Passing problems cause Texans to waste an impressive performance from their injury-riddled defense

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — C.J. Stroud and Houston’s passing attack didn’t provide nearly enough help for the Texans’ injury-riddled defense.

That defense produced an inspired performance, but finally wore down in the final minute of a 24-22 loss at Green Bay that snapped the Texans’ three-game winning streak.

Brandon McManus’ 45-yard field goal as time expired prevented Houston from getting its first four-game winning streak since 2018, when the Texans won nine in a row.

“I think our defense did a great job today,” said Stroud, who was sacked four times and had a career-low 86 yards passing. “I thought our special teams did amazing. So we’ve got to be better as an offense. This is on us. Point-blank, period.”

Houston’s defense was missing five usual 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.

Yet the AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) forced three first-half turnovers that led to 16 points, enabling Houston to build a 19-14 lead. Neville Hewitt and Calen Bullock intercepted Jordan Love, and MJ Stewart recovered a fumble after Tommy Townsend's punt bounced off the leg of Green Bay’s Corey Ballentine.

Houston’s problems stemmed from an offense that didn’t have injured receivers Nico Collins and Robert Woods, as well as receiver/punt returner Steven Sims.

Joe Mixon ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns, the second straight week in which he had at least 100 yards and two scores. Mixon rushed for 102 yards and had a touchdown run and a TD catch in a 41-21 triumph at New England last week.

But the Texans couldn’t pass the ball with any consistency. Stroud completed just 10 of his 21 attempts.

Stroud's 86 yards passing were a career worst after being held to 91 against the Jets last December during a game in which he left late with a concussion.

It was also the fewest Green Bay allowed to any quarterback with at least 20 attempts since Seattle's Charlie Frye threw for 83 on 23 attempts in the Seahawks' 27-17 loss to the Packers on Oct. 12, 2008.

Counting the 31 yards lost to sacks, the Texans ended up with just 55 net yards passing.

“We ran the ball well,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “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 wideouts combined for just six receptions for 34 yards, with Stefon Diggs catching five for 23 yards and Xavier Hutchinson adding one 11-yard catch. Tank Dell was targeted four times, but had no receptions.

“Playing on the road is obviously tough, but when you're going on the road, you got to execute at a high level,” said Diggs, who exchanged words and shoves with Packers cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon during a pregame scuffle.

“You can’t ride the roller coaster," Diggs added. "You’re going against a good team and they came to play. When you go into someone else’s house, you’ve got to have a mindset and you’ve got to execute.”

Houston entered this week’s action ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards per game, and this was the first game this season in which Stroud failed to throw a touchdown pass.

Part of the problem was that Stroud didn’t have enough time to throw. Stroud was sacked four times by a Green Bay defense that hadn’t recorded a single sack in a 34-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals a week earlier.

Texans guard Shaq Mason was asked after the game what needed to happen to get Houston’s passing game back to its usual self.

“I have no answer for that,” Mason said. “When I see the tape, I’ll know. But just from right now, it feels like we’ve just got to be on the same page. We’ve all got to be better.”

Houston still nearly won the game because of its defense.

After Green Bay (5-2) pulled ahead 21-19 on Love’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Josh Jacobs midway through the third quarter, the Packers went three-and-out in each of their next three possessions. Houston then continually handed the ball to Mixon on a 13-play, 45-yard drive that culminated with Ka’imi Fairbairn kicking his third field goal, a 35-yarder that put the Texans ahead 22-21 with 1:44 left.

But the Texans couldn’t produce that one final stop.

Green Bay got the ball back on its own 30 with one timeout remaining. Love threw a couple of completions to Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion Wicks that got the Packers near midfield, then Romeo Doubs made a 12-yard catch to get Green Bay inside Houston’s 40. A 6-yard completion to Doubs got Green Bay to the 26.

That was close enough for McManus, whose field goal ended the game.

“I thought our guys did a good job defensively,” Ryans said. “But at the end of the day, we didn’t make enough plays to win the game. No matter who is out there, there’s no excuses. We’ve got to play our technique the right way and make plays when it’s our time to make a play.”

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

Teammates celebrate an interception by Houston Texans safety Calen Bullock (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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)

Teammates Houston Texans center Juice Scruggs (70) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) celebrate with running back Joe Mixon (28) after he scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Houston Texans wide receiver John Metchie III (8) talks with quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) tries to get past Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary (52) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari its first United States Grand Prix victory since 2018 with a commanding drive Sunday, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen strengthened his lead in the F1 season championship with a podium finish awarded by a late penalty on McLaren's Lando Norris.

