Get over it. Again, these guys are pros. They need to, and they will, get past that … stuff.

Fans beginning to display displeasure about the season so far? That’s what fans do when their team falters. And falter the Packers have.  In the case of the 2012 Packers, the fans shouldn’t be anywhere near as unhappy about the season so far as the players are.

The Texans game is rife with opportunities to heal much of what’s ailing the Packers. All it’ll take is a win.

Fearsome final score – Packers 34, Texans 27.

Go Pack GO!

Oct. 07, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) avoids pressure from the Green bay Packers defense during first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-US PRESSWIRE

If the Green Bay Packers‘ offensive line protects Aaron Rodgers when they play at Houston Sunday night, the Packers will score some points. In fact, we all know that if Aaron Rodgers has the time and his receivers can get open, Green Bay will move the ball through the air.

If the line can do that, the team might not even have to worry about the run game that took a huge hit when Cedric Benson went down last week at Indianapolis.

The real question will center around the Packers defense. Which defense will show up? Will it be the defense that was solid against the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks in weeks two and three or will it be the defense that reverted the past two weeks to the leaky sieve that was seen in 2011?

Most disconcerting once again against the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts the past two weeks has been the soft “keep ‘em in front of you” defensive backfield that allowed both Drew Brees and Andrew Luck to move the ball at will.

With it looking like B.J. Raji might not play or will be severely limited  at Houston, the Packers defense will be hard pressed to slow the potent Texans. Consider that Houston running back Arian Foster is probably one, if not the best, runner in all of football, the Packers will have their hands full in trying to stop him. Even with Raji in the lineup, their task of slowing Foster would be difficult.

When you’ve got the threat of Foster on every down, the added task of stopping the Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson tandem will also be a huge undertaking for this Packers defense.

Just how the Packers will do so is up to defensive coordinator Dom Capers. While his defenses during the first couple of seasons in Green Bay were unpredictable and aggressive, it seems the rest of the league has caught up with Capers’s schemes and offenses are giving their QBs the time to find open receivers all over the field. Just ask Drew Brees and Andrew Luck about that. While the run defense has done a good job of stopping the run this season and forcing third downs and long, giving up first downs has become the norm on third down.

So, the key for the Packers Sunday night will be getting off the field on third down and allowing Aaron Rodgers and the offense to chew up time on the clock and score points.

However, the Packers certainly can’t afford to get into a shootout with the Texans. The Packers defense has to find a way to slow down the Texans and force some field goals instead of giving up touchdowns.

If they do all that, they will have a shot at knocking off the undefeated team from Houston.

Some say this is a must-win for the Packers. I’m not so sure, but a win would certainly go a long way in restoring some of the confidence and swagger that this Packers team most surely needs at this point in the season. Mike McCarthy’s teams have always done well inside the North Division, so they need as many of these non-division games as they can get.

To do that, the right defense has got to show up.

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November 24, 2011; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) looks over offensive line before a play against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving at Ford Field. The Packers won 27-15. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE

Most Packers fans feel like this season is on life support and for good reason. They have not looked anything like the team we thought they were. That being said we are not far off from being 4-1 and really should be 3-2.

Maybe with a few tweaks, some added juice and a little luck, we can turn this thing around.

These five things would be a good start.

1. More Nick Perry, Less Eric Walden

Listen, Walden is a solid player, an overachiever. However, he has reached his potential.

If Perry isn’t already a better player than him now, he will be soon. He is improving every game with last Sunday at Indy being his best game yet. His stats are nearly identical with Clay Matthew’s rookie season at this point and Clay played more snaps.

He has always been stout against the run, and is getting better in coverage. He has amazing power, with speed and explosion to match.

Once he figures out how to use his hands better, it’s a wrap!

2. NO MORE DOLLAR!

All of these crazy formations, the dollar, psycho, etc, cut all of them. If the point of these formations is to confuse the opposing offense, why is it that our defense is the one that always seems to be confused? Blown coverages, people not lined up correctly, pre-snap penalties – you name it.

The Packers have 11 rookie or second year players on you D and most are in the secondary. Dom, you need to adjust your strategy to fit your young talent (pretend your job depends on it).

Oct 7, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) scores a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

3. Spread it out

Our offensive line has come in any variety of awful you could think of. And with only two other linemen on the entire roster, we are stuck with them.

So what do we do?

We need to use the one advantage we still have, our stable of thoroughbreds at wide receiver. Spreading them four or five wide and using three-step drops forces defenses to be less aggressive, and more reactive.

Fire fast, don’t let them breathe –  that’s how the West as won, and it can work for the Pack, too.

4. Get a mid-season boost

Some people have given up on getting any contribution from Greg Jennings this year. Not me. I believe he will be back with a chip on his shoulder and better then ever.

