Newly signed Brandon McManus kicked a game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to lift the host Green Bay Packers over the Houston Texans 24-22.
McManus, who joined Green Bay last Tuesday after the team released inconsistent rookie Brayden Narveson, drilled the winner after the Packers drove 44 yards in the game’s final 1:44.
Houston (5-2) had taken a 22-21 lead the previous possession on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s third field goal of the game, a 35-yarder.
Green Bay (5-2) extended its winning streak to three games while stopping the Texans’ streak at three.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 24 of 33 passes for 220 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Josh Jacobs had 76 yards on 12 carries, and Romeo Doubs finished with eight catches for 95 yards.
Houston running back Joe Mixon rushed 25 times for 115 yards and two TDs. C.J. Stroud was 10-for-21 passing for 86 yards.
Love connected with Doubs for 23 yards on the first play from scrimmage, but Green Bay’s fortune shifted three plays later. Neville Hewitt snagged an interception and returned it 45 yards to the Packers’ 11-yard line.
The hosts limited the Texans to a 23-yard field goal from Fairbairn. After the teams traded punts, the Packers captured their first lead of the afternoon when Love connected with Tucker Kraft for a 14-yard touchdown pass with 13:16 to go in the second quarter.
Houston punted on the ensuing possession but capitalized when the ball hit Green Bay’s Corey Ballentine and the Texans recovered at the Packers 16. The Texans scored two plays later on Mixon’s 2-yard run.
Mixon went for a “Lambeau Leap” celebration after the go-ahead score, but a Packers fan behind the end zone wasn’t having it and shoved Mixon back to field level.
The Packers regained the lead on a 30-yard TD pass from Love to Dontayvion Wicks with 8:51 to go before halftime.
Fairbairn’s 52-yard field goal and Mixon’s 4-yard TD run gave Houston a 19-14 halftime lead.
An 8-yard TD pass from Love to Jacobs with 7:25 left in the third quarter gave Green Bay a 21-19 lead that lasted until Fairbairn’s late go-ahead kick.
–Field Level Media