Last week, Aaron Rodgers played like a two-time NFL MVP, the defense stepped up shutting down the Philadelphia Eagles en route to a nice win in the city of Brotherly Love. However, this week, the AFC South leaders Houston Texans come up to Lambeau Field to take on the Pack, and here are the Green Bay Packers Week 13 keys to victory.
Green Bay Packers Week 13 Keys to Victory
Packers Passing Game versus Texans Secondary
Aaron Rodgers has been throwing darts for the past few weeks, Jordy Nelson is third in the NFL in touchdowns with nine, and Davante Adams is fourth with eight. The passing game is not relying on broken plays anymore, but rather on timed passes, which helps the receivers run after the catch. Nelson is returning to form after a slow start to the season and topped 90 yards for the fourth time in the last five outings. Green Bay is the only team to feature two receivers with more than 750 yards.
Through six weeks of competition, the Houston Texans owned the third highest graded secondary in the National Football League according to Pro Football Focus. It is not a fluke, or because they faced a favourable schedule as they were ranked tenth heading into the season. The secondary in Houston has been excellent. A.J. Bouye, the undrafted free agent is leading the way as he is currently the highest graded player at his position in the NFL, and has yet to allow a receiver to crack triple digit-receiving yardage. His teammate Jonathan Joseph is not performing quite as high a level as he did a year ago when he was one of the highest graded cornerbacks in the National Football League.
Packers Secondary versus Texans Wide Receivers
The Green Bay Packers secondary may be the most injury-riddled skills group in the National Football League. Every week, it seems another member of the secondary leaves the game with an injury. Heading into preseason, PFF ranked the Packers secondary as the fifth best unit in the National Football League, but due to injuries they re-ranked the unit 28th after six weeks of competition. The Packers have turned Ladarius Gunter, a practice squad player, into their number one cornerback.
This past offseason, the Houston Texans signed Brock Osweiler to a mega deal spanning four years and paying the unproven quarterback $72 million, including $37 million guaranteed. Osweiler had gone 5-2 as the starter for the eventual Super Bowl Champions Denver Broncos, but was benched in favor of Peyton Manning just before the playoffs began. In the draft, the Texans added Will Fuller as a deep threat and complimentary piece to wide out DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins emerged a year ago as an elite receiver with 111 receptions, 1,519 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, despite playing with only one quarterback this season, Hopkins stats have plunged dramatically, and the Texans passing game is close to non-existent.
Green Bay 33-10 Houston