Another is Davon House. I saw enough ability in one preseason game to believe he can start when healthy.

Finally, let’s not forget about James Starks. Talent has never been his issue. If he can get healthy and stay healthy it will only help us.

5. Upset the Texans this week.

Have you ever heard of the saying “it has gotten late, early” well packers fans this is where we are.

This game could literally be the difference between making the playoffs or going 8-8 (or even worse). McCarthy teams have a habit of bouncing back from bad performances, and last Sunday definitely qualifies as such.

It will not be easy, they will have to go through Hell, but if that whistle blows and the Packers are victorious you can throw the first five games out of the window, it’s a whole new season.

September 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after losing his helmet on a play during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE

By Bill Walton

This week, the Green Bay Packers travel to Houston for Sunday night’s game against the Texans.

Living near Houston, I’m getting an earful from local fans and the media.  Admittedly and obviously, the Texans are good.  Very good.  Maybe even scary good.  But as the New York Jets can attest, the Texans are not unbeatable.  If any team can hand the Texans their first loss of the season, it could be the Packers.

It will take a much better effort than the Packers gave against the Colts to beat the Texans.  Here are a few of the personnel the Packers need to figure out a way to take care of on Sunday night:

• Defensive lineman J.J. Watt.  A one-man wrecking crew, he’s leading the league in sacks, batted balls, offensive coordinator headaches, and quarterback frowns.  Watt is a former Wisconsin Badger who claims to research and read opposing quarterback route trees to determine the best place from which to try and bat down passes.  He also lines up on either side of the defensive front.  Perhaps a few wrinkles might be in order – maybe more rollouts or hot routes behind wherever Watt is … not.

• Running back Arian Foster.  Foster makes the Texans’ offense go.  Teams have to respect his running ability, which opens up everything else the Texans do with the football.  Foster has 532 yards on 132 carries so far this season.  The Packers improved run defense, already showcased against Seattle in particular, has as good a shot to limit Foster as any defense in the league.  Most of Foster’s yards have come between the tackles.  It will take a solid effort from all 11 defenders on every play, but it can be done.

• Wide Receiver Andre Johnson.  Johnson is tall, big, fast, and prolific.  The Packers might treat him as they did Bears WR Brandon Marshall in week 2 – safety help high backing up Tramon Williams in primary coverage. The other Texans receivers are serviceable, particularly Kevin Walter, but Johnson is the primary threat. He’ll have to be blanketed on every play.

• Quarterback Matt Schaub.  Schaub came to Houston from Atlanta in 2007. At the time, most Texans observers thought the deal – composed of picks to Atlanta that many thought the Texans sorely needed, for what had been primarily a backup quarterback – wasn’t going to pan out.  Schaub has at various times been labeled a game manager and he’s never had a passer rating over 100 for a season.  However, he’s tough – they’re still looking for that chunk of his ear that got ripped off when he was tomahawked by Joe Mays in the Denver game. He’s also a team-first guy. He is everything the Texans think they need in a quarterback. It’ hard to argue with them – they’re 5-0.

Linebacker Brian Cushing, a former USC teammate of Clay Matthews, is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in the Jets game on Monday night. Head coach Gary Kubiak calls the loss of Cushing a big blow to the team, but even without Cushing the Texans’ front seven should still be formidable. Linebacker Brooks Reed’s hairstyle makes him a dead ringer for Clay Matthews.  The early over/under for NBC mentions of the resemblance between Matthews and Reed is 6 1/2.

The Texans defensive coordinator is Wade Phillips. What can be said about Phillips other than he’s a much better defensive coordinator than a head coach? He’s getting the job done in Houston.

It’s widely believed that the Houston Texans do everything well.

They have no holes. Their offense, defense, and special teams are all good to great. If last Sunday’s debacle in Indianapolis told us anything, it might have been that the Packers are at the point where they need to pull out a win, on the road, against a top team.

That kind of win can swing momentum, provide a spark that can help propel them through the rest of the season, and make believers out of some of those who have already written them off. I’m not one of them. The defense needs to resemble the defense that has come up big as opposed to the defense that’s been surprisingly porous at times.

The offense needs to mix things up, commit to run carries, and above all, protect the football.  When push comes to shove the Packers can play with anybody. As we’ve seen so far this year, when the Packers seem to find something that works they haven’t seemed to stick with it or come back to it.

They’ll need to stick with what works in order to stick with the Texans. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was self-critical on his radio show today and it sounds like that’s a good thing.

If Rodgers plays up to his potential, this game will be fun to watch. For Packers fans, that is.

I’ll have more on this game later in the week.

GO PACK!

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