GREEN BAY – The Packers got awfully creative with their pass-rush packages against the Texans, which led to plenty of confusion within Houston's pass protection.
That resulted in various sacks and pressures for third-down stops in what became the Green Bay defense's best performance of the season to date.
Here's an extensive breakdown.
Play No. 1: Third-and-4 from the Green Bay 5, first quarter, 11:57 left
Result: Incomplete pass
Opening third down of the game for the Packers' defense and it's a big one with the Texans knocking on the door. So let the creativity begin. LB Edgerrin Cooper (56) waves DL Rashan Gary (52) over to the middle, presumably because that's where he's supposed to be. The delay in alignment actually works to the Packers' advantage, as LG Kenyon Green (76) turns his head to get communication from QB C.J. Stroud (7) and doesn't appear to see Gary has shifted to an inside rushing position. By the time Green sees Gary coming, it's too late, and Gary's pressure flushes Stroud. It's a good thing, too, because LB Quay Walker (7) and CB Jaire Alexander (23) collide and stumble as WR Tank Dell (3) cuts across the end zone, but credit S Javon Bullard (20) for being heads-up to help in coverage.
Play No. 2: Third-and-6 from the Green Bay 36, first quarter, 5:57 left
Result: 8-yard sack by S Xavier McKinney
The Packers show a seven-man front, and the whole idea is to not give away to the offense who's rushing and who's dropping into coverage. Three defenders drop, so what unfolds is a four-man rush against a six-man protection, yet even at minus-2 in numbers the Packers get a free runner, McKinney, for the sack. How? Gary looping around to the middle appears to draw the eyes of TE Dalton Schultz (86), who doesn't consider McKinney might be rushing from that same side. Four on six shouldn't equal an easy sack, but it does.
Play No. 3: Third-and-9 from the Houston 31, second quarter, 12:48 left
Result: Incomplete pass
Another third down, another creative look. This time the Packers have dialed up a five-man pressure vs. a six-man protection. Minus-1. But they still get two free runners at Stroud. Gary loops again, all the way around three teammates as it turns out, which leaves Green in no man's land as a blocker. He gets stuck in all the traffic and can't help. At the same time, there's a mix-up by the Texans, as both RB Dare Ogunbowale (33) and LT Laremy Tunsil (78) block LB Eric Wilson (45), leaving DL Kingsley Enagbare (55) screaming in off the edge following a half-hearted chip block by WR Xavier Hutchinson (19). Either the RB or LT is supposed to pick up Enagbare, but he and Gary both come free to force the throwaway.
Play No. 4: Third-and-12 from the Green Bay 34, second quarter, 4:39 left
Result: Incomplete pass
All the who's rushing, who's dropping questions can sometimes lead to the slightest bit of hesitation that affects the play. That's what happens here when the Packers don't drop anybody, as five up front plus Cooper from the second level create a six-man rush. The Texans do pretty well on this except for one momentary lapse. Tunsil, perhaps thinking Enagbare is dropping with a bunch formation of three receivers in his area, throws an initial punch at DL Lukas Van Ness (90), and by the time he reacts to Enagbare's rush, he's too late. The backside pressure combined with all the bodies collapsing the pocket around Stroud rush a poor throw, and the Texans have to settle for a 52-yard field goal.
Play No. 5: Third-and-5 from the Houston 35, third quarter, 13:37 left
Result: 5-yard sack by Wilson
Initial third down of the second half and the Packers are still mixing things up. Here three defenders drop, creating a four-man rush, which gets really interesting. Looking at the eyes of Ogunbowale in the backfield, it appears both LB Isaiah McDuffie (58) and DL Preston Smith (91) dropping convince him he doesn't need to help protect, so he leaks out. But Stroud could use him, because just as his RB releases, the QB is in trouble, as Wilson is not running a garden-variety A gap pressure. He's actually stunting with DL Kenny Clark (97), and when Wilson crashes sideways into Green, C Juice Scruggs (70) doesn't recover in time to pick up Clark slanting in. Wilson's move to help his teammate is so effective it takes Green out of the play, leaving a clear lane for Wilson to get Stroud as the QB is trying to avoid Clark. Superb teamwork.
Play No. 6: Third-and-5 from the Houston 35, third quarter, 6:59 left
Result: Incomplete pass
As has become typical on third downs, the Packers show a loaded front. Once again, out of seven they rush just four, and the Texans handle it fine, including Ogunbowale picking up Gary on one of those outside-to-inside loops. But Stroud has dealt with so much heat he's in a hurry to get the ball out rather than let anything develop. He can't trust the protection based on how the game has gone, and Wilson's drop into coverage to pick up Schultz and break up the pass is textbook.
Play No. 7: Third-and-8 from the Green Bay 44, third quarter, 1:56 left
Result: 9-yard sack by Wilson
Another look, another success. Six-man pressure vs. six-man protection. How do the Packers win it? By having Wilson and Cooper run a cross-cross stunt off the double-A-gap blitz. As Cooper slants into Scruggs and Wilson slices behind, it leaves Ogunbowale with a lose-lose proposition in choosing whom to block. If he picks up Wilson, Cooper will have a clear lane to Stroud. If he picks up Cooper, which he does, Wilson's free to bury the QB.
Play No. 8: Third-and-11 from the Houston 42, fourth quarter, 11:05 left
Result: 1-yard scramble by Stroud
Seven-man front, four-man rush. This is essentially the same pressure look as the McKinney sack (play No. 2 above), and the Texans are ready. But when neither LB blitzes the A gap, they've left seven in to protect against just four rushers, which gives the Packers a huge advantage on the back end – seven in coverage vs. three on routes. Stroud has nowhere to go with the ball. By the time Ogunbowale leaks out as a safety valve, Stroud is leaving the pocket to buy time for somebody to get open. Big credit to Cooper here, as he sees Ogunbowale releasing into the middle and pauses his pursuit of Stroud – knowing others are on the chase and he's got a long way to go for the first down anyway – to make sure there's no last-second dump-off of the ball.
Bonus play: First-and-10 from the Houston 48, first quarter, 8:59 left
Result: 6-yard sack by Gary
And sometimes it's not about drawing anything up or confusing anybody, but just a stroke of luck. When the right foot of RT Tytus Howard (71) trips over the left foot of Schultz, the QB has no chance.
