Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is dealing with a hamstring injury, and that’s coming at the worst time for them. Green Bay is just 5-6 on the season and they’re trailing both the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions in the NFC North. On Sunday, they’ll face off against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field.
Texans vs. Packers 2016: Time, live TV schedule for NFL Week 13 matchup
The Texans aren’t very good, but beating the Packers could be huge in the race for the AFC South.
The Texans are a team that wasn’t expected to be on Green Bay’s level before the start of this season. But the NFL is never a sure thing, and the Texans are 6-5, ahead of the Packers. They’ll kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday from Lambeau Field, and the game will be broadcast on CBS. A live stream will be available online at CBS All-Access to subscribers.
Rodgers’ hamstring injury won’t keep him out of Sunday’s game, but if it limits his mobility then that’s a plus for Houston’s defense.
The Packers snapped an awful four-game losing skid in their last outing by beating the Philadelphia Eagles. That skid included blowout losses to the Tennessee Titans and Washington, and had a lot to do with the fact that Green Bay’s pass defense is terrible.
There are some truly bad teams this year, so Green Bay only comes out as the 21st-ranked pass defense, but they are a lot worse than it seems. The 22 passing touchdowns they’ve allowed are the fourth-most in the league.
Also notable on defense is the fact that linebacker Clay Matthews is banged up with a shoulder injury. Matthews took a huge hit on a blindside block against the Eagles the last time out, and he needed a pain-killing injection to return to the game. He left the game multiple times with the hurt shoulder.
Brock Osweiler will be dueling Rodgers for the Texans. As everyone knows by now, the Texans gave him a four-year, $72 million deal this offseason to sign him away from the Denver Broncos. This season, Osweiler ranks 32nd in the league in passer rating and yards per attempt, and his 13 interceptions are tied for most in the NFL.
The Texans currently lead a mediocre AFC South division. But they’ve lost their past two games, coming out completely flat against the San Diego Chargers in their last outing and getting outgunned by the Oakland Raiders in the previous game.
Houston still has three divisional games to play before the season is over, and a potentially tough game against the Cincinnati Bengals if they can pick things up and play up to their potential. But for now, talent-wise, the Packers are the most dangerous team still on the schedule, and if Houston can manage to get out with a win, it could be huge for them in the division and the playoff race.
How to Watch Texans vs. Packers on Sunday
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, CBS All-Access
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