Green Bay Packers: Five players who must step up vs. Texans

Too many Green Bay Packers have fallen short of expectations, and this trend must end to beat the Houston Texans.

Losing four straight was never in the game script. Neither was entering December third in the NFC North, two games behind the leading Detroit Lions.

Yet here we are, the Packers entering yet another must-win game. Should they survive this stretch and go on to win the division, maybe this adversity will help them. An outsider looking only at the Packers’ regular season performances in 2010 and 2011 would conclude they were more likely to win the Super Bowl in 2011, but the reality was entirely different.

Green Bay’s performance at Philadelphia last week captured everything fans hoped to see from this team. The lack of a reliable run game is evident, but Mike McCarthy has adapted the Packers’ scheme to great success over the past month.

To overcome Houston this week and make a run for the NFC North title, the Packers need key players to elevate their game. Injuries may have exposed a lack of depth at certain positions, but it’s time for a number of players to fill the void.

These five players must step up on Sunday.