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Desperate Packers look to end slide

Dec 2, 2008 - 8:34 PM Houston (5-7) at Green Bay (5-7), 1:00 pm, EST

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- The long-range forecast in northeast Wisconsin calls for a high of 20 degrees on Sunday, and it may feel even colder than at Lambeau Field, as the Green Bay Packers are close to being frozen out of the playoffs.

The desperate Packers look to snap a two-game losing streak Sunday when they host the Houston Texans, who are seeking their third straight victory.

Having dropped four of its last five games, including a 35-31 loss at Carolina last week, Green Bay (5-7) likely needs to run the table to have any chance to make the playoffs.

The Packers have fallen two games behind first-place Minnesota in the NFC North and trail the second-place Chicago Bears (6-6) by one game.

Green Bay's defense has been sieve-like in the last two games. Before the defeat at Carolina, the Packers surrendered 51 points in a Monday night loss in New Orleans.

"We're playing in lopsided football games the last two weeks, and that's hard to overcome, where a certain area has been way out of bounds, as far as our production against our opponent," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "That's what we need to get fixed."

Green Bay also has had trouble winning the close ones. The Packers are 1-4 in games decided by a touchdown or less, compared to a 5-1 mark last year when the team rolled to a 13-3 record and reached the NFC championship game.

If that isn't bad enough, running back Ryan Grant may be at less than 100 percent - if he plays at all - after suffering a thumb sprain last week.

Grant was limited to 12 carries for 39 yards, although backup Brandon Jackson picked up the slack with a season-high 80 yards on only 11 attempts.

"We'll see how Ryan progresses this week with his injury, but we have no qualms about playing with Brandon in all of the situations," McCarthy said.

The Packers have had trouble protecting Aaron Rodgers, who has been sacked 25 times, the league's 10th-highest total.

That could spell more trouble this week, as Texans defensive end Mario Williams recorded a season-high three sacks and forced a fumble in Monday's 30-17 win over Jacksonville.

Rookie Steve Slaton rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns in Houston's first "Monday Night Football" appearance in the franchise's seven-year history.

The streaky Texans are looking to win three in a row for the second time this season. However, they also have had losing streaks of four and three games.