Houston Texans vs Green Bay Packers Box Score on Dec 04, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 4, 2016

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A gimpy Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers slipped past the Houston Texans 21-13 on Sunday at snowy Lambeau Field.

Rodgers, who was questionable with a hamstring injury and clearly limited on a treacherous field, went 20 of 30 for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He directed back-to-back scoring drives of 98 and 89 yards in the second half to snap a 7-7 tie.

The victory kept the Packers (6-6) alive in the NFC North, with first-place Detroit winning at New Orleans and improving to 8-4. Houston lost its third in a row and fell into a first-place tie with Tennessee at 6-6 in the AFC South.

The Packers picked a critical time for their longest drive of the season.

With the score tied at 7 and the Packers starting at their 2-yard line, receiver/running back Ty Montgomery converted a third-and-1 from the 11 with a 13-yard run in which he stiff-armed linebacker Benardrick McKinney at the first-down marker.

Then Rodgers hit tight end Jared Cook for a gain of 10 on third-and-8. The touchdown was a 32-yarder to Nelson in which cornerback Robert Nelson slipped and fell to the turf around the 15, leaving Nelson wide open in the end zone.

The Packers forced a punt, then followed its longest drive of the season with perhaps its most impressive to deliver the knockout punch. Rodgers fired downfield passes to Nelson for gains of 21 and 28 yards. A 19-yard run on an end-around by receiver Jeff Janis moved the ball to the 3, and fullback Aaron Ripkowski powered it in on the next play to give Green Bay a 21-7 lead with 4:11 remaining.

Houston answered quickly, capped by Brock Osweiler's 44-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins. Kicker Nick Novak slipped on the extra point attempt and missed, leaving it 21-13 with 1:51 to play.

Osweiler finished 21 of 34 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 99.3 Tight ends C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin combined for 10 receptions for 79 yards.

The Texans had 109 yards in the first half but marched 67 yards to open the second half and tie the score 7-7.

On third-and-9, Osweiler hit rookie receiver Will Fuller for a gain of 24. The Texans called timeout on fourth-and-1 from the 6, even though Green Bay had only 10 defenders on the field, but Osweiler rolled to his right and hit Griffin for the touchdown.

Montgomery returned the kickoff to the 44, but the Texans' defense turned back the Packers. On fourth-and-1 from the Houston 47, nose tackle Vince Wilfork stopped Ripkowski, with inside linebacker Brian Cushing pulling Ripkowski backward to prevent him from reaching for the first down.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy's fourth-down gamble didn't hurt immediately on the scoreboard, but it resulted in a 51-yard swing in field position when punter Shane Lechler's kick was downed at the 2.

Green Bay, however, responded with its longest drive of the season to help send it to its second consecutive victory.

The Packers led 7-0 at halftime, with both teams playing tentatively on a slippery field. In fact, on 61 offensive plays, the longest gain was 13 yards.

Texans coach Bill O'Brien went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Packers' 49, but running back Alfred Blue was stopped by inside linebacker Joe Thomas, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and outside linebacker Datone Jones.

Taking over at midfield, Green Bay took six minutes to score the only points of the half. McCarthy kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-1 from the 41 and was rewarded when running back Christine Michael gained 5 yards.

Three short completions to Jordy Nelson helped move the ball to the 9, where Rodgers moved to his right and threw a touchdown pass to receiver Randall Cobb against cornerback Kareem Jackson.

Cobb celebrated with a snow angel and a Lambeau Leap.

NOTES: Packers OLB Julius Peppers posted career sack No. 142.5 just before halftime, putting him ahead of Michael Strahan and into sole possession of fifth place on the NFL list. ... Packers WR Jordy Nelson moved into fifth place on the Packers' career receiving yardage list. His 115-yard day gave him 6,981. ... On a snowy day, both teams fumbled on their opening possession. Houston TE Ryan Griffin was hit by CB LaDarius Gunter, with S Morgan Burnett recovering and returning it to the Houston 24. The Packers didn't cash in, however, as QB Aaron Rodgers fumbled a snap at the 2. ... Texans WR Braxton Miller sustained an injured shoulder when hit by S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with about four minutes left in the half. He spent several minutes on the snow-covered ground before walking directly to the locker room with four trainers. ... Packers OLB Nick Perry departed with a hand injury in the first quarter. He returned for the start of the second with a club-cast on his left hand. … Houston DE Jadeveon Clowney (elbow/wrist) and OLB John Simon (chest) and Packers RG T.J. Lang (foot) were among the inactives.