Brandon McManus' field goal on the final play gives Packers a 24-22 victory over Texans

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Brandon McManus insisted he hadn't planned to do a “Lambeau leap” if he made a winning field goal in his Green Bay Packers debut.

But when he kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to give Green Bay a 24-22 victory over Houston on Sunday, McManus couldn't help himself.

He jumped into the corner of the end-zone stands to celebrate with the Lambeau Field crowd.

“I figured it’d be cool to do that," McManus said. “I definitely need to work on my hops. I don’t practice jumping that much anymore.”

Green Bay (5-2) overcame three turnovers to win its third straight and snap Houston's three-game winning streak.

“It wasn’t perfect, definitely was not perfect,” said Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who went 24 of 33 for 220 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. “A lot of mistakes. But we found a way to win, and that’s what it’s all about.”

McManus' kick represented the latest chapter in an eventful year for him.

He had been out of a job since the summer, when two women sued him and the Jacksonville Jaguars in civil court alleging he sexually assaulted them when they were working as flight attendants on the Jaguars’ trip to London last year.

The NFL said late last month it didn’t find sufficient evidence that McManus violated the personal conduct policy. Lawyers representing McManus and the women said the civil case had been resolved.

The Packers released rookie Brayden Narveson and signed McManus on Wednesday, trusting the 33-year-old veteran's reliability. McManus has made over 90% of his career field-goal attempts from less than 50 yards, while Narveson had gone 12 of 17 without attempting any from beyond 49 yards.

McManus answered the call Sunday.

Even after the Texans called timeout as he attempted his first kick, McManus delivered the second time. Packers holder Daniel Whelan did a nice job getting the ball down for McManus after fielding a low snap.

“I always want a practice kick if I can,” McManus said. "It was a little windy today, just seeing where the wind might move the ball."

Houston's Joe Mixon rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Ka’imi Fairbairn was 3 of 3 on field-goal attempts and put the Texans (5-2) ahead by making a 35-yarder with 1:44 left.

C.J. Stroud was just 10 of 21 for a career-low 86 yards and was sacked four times in a game that had seven lead changes.

“Obviously, we didn’t pass the ball well all day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “So, it wasn’t good all the way around. We ran the ball well. 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.”

Houston still nearly pulled off what would have been a remarkable victory, considering all the players the Texans were missing.

The Texans didn't have five defensive starters with tackle Mario Edwards Jr. serving a suspension while linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Jimmie Ward were out with injuries. Houston also played without injured receivers Nico Collins and Robert Woods, as well as receiver/punt returner Steven Sims.

Houston was seeking its first four-game winning streak since 2018, when the Texans won nine in a row. The emotions of this game were evident even before the opening kickoff, as Texans receiver Stefon Diggs exchanged words and shoves with Packers cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon.

The Texans built a 19-14 halftime lead by scoring 16 points off three Packers turnovers.

Josh Jacobs put the Packers ahead midway through the third quarter when he got his first career touchdown catch — on the sixth-year pro’s 212th overall reception. Jacobs had the NFL record for most career catches without a touchdown reception.

“It was long overdue,” said Jacobs, who also had 12 carries for 76 yards. “We talked about it all week at practice that, ‘Man, this is the week that we’re going to get (it).’ We had like three or four plays in the red zone for me.”

But the Packers went three-and-out on their next three possessions, allowing the Texans to come back again on Fairbairn's last field goal. Green Bay trailed 22-21 when it got the ball at its own 30 with one timeout remaining.

“It’s a two-minute drive, we need a field goal, we know what we need to do,” Love said. “So the mindset is just go win the game.”

The Packers were at midfield when Love hit Romeo Doubs for a 13-yard gain. An offside penalty on Houston's Will Anderson brought the Packers 5 yards closer. After a 6-yard completion from Love to Doubs got Green Bay to Houston's 26, the Packers called a timeout with 3 seconds left to set things up for McManus.

“He's a vet,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “You can see it. The moment's not too big for him. Obviously that was a big-time kick.”

Packers LB Quay Walker left in the first half to get evaluated for a concussion after teammate Kingsley Enagbare's leg inadvertently hit him in the head at the end of a play.

