It’s a possible Super Bowl preview in this week’s Sunday night game when Green Bay meets Houston for the first time since the 2008 season. The Texans are the current Super Bowl favorites at 5-0. Green Bay badly needs a win after starting 2-3. In fact, the Pack have lost five of their past nine games since starting last season 13-0.
Green Bay blew a 21-3 halftime lead a week ago and lost 30-27 to Indianapolis. Mason Crosby had a chance to force overtime, but his 51-yard field goal with eight seconds to go hooked wide left. Aaron Rodgers completed 21-of-33 passes for 243 yards with three scores and an interception for the Packers.
Running back Cedric Benson had gained 20 yards on seven carries before leaving the game in the second quarter with a left foot injury. He is out for at least the next eight games.
Houston beat the Jets 23-17 on Monday night. Arian Foster ran for 152 yards and a touchdown, and Matt Schaub completed 14-of-28 passes for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while Shayne Graham connected on three field goals for the Texans (5-0), who keep building on their best start in franchise history. However, Houston lost star linebacker Brian Cushing to a season-ending injury in the game.
The Packers are 4-0 all-time in the city of Houston, with three of those victories coming against the Oilers. It will be the first time the Packers have faced an undefeated team with five or more wins since they played the 7-0 Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Nov. 2, 2008. Houston and Atlanta are the only remaining undefeated teams this season.
Including playoffs, Green Bay is 10-3 (.769) away from Lambeau Field over its last 13 games. The Packers have won seven of their last 10 regular-season road contests. The Packers have won five of their last six games played on Sunday night, with the lone loss over that span coming at New England (31-27) in Week 15 of the 2010 season.
Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers are 6-3 (.667) in Sunday night contests. Green Bay is 18-5 all-time in Sunday night contests, a .783 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in NFL history.
VEGASSPORTSBETTING ODDS: Texans -3.5 (47.5)
PACKERS : QB Aaron Rodgers has 113.6 rating in past 5 vs. AFC with 14 TDs vs. 3 INTs. Packers are 23-0 when Rodgers starts & has 115 rating … RB Alex Green avg. 6.1 yards per carry last week (9 att., 55 yards) … WR James Jones has 4 TDs in past 2 & aims for 3rd in row with 2 TDs. Ties for NFL lead with 5 rec. TDs.
WR-PR-KR Randall Cobb is only player in NFL with 300 KR (300), 200 rec. (244), 100 PR (127) & 25 rush (48) yards. Had TD catch last week. WR Jordy Nelson had TD in last meeting. Has TD in 4 of past 6 vs. AFC (incl. SB). WR Greg Jennings has TD in 4 of his past 5 vs. AFC (incl. SB) & has 5 TDs in those 5 …CB Tramon Williams had INT in last meeting. Since 2010 (incl. playoffs), leads NFL with 15 INTs. Since joining GB in 2006, DB Charles Woodson has 38 INTs (2nd in NFL) & 9 INT-TDs (1st in NFL). LB Clay Matthews has sack in 4 of 5 games & is 2nd in NFL with 8 sacks. LB Nick Perry aims for 3rd road game in row with sack.
TEXANS : Are 5-0 for 1st time in team history … In past 9, QB Matt Schaub is 9-0 & with 13 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 103.3 rating. In last game vs. GB, passed for 414 yards, 3rd-most of career (497, 416) … RB Arian Foster had season-best 152 rush yards last week. Since ’10, averages NFL-best 99.2 rush yards per game. Aims for 3rd consecutive game with 100 rush yards (111, 109) vs. NFC … WR Andre Johnson (9,939) needs 61 rec. yards to reach 10,000.
Since entering NFL in ’03, Johnson averages NFL-best in rec. yards per game (78.3) & rec. per game (5.7). Had 107 rec. yards in only home meeting vs. GB (11/21/04) … TE Owen Daniels aims for 4th straight gm with TD rec…Defense allows AFC-low in pts. per gm (14.6) & yards per game (275.6) … DE J.J. Watt aims for 6th straight game with at least 1 sack … CB Kareem Jackson aims for 3rd straight game with INT.
VEGAS TRENDS: Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Packers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games. Texans are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 home games. Texans are 10-0-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Texans are 14-2-2 ATS in their last 18 games on grass.
Texans are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Texans are 10-2-1 ATS in their last 13 games following a S.U. win.
Place your NFL football bets at our online sportsbook!
