Packers Walk-Off Texans In Thrilling Fashion

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brandon McManus still has a few of things to work on: learning everyone's name on the Green Bay Packers, how to do a Lambeau Leap and who invented the famous celebration should top his list.

The important stuff -- like, for example, nailing a game-winning field goal as time expires just days after joining a new team -- he has down pat.

The 11th-year veteran, who had not kicked in a game since the end of last season before the Packers signed him on Wednesday, drilled a 45-yarder on his first official field goal with the team to give Green Bay a 24-22 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Such is the difference between a Super Bowl-winning kicker like McManus, who won one with the Denver Broncos, and a rookie like Brayden Narveson, who was released this past week after he missed five field goals in the first six games of the season.

The Packers took over with 1:44 left in the game trailing 22-21. Jordan Love, who had an uneven day with three touchdowns and two interceptions, put together a masterful drive to get McManus a shot.

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He made the first attempt at the game winner, only to have to it whistled dead because the Texans called a last-second timeout. On the second attempt, holder Daniel Whelan had to get his hands under a snap from Matt Orzech that was lower than expected.

McManus improved to 9-of-15 in his career on field goals on so-called clutch kicks, defined by ESPN Research as kicks in the last 2 minutes of regulation or in overtime to win or take the lead.

The ball had barely hit the net when McManus took off running toward the south end zone and a Lambeau Leap into the stands. He needed help from the fans in the front row to help him up.

LOOK: The story behind every NFL team name

Stacker delved into the story behind every NFL football team name. Overall team records, also included, are reflective of NFL regular-season games. There are some football teams with well-known nicknames—the Jets, for instance, are often referred to as Gang Green—but we also divulge how some teams’ official names are sparingly used (the Jets’ neighbors, the Giants, are actually known as the New York Football Giants). Sometimes a team name can tell you a lot about local history: The Vikings of Minnesota draw upon the area’s strong ties to Scandinavia, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are dripping in local legend related to Florida’s pirate past.

Let’s kick off the countdown with the folks who earned their nickname by buying boxes of used team jerseys.

Gallery Credit: Seth Berkman

Filed Under: Green Bay Packers