Prior to the Snap: “Winter Warning” in effect as the Green Bay Packers battle the Houston Texans

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – While the forecast looks to be warm and sunny on Sunday, there will be a “Winter Warning” in effect at Lambeau Field when the Packers debut their new alternate uniforms in a battle with the Houston Texans.

Green Bay will enter Sunday’s game on a two-game winning streak and despite being a respectable 4-2 on the season, they find themselves in last place in the NFC North division which could be the toughest division in football this year.

Keeping up with the Lions, Vikings, and yes… even the Bears doesn’t get any easier for the Green & Gold as the 5-1 Texans ride into Titletown on a three-game winning streak of their own.

The Texans, led by 2nd-year quarterback CJ Stroud, have a dangerous high-powered offense featuring wide receivers Stephon Diggs and Tank Dell, along with veteran running back Joe Mixon, that comes to Lambeau after putting up 41 points in a win over the New England Patriots.

For the Packers, Jordan Love appears to have shaken off any rust he had since returning from his sprained MCL that he suffered in week one versus the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.

Last week against the Arizona Cardinals, Love threw for 258 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception that wasn’t really his fault as the intended wide receiver slipped on the play. Love’s four touchdowns made him the first Packers quarterback to throw for four touchdowns in back-to-back home games since Brett Favre accomplished the feat in 1995.

While the Green Bay defense, which leads the NFL with 17 takeaways, will have its hands full with the Houston offense, the Packers offense should be able to keep up with some points of their own as the Texans defense is middle of the pack (16th) in points allowed per game.

In what could be a potential shootout at Lambeau Field between offenses led by arguably two of the best young quarterbacks in the league, let’s take a look at a couple of facts and predictions in this week’s Prior to the Snap!

Game Information

Matchup: Houston Texans (5-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2)
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Time: Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, 12:00 p.m. CST
Spread & O/U: -3.5 GB, 47.5
Projected Weather: 71°F, Clear, Winds 14MPH SW

Statistics

All-Time against Texans: 4-1
Last game against Texans: 35-20 GB (Oct. 25, 2020)
Last game at Lambeau Field against Texans : 21-13 GB (Dec. 4, 2016)

Ticket Prices – Including Fees

Players to Watch

K Brandon McManus

The Green Bay Packers are now taking their second , third , fourth shot at solving their kicker problems this season.

After cutting both Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph after both seemingly struggled in the preseason, the Packers signed former Titan Brayden Narveson off of waivers to take over as the team’s kicker to start the 2024 season.

Well after Narveson missed five field goals through six games, including a 32-yard field goal that he pushed to the right just last week against Arizona, the Packers have brought in veteran kicker Brandon McManus .

McManus has spent 10 years in the NFL and has kicked for both the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Through those 10 seasons, he has missed only nine extra point attempts, has a field goal percentage of 81.4%, and has a career-long of 61 yards.

All eyes from the cheeseheads in attendance on Sunday will be on McManus as they hope to have finally found a suitable replacement for Packers’ all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby.

Prediction: Brandon McManus makes 100% of his field goals and extra point attempts in his first game as a Green Bay Packer.

DE Will Anderson Jr.

Will Anderson Jr. has been a monster in the trenches for the Houston Texans since they first drafted him in 2023.

Anderson Jr. has 12.5 sacks in only 21 career games and while standing at 6-4, 243 pounds, he’s a big-body defensive end that can plug up the running lanes.

So far in the 2024 season, Anderson Jr. has racked up 5.5 sacks, 19 combined tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, and 8 hits on the opposing team’s quarterback. The 5.5 sacks on the year are good enough for 5th place among the league leaders.

With former Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (2.5 sacks, 15 combined tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 7 quarterback hits, and 1 forced fumble) lined up next to him demanding a lot of attention from the offensive line, Anderson Jr. could find himself with some one-on-one opportunities lining him to have a big day.

Prediction: Will Anderson Jr. takes advantage of the one-on-one opportunities and finishes the day with 1.5 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 quarterback hits.

Injuries (Q=Questionable, D=Doubtful, O=Out, IR=Injured Reserve )

Green Bay Packers:

Houston Texans:

Game Prediction:

With the players to watch covered and the full injury report squared away, let’s take a look at this week’s game prediction.

With wonderful weather conditions expected for a Sunday afternoon in Green Bay in October, expect the ball to fly around the football field as both teams light up the scoreboard in the passing game.

With both offenses needing to keep pace with the other, this game will come down to which team avoids mistakes leading to turnovers. Advantage Green Bay, the NFL’s leading defense in takeaways.

Prediction: The Packers win a barn burner under the sun in their new all-white alternate uniforms. 37-31 GB

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