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Texans tasked with slowing down Packers trio of talented receivers

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Most teams have one top receiver for a quarterback to target. 

For the Green Bay Packers, it’s four. 

The Houston Texans have an opportunity to slow down Jordan Love and a revamped Green Bay roster amid its hunt for an NFC North title. The Packers can take advantage of Houston’s injury woes and capitalize in the passing game. 

It’s why Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Tucker Kraft could be the ‘Four Packmen of the Greenpocalypse’ that ceases talk of an AFC title midway through Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. 

“Matt [LaFleur] has done a really good job of structuring the offense and coaching the quarterback to get the ball to where it’s supposed to go,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “You have a coverage, there’s the answer and ball’s out to it quick.”

Reed, a former second-round pick out of Michigan State, has been Jordan Love’s best option through four games. He’s also been the favorite target for Malik Willis when the Pro Bowl passer was out with a knee injury.

A combination of speed, smooth route-running and sticky hands, Reed’s hauled in 27 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 16.4 yards per route and 4.5 catches per game. 

“They try to get the ball in his hands as many ways as possible, whether putting him in the backfield on wide receiver runs or just getting it to him on the short intermediate passes, this kid is explosive he is a big play threat anytime he touches the football and not just catching the ball, but his ability to cut back, his ability to burst past defenders, it’s cool to see,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wedensday. 

If Reed is the headliner, Doubs, Wicks and Kraft are the backup. After serving a one-game suspension, Doubs caught a pair of touchdown passes in Green Bay’s 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

Kraft caught two touchdowns and averaged 22 yards in Week 5’s win over the Los Angeles Rams. 

Wicks took over as the top name in Week 4’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings with two touchdowns to match his 78 yards off 13 targets. 

“They’re all really good players,” Burke said. “I think the structure of the offense is really good and they do a good job of just putting those guys in spots to be successful. We can’t worry about whose where and which guy is doing what.” 

Green Bay enters Sunday’s matchup with the fourth-ranked offense. The run game, headlined by Josh Jacobs, sets up the pass for Love and his underrated five-headed arsenal. 

Five different receivers have caught multiple touchdowns. Six have been targets at least 12 times and have over 100 receiving yards. 

The Packers also can milk the clock off turnovers. Not only did Green Bay hang on to the football for nearly 37 minutes, but also forced three turnovers. 

Green Bay currently leads the NFL with 17 takeaways, the most through six games since 2018, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Star free agent acquisition Xavier McKinney has five interceptions, one of each game he’s played since leaving the New York Giants this offseason. 

“When they get there, they make the play almost every time,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “Every mistake against this defense is costly and that’s in the pass and the run game. You get loose with the ball in the run game, they make you pay.”