Packers lead Texans 21-10 at halftime

(AP) Packers lead Texans 21-10 at halftime
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON
Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers led the Houston Texans 21-10 at halftime on Sunday night.

Jordy Nelson got past Johnathan Joseph for a 41-yard touchdown reception to put the Packers on top 7-0 early in the first quarter. Green Bay had a fourth-and-3 on the play before the touchdown, but rookie DeVier Posey was offside, giving the Packers a first down to keep the drive going.

The second score came when Rodgers hit James Jones near the corner of the end zone on a 6-yard score with less than a minute left in the first quarter. Rodgers got that drive going when he was almost sacked by Connor Barwin, but wriggled free and found Randall Cobb on a 24-yard reception.

Houston finally got its offense rolling after a tough first quarter, and cut the lead to 14-7 when Arian Foster scored on a 3-yard run early in the second quarter. That drive was helped by a 26-yard pass interference penalty on Sam Shields, who was covering Kevin Walter. The penalty gave the Texans a first down at the Green Bay 4.

The Packers got help from a pass interference call on their next drive when Kareem Jackson was flagged for 28 yards on a throw to Jones. Rodgers threw a perfect strike to Nelson on the next play for a 21-yard touchdown to extend Green Bay’s lead to 21-7 midway through the second quarter.

Shayne Graham got Houston within 21-10 with a 51-yard field goal just before the 2-minute warning.

Rodgers ended the half with 187 yards passing and Nelson had 82 yards receiving.

Houston is off to the best start in franchise history, coming into the game 5-0, joining Atlanta as the NFL’s only unbeaten teams. But things didn’t look good for the Texans early.

Matt Schaub, who had been sacked just three times this season entering Sunday’s game, was taken down on both of Houston’s first two drives as the offense sputtered and had to punt on its first three possessions.

Schaub had 120 yards passing in the first half.

Houston defensive end J.J. Watt sacked Rodgers on Green Bay’s second drive, and fired up the fans by mimicking Rodgers’ “championship belt” pose after the play. Watt came into the game with 7 1-2 sacks, just behind Green Bay’s Clay Matthews, who led the league with eight through the first five games.

Texans defensive end Tim Jamison, Watt’s backup, hurt his right Achilles tendon on the Packers’ second scoring drive and the team said he wouldn’t return. Jamison had a sack and a tipped pass in the first five games. Right guard Antoine Caldwell sustained a concussion and the team said he was out for the rest of the game.

It is the first meeting between these teams since 2008 and Green Bay’s first trip to Houston since 2004, which was also a Sunday night game that the Packers won 16-13.

Green Bay’s offense came in ranked 21st (338 yards per game), and has been slowed by injuries to some of its top playmakers.

Receiver Greg Jennings missed his second straight game with a groin problem, and has said he won’t play until he is 100 percent healthy so it doesn’t slow him down the rest of the season. Running back Cedric Benson, who has had 71 of the team’s 111 carries, is out at least eight weeks with a sprained left foot. Tight end Jermichael Finley is nursing a bum right shoulder, but played on Sunday. Tight end D.J. Williams tweaked his hamstring and didn’t play Sunday.

Houston receiver Andre Johnson entered the game needing 61 yards receiving to reach 10,000 in his career. He has had four quiet games since catching eight passes in the season-opening win over Miami. He had four receptions for 47 yards in the first half.