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Why the Packers’ offense and Texans’ defense are poised to take off
Offensive and defensive trends are becoming teams’ identities as the NFL heads to the middle of its schedule. There is balance across the board in divisional races ahead of this week’s games.
DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt breaks down the offense and defense to watch in Week 7.
Offense: Green Bay Packers
The Packers have one of the most efficient and balanced offenses in the NFL. Green Bay is gaining nearly six yards per play, with an even split between the run and the pass.
Jordan Love has started the season with the fourth-best passer rating among quarterbacks (110.9). His completion rate (70.1%) is up notably from his previous seasons as a starter, and Love has been great throwing the ball deep.
Love’s location and timing have been excellent while targeting receivers over 20 yards downfield. The Packers are yet to convert one of those plays for a touchdown, but it is on the way. The big plays will boost an offense that’s scoring over 26 points per game.
Green Bay has a deep receiving corps, and has been down one of its top assets, wide receiver Jayden Reed. Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden and tight end Tucker Kraft have similar yardage totals. The Packers can spread defenses out. Opponents cannot focus on one, or even two, players.
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Kraft has become a dynamic weapon. He leads all NFL tight ends in yards per reception (14.9), catching 85.7% of his targets. On only 18 catches, Kraft has posted 268 yards and three touchdowns.
Josh Jacobs’ yards per carry (3.7) is down from last season, but the Packers are still 12th in rushing yardage per game (122.2). This is a running game that is effective, and will be trending up with the way Love is throwing the ball.
Jacobs is second in attempts among running backs inside the five-yard line. He has scored four of his six rushing touchdowns near the end zone. The Packers complement their passing game well in short yardage handing it to their bell cow back.
Green Bay is the best team in the NFL on third down, and has converted 15 of 21 trips to the red zone. The Packers come off a bye to face the Cardinals in Week 7.
Defense: Houston Texans
The Texans have the top-scoring defense in the NFL, allowing only 12.2 points per game.
Houston is particularly effective defending the pass. The linebackers and secondary rank fifth in passing yardage allowed (175.2). Opponents are gaining 5.3 yards per attempt against the Texans, and have scored only three times through the air.
Safety Jalen Pitre and linebacker Azeez Al’Shaair are both top-10 players at their positions in coverage this season.
Pitre has three interceptions, and has allowed only 68 yards after the catch playing the deepest segment of the field.
Al’Shaair is conceding a reception rate of 53.8%, the best mark at linebacker in the NFL. He allows a catch once every 23 snaps while in coverage.
The exterior is protected by corners Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Stingley and Lassiter are allowing only 2.5 yards after the catch on a combined 341 coverage snaps this season. There is no room to run for opposing receivers with the ball in their hands.
The Texans are not giving up explosive plays on the ground. Houston is third in yards before contact (0.55) per attempt. Between Tim Settle, Will Anderson Jr. and Sheldon Rankins, Houston has the speed and strength to reach running backs before they get started.
Al-Shaair leads the team in tackles in the running game. His fellow linebacker, Henry To’oTo’o, is not far behind, and covers even more ground than Al-Shaair to stop the run.
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The only thing this unit is lacking is sacks. Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter are at the top of the NFL in win rate, yet the team has only 12 sacks, and ranks 27th in quarterback pressures (58).
This doesn't add up, and is due for correction. It’s scary to think about a defense that allows 12 points per game, and has elite pass-rushing talent that's yet to kick in.
This defense faces an excellent Seahawks passing game on Monday night.
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