Dec 7, 2008 - 6:59 PM
0 shoutsGREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Matt Schaub sizzled on a frigid day at Lambeau Field and likely iced the Green Bay Packers' playoff hopes.
Schaub passed for a career-high 414 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, lifting the Houston Texans to a 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
He was at his best in the final two minutes, driving the Texans (6-7) from their 3-yard line to set up Kris Brown's 40-yard field goal as time expired.
"This place is hallowed ground," Brown said. "The greatest players in this game played here at Lambeau Field. To be able to go out there and be able to have a kick like that, it's hard to put into words."
Schaub returned after missing four games with a knee injury, but did not miss a beat, becoming the latest quarterback to exploit the Packers' porous secondary. He completed 28-of-42 passes on a day when the temperature hovered in the low teens.
"Sure, it was cold, but luckily there wasn't a wind blowing," Schaub said. "The offensive line did a great job owning the line of scrimmage."
Houston, which overcame four turnovers, started its winning drive after a punt was downed at its 3-yard line with 1:49 remaining.
It appeared the Packers would get back the ball for a chance at a game-winning field goal, but the Texans didn't play conservatively.
Schaub hit Vonta Leach for 22 yards, David Anderson for 17 yards and tight end Owen Daniels for 27 yards to get Houston into field goal range.
"You got to deal (with the cold)," Brown added. "I think when you accept it's cold, it's easier to deal with."
Green Bay (5-8) suffered its third straight loss and fell three games behind Minnesota in the NFC North. The Packers have allowed 110 points during the slide, getting burned the two previous weeks by New Orleans' Drew Brees and Carolina's Jake Delhomme.
"I'm frustrated," said Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, whose team surrendered 549 total yards.
"It's a little bit of a picture of how our season has gone. We had a number of opportunities and we didn't cash in on them. We had some breakdowns and unfortunately that's why we're sitting here again with a loss."
Houston posted its third straight win, keeping alive its hopes of finishing at .500 for the second straight season.
"This the No. 1 win I have been a part of - to come here to Lambeau and win," Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson said. "We want to continue to build off what he have."
The Texans grabbed a 21-14 lead on Schaub's 11-yard TD pass to Andre Johnson with 10:05 remaining in the contest.
But Jacoby Jones' fumbled punt at the Packers' 49 allowed Green Bay to tie the contest on Aaron Rodgers' 9-yard TD strike to Jordy Nelson with 5:56 left. All 21 of the Packers' points came on turnovers.
Houston rookie Steve Slaton rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries to go over 1,000 yards for the season.
From the Bleachers
-
HOUSTON: 24
GREEN BAY: 21
Final
Dec 7 4:09 PM -
HOUSTON: 24
GREEN BAY: 21
End of Regulation
Dec 7 4:09 PM -
NFL
FG HST
KRIS BROWN 40 YD
HOUSTON 24
GREEN BAY 21 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 7 4:09 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
JORDY NELSON 9 YD PASS FROM AARON RODGERS
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
HOUSTON 21
GREEN BAY 21 5:56 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 7 3:46 PM -
NFL
TD HST
ANDRE JOHNSON 11 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB
(MATT SCHAUB PASS TO ANDRE JOHNSON FOR TWO-POINT CONVERSION)
HOUSTON 21
GREEN BAY 14 10:05 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 7 3:33 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
RYAN GRANT 6 YD RUN
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
HOUSTON 13
GREEN BAY 14 14:56 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Dec 7 3:19 PM -
HOUSTON: 13
GREEN BAY: 7
End of 3rd
Dec 7 3:16 PM -
NFL
FG HST
KRIS BROWN 41 YD
HOUSTON 13
GREEN BAY 7 11:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Dec 7 2:51 PM -
HOUSTON: 10
GREEN BAY: 7
Halftime
Dec 7 2:28 PM -
NFL
FG HST
KRIS BROWN 30 YD
HOUSTON 10
GREEN BAY 7 1:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 7 2:16 PM -
NFL
TD GNB
DONALD LEE 20 YD PASS FROM AARON RODGERS
(MASON CROSBY KICK)
HOUSTON 7
GREEN BAY 7 5:07 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Dec 7 2:04 PM -
HOUSTON: 7
GREEN BAY: 0
End of 1st
Dec 7 1:43 PM -
NFL
TD HST
KEVIN WALTER 58 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB
(KRIS BROWN KICK)
HOUSTON 7
GREEN BAY 0 13:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Dec 7 1:08 PM
