Green Bay and Houston last played in 2016 when Aaron Rodgers and the Packers defeated Brock Osweiler and the Texans in a 21-13 game. That game was the season before the Texans would select Deshaun Watson with the 12th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Green Bay
After telling the media last week that he was playing against the Tampa Bay defense and not Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers was quickly introduced to the new and improved Buccaneers defense. Rodgers had one of the worst games in recent memory, and the Green Bay Packers will try to move on from a 38-10 Week 6 trouncing in Tampa Bay.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers both cited the previous week of practice, with LaFleur saying “When you practice like crap, you play like crap.” and Rodgers explaining that the Green Bay offense did not have the right energy the entire week.
Green Bay will be without running back Aaron Jones. Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon will carry the workload for the Packers backfield, and the team elevated Dexter Williams from the practice squad to round out the running back position. Green Bay will also be without All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who has been ruled out with a chest injury. J.J. Watt will have plenty of pass-rushing opportunities against whoever is protecting Rodgers’ blind side on Sunday.
Houston
The Packers will have their hands full again in Week 7 against a Houston Texans team that took the 5-0 Titans to overtime in a 42-36 thriller last Sunday. Deshaun Watson threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns in a vintage performance from the young quarterback. A failed two-point conversion led to overtime and an eventual win for the Titans.
“When you go for it and you don’t make it, they begin to wonder why you went for it in the first place,” said Texans Head Coach Romeo Crennel.
The Texans produced 601 yards of offense against the impressive Titans defense, but without a true number one receiver or dominant running back, Watson was forced to create magic with what Houston has left. He will again have to work his magic with number one rated corner Jaire Alexander lining up against Will Fuller.
Game Info
Date: October 25, 2020
Start Time: 1:00 P.M. ET
Location: Houston, TX
Stadium: NRG Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook:
Point Spread: GB -3.5 (-110) | HOU +3.5 (+110)
Moneyline: GB -185 | TB +150
Over/Under: O 57 (-110) | U 57 (-110)
The Packers should cover the points easily here. Green Bay has won handily in most of their games and Aaron Rodgers will not want to play a close game. A nice parlay could be the Packers cover and the under, with a favorable defensive matchup for the road team. The defenses combined have not been averaging more than 57 points allowed, and there is nothing to suggest that either team will change that this weekend.
Prediction
The Green Bay defense was placed in a very difficult situation last week against the Buccaneers, something that LaFleur and the offense will not allow to happen again. The Packers should have Kevin King and Tyler Ervin back, two key pieces on their defense and offense, respectively. Houston simply does not have the offensive firepower to take advantage of any Packers defensive struggles, nor have they been able to stop anyone’s offense in 2020. Rodgers will not have another bad game and will rise to the occasion in a must-win game with division rival Chicago Bears sitting at 5-1 atop the NFC North.
Final Score: Green Bay Packers 28, Houston Texans 17
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow MJ Hurley on Twitter @Mjhurley47
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
One Response