Texans: Host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday.

Packers: Visit the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday.

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This story has been corrected to fix Love’s final numbers in the summary and 6th paragraph.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) jumps in the crowd after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) runs past Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Houston Texans place kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (15) kicks a 52-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Houston Texans place kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (15) makes a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-22. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) rushes past Houston Texans linebacker Jake Hansen (35) for a first down during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) celebrates after kicking the game-winning field goal in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-22. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) celebrates with teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-22. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) celebrates with fans after kicking the game-winning field goal in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-22. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson's third season with the Browns is likely over.

Cleveland's embattled quarterback was carted off with an Achilles tendon injury in the first half of the Browns' 21-14 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday as Joe Burrow got his first road win against the Bengals' in-state AFC North rival.

Watson's leg crumpled on a non-contact play as he dropped back to pass with 1:26 left before halftime. As he planted, Watson's calf appeared to quiver before he gave himself up and dropped to the turf.

While he did not confirm Watson's season has ended, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said it appears that way. The team was still awaiting further test results.

“Really, really disappointing,” Stefanski said.

The embattled Watson, whose tenure with Cleveland has been marked by off-field problems, injuries and poor play, covered his head with a towel as he was carted off the field. While he was down, players from both teams came off the sidelines to surround him and offer support.

Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett expressed disappointment that some fans cheered when Watson got hurt.

“We should be ashamed of ourselves,” Garrett said. “No one deserves that.”

Burrow threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter as the Bengals (3-4) ended a six-game losing streak at Cleveland. While he has played well against every team in the NFL, Burrow had struggled against the Browns, coming in 1-5 overall and 0-3 on the road.

Burrow connected with Ja’Marr Chase for an 18-yard TD and Tee Higgins for a 25-yard score six minutes later. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 181 yards.

Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in 2022 after the Browns (1-6) traded three first-round draft picks to Houston for him.

He was suspended for the first 11 games in '22 for violating the league's personal conduct policy after two dozen women accused him of sexual assault during massage therapy sessions.

Watson made six starts and showed flashes of his Pro Bowl days with the Texans last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

The 29-year-old has played poorly for most of this season, but the Browns have stuck with him.

Before he got hurt, Watson was 15 of 17 for 128 yards. He was replaced by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who moved ahead of Jameis Winston on the depth chart this week. Thompson-Robinson finished 11 of 24 for 82 yards and two interceptions before leaving with a finger injury.

Winston played the final 3:43 and threw a TD pass to David Njoku and a 2-point conversion.

Charlie Jones returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown for the Bengals (3-4), who have won three of four after a three-game slide to start the season.

Watson's injury came as the Browns welcomed running back Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last season. Chubb ran for a 1-yard touchdown just after Watson went out.

Chubb received a thunderous ovation when he sprinted from the tunnel during pregame introductions. The roar came seconds after the struggling Watson was booed before Cleveland's first home game in three weeks.

Chubb was already one of the Browns' most popular players. He said the support he received from fans during his recovery fueled him, and he thanked Cleveland's fans in an essay in the Players' Tribune this week.

The Bengals were up 7-0 before Burrow even touched the ball.

Jones caught the opening kick at his goal line, found a seam at Cleveland's 25, made a cut to the right and was gone. He nearly got caught at the 10-yard line but kept his feet, stayed in bounds and tumbled into the end zone.

It was only the third kick return of his career. He took punt back 81 yards for a TD last season as a rookie against Baltimore.

Jones’ TD was the longest return this season and the third one since the new kickoff rule was implemented this season.

Bengals: S Geno Stone was taken off on a cart with a severe leg injury late in the fourth. Stone was put in an air cast after he was accidentally hit by teammate Vonn Bell. ... LT Orlando Brown Jr. went out in the second quarter with a right knee injury and didn't return.

Bengals: Host Philadelphia next Sunday.

Browns: Host Baltimore next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) carries for a first down in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates a touchdown reception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) celebrates his interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Fans cheer for Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) pulls in a pass reception over Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Charlie Jones returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) drops back to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) reacts after being injured in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is carted off the field after being injured in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is carted off the field after being injured in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)