GREEN BAY – Moments before Brandon McManus' official Packers debut, veteran running back Josh Jacobs walked up to his new kicker during pregame warmups and made a small prediction.
"I was just like, 'Man, be special today. It's going to be one of them days where we need you,'" Jacobs said.
Jacobs' words proved prophetic, as Sunday's down-to-the-wire matchup between the Packers and Houston Texans was decided on the foot of McManus, who celebrated his fifth day in Green Bay with a game-winning 45-yard field goal to seal a 24-22 victory in front of 78,197 at Lambeau Field.
The final two minutes of regulation had no shortage of drama, as Ka'imi Fairbairn drilled a 35-yard field goal to put the Texans up 22-21 with 1 minute, 44 seconds remaining.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love answered with an efficient eight-play, 44-yard drive to set the table for the 33-year-old McManus, who had to make his first field goal of the 2024 season twice after Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called a timeout before the first try.
The strategy may have worked against Houston. McManus said he was expecting a timeout. In fact, he was actually rooting for a practice swing at the uprights in Lambeau's south end zone.
"It was a little windy today, just seeing where the wind might move the ball," McManus said. "If I for some reason miss the first one, I've never missed back-to-back kicks in my career, so I feel pretty confident. I always want to have that practice rep if I can."
The game-winner capped a hectic week for the Packers on the kicking front after General Manager Brian Gutekunst reshuffled the deck at the position on Wednesday when he released rookie Brayden Narveson in favor of McManus.
The 11-year veteran, who hadn't kicked in an NFL game since last January, was looking to restart his NFL career after a league investigation into a civil lawsuit showed insufficient evidence to discipline McManus under the NFL's personal conduct policy.
Grateful for a fresh start with the Packers, McManus quickly acclimated himself to Green Bay. After the game, several players voiced their confidence in McManus' ability to hit the ground running against the Texans based on how well he hit the ball in practice.
Experience also played a big role in that. McManus previously won a Super Bowl ring during his nine-year run with the Denver Broncos.
"We saw him making his kicks in practice, so we have belief in him," safety Xavier McKinney said. "Obviously we got him here, so the coaching staff and whoever makes those decisions had belief in him. He made 'em in practice, so we got out here in a game, we didn't expect any different and he was able to execute and make a field goal, so it's great, man."
Even 11 years in, McManus doesn't take game-winners for granted. That was an area of his game in which he struggled early in his career, being cut three times and traded before finding his rhythm with the Broncos.
That excitement was evident when McManus jubilantly threw his helmet in the air and ran to the end zone to do a Lambeau Leap after making the kick. McManus admits his leap was "not good," but he felt it was necessary to attempt one given the history of Lambeau Field and the fact he made a game-winner in his first game with the Packers.
Having his new teammates – all of whom are younger – join McManus in the stands made the moment extra special.
"What a week," McManus said. "I'm super excited to be here. Great group of guys. I'm oldest on the team by two years, so some of them are trying to call me 'Uncle' and 'Dad' already. Super excited to be here. What a way to help this team win on my first game here at Lambeau Field."
In McManus, Green Bay hopes it's found someone to halt the kicking carousel the Packers have been traveling on since Mason Crosby wasn't re-signed in 2023. Sunday was a step in the right direction.
"The average margin of victory in the NFL I think is three points, so you've got to go into each game understanding it might come down to you," said McManus, who also made three extra points. "That's why I chose this position many moons ago. I love the pressure situations. I was happy to have the opportunity today."
