McManus Seals Green Bay Packers’ Victory with Last-Minute Field Goal
Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers’ newly signed placekicker, denied having any premeditated plans of celebrating his winning field goal with a “Lambeau leap.” However, when he split the uprights with a 45-yard field goal to secure a 24-22 win for the Packers over the Houston Texans, he found himself leaping into the end-zone stands, immersed in the jubilation of the Lambeau Field crowd. McManus laughed off his leap, stating, “I guess it was pretty cool, but I should probably work on my jump.”
Green Bay Overcomes Setbacks to Snap Houston’s Winning Streak
Despite three turnovers, Green Bay (5-2) managed to eke out its third consecutive victory, halting Houston’s three-game winning spree in its tracks. Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who completed 24 of his 33 passes for 220 yards, admitted, “Our performance wasn’t flawless. We made several mistakes, but we found a way to win, and that’s what counts.”
Last-Minute Frenzy Sees Packers Overcome Texans
The game-winning kick was a triumphant moment for McManus, who found himself without a job earlier in the year following a civil lawsuit. The NFL cleared him last month, stating a lack of sufficient evidence suggesting a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. McManus and his legal representatives confirmed that the civil case was resolved.
The Packers opted to trust in McManus’ experience, releasing rookie Brayden Narveson to sign the 33-year-old veteran, who boasts a career field goal completion rate of over 90% from less than 50 yards. McManus lived up to his reputation, delivering the decisive kick even after a Texan timeout.
Houston’s Joe Mixon put up a strong performance despite the loss, rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, however, had a tough day, being sacked four times and managing only 86 yards from 21 attempts.
The Texans were also playing without five defensive starters due to suspensions and injuries. Still, they nearly pulled off an impressive win, leading 19-14 at halftime and scoring 16 points off three Packers turnovers.
The game saw numerous lead changes and tense moments, including a heated exchange between Texans receiver Stefon Diggs and Packers cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Keisean Nixon.
Despite a thrilling comeback from the Texans, Green Bay managed to secure the ball with a one-point deficit in the final two minutes. Love led the team to Houston’s 26-yard line, setting up McManus for his game-winning kick. “He’s an experienced player,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur of McManus. “He’s not fazed by the pressure. That was a crucial kick.”
The Packers next face the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Texans host the Indianapolis Colts.