New-Look Packers Defense Takes Down the Texans

The Packers Defense is winning games. That’s probably not something you’ve heard anyone say since, oh I don’t know, 2010 maybe?

Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Green Bay has turned into an impact-play defense. They lead the NFL in takeaways and are 7th in sacks.

They can win in a variety of ways, and in Week 7 against the Texans, it was their pressure schemes that paved the way to victory. Green Bay used a multitude of blitzes and simulated pressures, particularly on 3rd down, that Houston had trouble handling.

The result was that the Texans were held to just 55 net passing yards (including sacks) and converted just 4 of 13 third-down tries (3 for 12 on called passes).

This 3rd-and-6 in the first quarter gives you an idea of what the Packers were throwing at Houston all afternoon. First, check out the Packers’ alignment. They had 7 men on the line of scrimmage (note safety Xavier McKinney off the edge) and a single-high coverage look behind it: