‘It’s not good enough,’ Texans’ banged-up defense played well, but can’t get one final stop in loss to Packers

Green Bay, Wis. – One more play, one last stop, one more of the kind of determined effort the Texans’ banged-up defense displayed all game Sunday at Lambeau Field.

That’s what the Texans’ inspired defense needed against the Green Bay Packers in the final minutes after adjusting well to the loss of four starters due to injuries plus defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to a four-game NFL suspension for a violation of the substance-abuse policy.

The backups, especially middle linebacker Neville Hewitt, excelled for the most part against a dangerous Green Bay offense headlined by $220 million star quarterback Jordan Love and high-priced running back Josh Jacobs. Hewitt and rookie safety Calen Bullock both picked off Love, and the Texans limited the Packers to 82 rushing yards.

Ultimately, though, they couldn’t get that final stop as Love completed passes to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Tucker Kraft followed by two more completions to wide receiver Romeo Doubs to set up kicker Brandon McManus for his 45-yard game-winning field goal as the clock hit zero in a 24-22 Texans road loss. The Texans had some tipped passes, including one by Bullock, but couldn’t take the football away one more time. There was also an offsides by Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr.

“I feel like I did my job,” Hewitt said when asked about his performance, which included a team-high nine tackles and a 45-yard interception return, while filling in for injured starter and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair. “At the end of the day, it’s not good enough. We didn’t win the game. Got down to two minutes, we’ve got to find a way to get off the field. We’ve just got to play cleaner.

“Some of the penalties gave them another chance to score and we just got to play better. I mean, it was close. It comes down to execution at the end. It comes down to making a play and getting off the field. We didn’t make that play.”

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On a day where the Texans’ passing game sputtered as quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for a career-low 86 yards and the pass protection was substandard with four sacks and seven quarterback hits allowed, they needed the defense and running back Joe Mixon to shoulder the bulk of the workload. The defense, playing without Al-Shaair and starting linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (concussion protocol), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (scapula fracture) and safety and team captain Jimmie Ward (groin), was nearly enough to pull the game out.

“I thought our guys did a good job defensively,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays to win the game. No matter who is out there, there’s no excuses. We’ve got to play our technique the right way and make plays when it’s our time to make a play.”

“Every time we step out is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to grow. We had opportunities here to finish this game. We had our hands on two balls there at the end. Ball was tipped up. We come down and make a play there, it’s a completely different feeling right now, but you go back. You learn from it. We see the mistakes. Win or loss, we always learn from it.”

While the defense held up its end of the bargain, the offense, except for Mixon rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns, didn’t.

“We kept shooting ourselves in the foot once again and I think that is just a recipe for disaster when you are playing against a great team,” said Stroud, who didn’t have any touchdowns. “I think our defense did a great job today. I think our special teams did amazing, so we have to be better as an offense. This is on us. Period.”

“I think our defense did a great job today,” said Stroud, who was sacked four times and had a career-low 86 yards passing. “I thought our special teams did amazing. So we’ve got to be better as an offense. This is on us. Point-blank, period.”

The Texans’ defense and special teams forced three turnovers in the first half that led to 16 points as they led 19-14 at halftime, including safety M.J. Stewart recovering a Tommy Townsend punt that ricocheted off Packers defensive back Corey Ballentine’s leg.

And Mixon had his second consecutive 100-yard performance.

However, protection issues hurt the Texans’ cause.

“We ran the ball well,” Ryans said. “I thought Joe did a good job running the ball. We needed to pass it. It was not good enough, starting with the protection. If we can’t protect, then that’s going to be difficult for the quarterback to make the plays.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.