Verstappen finished third after Norris was given a five-second penalty for leaving the track to pass Verstappen in the final laps.

Norris' pass came after the two drivers had battled for the final podium spot and critical championship points over several laps and Verstappen had stubbornly refused to give ground.

Verstappen immediately complained after Norris passed him. The McLaren driver insisted Verstappen also left the track.

“It was a tough battle. I tied to do everything I could to keep him behind. To be on the podium is a good result,” Verstappen said. “I have my opinion (on the penalty). I’ll let the stewards do their thing.”

The penalty and fourth place finish may cost Norris dearly in the title chase. Verstappen stretched his championship lead over Norris from 54 points to 57 with five grand prix and two sprint races left.

Leclerc earned his third win of the season and Ferrari pulled a 1-2 finish with his teammate Carlos Sainz in second. Kimi Raikkonen had been the last Ferrari winner at the Circuit of the Americas in 2018.

“We couldn’t have dreamed for better,” Leclerc said. “It was a bit of a lonely race, but a good kind of lonely.”

The bigger battle was raging behind them. Verstappen and Norris tangled at the start and fought over every inch of the track in the final dozen laps.

Verstappen has not won a grand prix since June and Norris has steadily chipped away at his lead as the Red Bull car has faded. Yet Verstappen still stretched his lead by five points over the weekend by also winning Saturday's sprint race.

Norris leaves Austin knowing he squandered a big chance to gain ground. He had even earned pole position for Sunday's race.

Verstappen started right beside him and the fireworks between the drivers ignited in the first turn.

Both cars run wide, leaving room for Leclerc to pounce on the opening. The Ferrari driver jumped from fourth and straight into the lead, and quickly drove off for the victory.

Norris complained Verstappen forced him off the track. It was just the start of a scrap they would rejoin late in the race.

Verstappen said he “enjoyed the battle today” and had little sympathy for Norris losing the podium. Verstappen noted he was stripped of a podium finish in Austin in 2017 for a pass that was determined to be illegal.

“I just tried to remain calm and bring the car to the end,” Verstappen said.

That was key. Norris’ pace late in the race was good enough that he could have given the place back to Verstappen and tried to pass him again.

Instead, Norris chose to try to stretch the gap ahead of Verstappen to more than five seconds to nullify the penalty. He only got to 4.1 seconds.

“He defends by going off-track, he overtakes by going off-track. But I’m not going to complain. Max drove well and he defended well, we had a good race together. But the rules are the rules.” Norris told Sky Sport F1.

McLaren team principal Andre Stella said race stewards “interfered with a beautiful piece of motorsport.”

“Both cars went off track so both cars gained an advantage,” Stella said. “It’s a shame because it cost us a podium.”

It was a race weekend to forget for Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton who once dominated at COTA.

Hamilton’s race ended on the second lap after poor qualifying left him starting from 17th. He quicky shoot up to 12th, then spun his car into gravel and retired. It was the first time the seven-time champion failed to finish a race in the U.S.

Hamilton was disqualified from his second-place finish in 2023 after his car failed a postrace inspection. Hamilton has five wins at COTA but none since 2017. He will race for Ferrari next season.

Sunday wasn’t a total loss for Mercedes. George Russell started in pit lane after a crash in qualifying and stormed through the field to sixth.

“Thanks to everyone for fixing the car. Drinks on me tonight,” Russell said over team radio.

The 1-2 finish has pulled Ferrari within eight points of Red Bull in the lucrative team constructors championship and within 48 points of McLaren.

“We are still targeting the (team) title,” Leclerc said. “It's an optimistic goal, but that’s what we're here for.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

McLaren driver Lando Norris, left, of Britain, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right, of the Netherlands, race through a turn during the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

McLaren driver Lando Norris, left front, of Britain, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right front, of the Netherlands, lead drivers at the start of the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Fans watch as drivers race in the F1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Patrick Fallon/Pool Photo via AP)

Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz, from left, of Spain, who finished in second stands by race winner and teammate Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, who placed third in the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, holds the trophy after winning the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)

Drivers head into Turn 1 during the F1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Patrick Fallon/Pool Photo via AP)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, leads Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, through a turn during the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, left, of the Netherlands, runs McLaren driver Lando Norris, right, of Britain, off the track at Turn 1 during the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, heads into Turn 1 during the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Drivers head into Turn 1 at the start of the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

McLaren driver Lando Norris, of Britain, leads drives into Turn 1 during the U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, exits pit row during the F1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Patrick Fallon/Pool Photo via AP)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, leads Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, through a turn during U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, of Monaco, exits pit row during the F1 U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Patrick Fallon/Pool Photo via AP)