Green Bay Packers at Houston: 3 X-Factors for Sunday’s Game
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers CB – Josh Jackson
Jaire Alexander has been a lockdown corner, especially these past two games against Mike Evans and Calvin Ridley. But this week, the Green Bay Packers’ secondary will likely be without Kevin King again, as they face a Houston receiving corps that Mike Pettine called the best they’ve seen all season.
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With DeShaun Watson at quarterback and a group of receivers made up of Will Fuller, old friend Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks, and Kenny Stills, the Texans have the third-most passing yards per game this season at over 282. As a team, Houston has the second-most explosive pass plays – plays of over 20 yards – this season, which the Packers have shown they are prone to giving up.
Meanwhile, individually, both Fuller and Cobb rank in the top-11 of all wide receivers in DVOA, which measures on a per play basis, how much better – or worse – a receiver did in that situation compared to an average NFL receiver.
Last week we saw Jackson make several nice plays in the run game, however, we still saw the same issues that have been plaguing him in coverage pop up as well. He was beaten on an eventual touchdown reception, and then on a deep ball, he didn’t get his head around, which resulted in a penalty.
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Hopefully, the Green Bay Packers’ pass rush can provide the secondary some help this week, but with Alexander likely on Fuller for much of the day, Jackson is going to have to play better if he hopes to slow down the other Houston receivers. Otherwise, the Packers may find themselves in a shootout on Sunday.