NFL Week 14: Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers

Both sitting at 5-7, the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers are fighting for pride in a physical game at Lambeau Field.

Texans vs. Packers Overview:
Injuries and a few close calls have gotten the young Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers to 5-7 records, lowball totals that do not match their talented rosters. Though they are not living up to lofty expectations, there is a great groundswell of young players emerging on all three aspects of the game, and the teams will challenge even the staunchest of veteran opponents. With a ton of youthful energy and great team attitudes for both clubs, the future is bright. Fans with Houston Texans tickets traveling to Green Bay, Wisconsin, better bring their warmest and thickest clothes.

Houston Texans Offense:
Whether it’s Matt Schaub or Sage Rosenfels, the Houston Texans do not have a gamebreaker at QB. They do have one of the best rookies in the NFL however in RB Steve Slaton. Fans with Houston Texans tickets watched Steve Slaton carry the Houston Texans to victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the versatile weapon burns up the turf with blazing speed. Many fans with Houston Texans tickets believe that WR Andre Johnson is the NFL MVP; with enormous numbers and total dominance of defenses, this could be warranted. TE Owen Daniels is an underrated player and makes good plays in clutch situations.

Houston Texans Defense:
Mario Williams is truly becoming the monster he was projected to be and totally takes over games from his defensive-end spot. Always drawing double teams, Mario Williams opens up gaps for other defenders to make plays when he cannot. LBs DeMeco Ryans and Xavier Adibi are small but have the agility, speed, and aggressiveness to make a ton of plays when the defensive line keeps blockers off of them. Fans with Houston Texans tickets have bashed CB Jacques Reeves all season, but he is proving his doubters wrong, establishing himself as the best player in the secondary.

Green Bay Packers Offense:
The Green Bay Packers do have their franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers, and the young leader can make plays with his arm and legs. Aaron Rodgers runs the Green Bay Packers version of the West Coast offense to perfection and hits WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings with pinpoint accuracy on slant routes. RB Ryan Grant is finally hitting his stride and won’t let a minor injury slow him down for long. If Ryan Grant cannot go, then Brandon Jackson will step in again. The Green Bay Packers offensive line is a young but elite unit.

Green Bay Packers Defense:
The Green Bay Packers also boast a great DE in Aaron Kampman. More of a pure pass rusher than Mario Williams, Aaron Kampman can wreak havoc behind the line of scrimmage. Excellent DTs like Justin Harrell and Ryan Pickett eat up blockers so that All-Star LB A.J. Hawk can hunt down running backs and plug holes with efficiency. The Green Bay Packers have one of the fastest linebacking corps in the NFL as a whole. The secondary is very physical with CB/S Charles Woodson leading the tough unit that loves popping receivers in the mouth.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:
Getting the ball to Steve Slaton is the top priority of the Houston Texans, and they have built their whole team around the run. Steve Slaton has some of the best hands on the team and is a threat to take any touch all the way for a score. After showing that he can carry the load fulltime, the Houston Texans won’t hesitate to feed him the rock. With the injuries to the Green Bay Packers secondary, fans with Houston Texans tickets hope that WR Andre Johnson can do some serious damage in one-on-one coverage. Whichever QB lines up behind center, the Houston Texans must protect the football and minimize mistakes.

Fans with Houston Texans tickets would love nothing more than to see Mario Williams crush Aaron Rodgers for three sacks like he did against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday Night Football. Due to an injury at center, the Green Bay Packers will be shuffling their offensive line, and Mario Williams could have another big day. The pass rush will be key to stopping the West Coast offense as CBs Jacques Reeves and Dunta Robinson will have a tough time matching up one on one with quick WRs. Containing Aaron Rodgers on bootlegs will also be a big challenge.

Green Bay Packers Keys to Victory:
The Green Bay Packers want to get the ball to Ryan Grant, but the injury to his thumb means he will have difficulty grasping the ball on catches and carries. With some new faces on the interior of the offensive line, the running game may be hard to establish so Aaron Rodgers will need to make more plays. The Houston Texans lack a true pass-rushing threat outside Mario Williams, so the big monster should always be doubled. In passing situations, Aaron Rodgers may target CB Dunta Robinson on deep balls to Greg Jennings due to the growing ability of Jacques Reeves at the other CB spot.

The Green Bay Packers should win the game easily if they can take away Steve Slaton early. Even fans with Houston Texans tickets know that their QB carousel is low on talent, and placing the game squarely in their hands is not the best idea. DE Aaron Kampman will line up against rookie LT Duane Brown and could have a big game rushing the passer. The physical corners of the Green Bay Packers need to mug WR Andre Johnson at the line of scrimmage to keep him from getting free. The snow and wind will also be a key advantage over the Houston Texans as they rarely experience such harsh conditions.

Texans vs. Packers Outlook:
Even at 5-7 fans with Green Bay Packers tickets and Houston Texans tickets can take pride in their teams and players as they continue to take on the toughest opponents in the NFL without taking a day off. The Green Bay Packers would still sneak into the playoffs thanks to a weak NFC North Division. The presence of so much youth on the field is also encouraging, and players like Aaron Rodgers, Steve Slaton, Mario Williams, and A.J. Hawk are the future of the NFL, with many Pro Bowls ahead of them.

The win on the road against the Cleveland Browns seems to have energized the Houston Texans with a new spirit, and things have come alive for them as of late, much to the delight of fans with Houston Texans tickets. Winning their first-ever Monday Night Football game also gives the Houston Texans a shot in the arm coming down the stretch and a chance for a .500 record. With Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson carrying the Houston Texans offense in absence of a quarterback, fans with Houston Texans tickets know that their team can upset any opponent. Even in the cold and wind of the Frozen Tundra, the Houston Texans are perfectly set for another win.