Raiders, Texans leave plenty to be desired
The Oakland Raiders beat the Houston Texans on Monday night in Mexico City. The Raiders moved to 8-2 and the first seed in the AFC with their 27-20 victory, while Houston dropped to 6-4 but remained the third seed in the playoff picture.
It’s an odd thing to type about a team that is 8-2, but are we sure the Raiders are good? Throughout most of the night, Oakland was completely outplayed by the Texans, who are anything but a true contender. Houston is only above .500 because it plays in the woeful AFC South, which is lucky the league still allows it to send a team into the postseason.
The Raiders didn’t amass 100 total yards until deep into the third quarter. To their credit, they were able to rally from a 17-10 deficit, albeit with help from some incredibly bad officiating. Normally, one would defer to the officials as making questionable calls to maintain professionalism, but that would be anything but professional. The officiating was embarrassing throughout the night, including one spell where Houston appeared to gain a first down on three consecutive running plays with six minutes remaining in overtime. The fourth down run was clearly past the line to gain, and yet, somehow, it was called short.
All that said, Oakland found a way to win using huge plays from fullback Jamize Olawale catching a 75-yard game-tying touchdown to the winning 30-yard score from Amari Cooper. The Raiders have continued to use the big play to their advantage, something that will need to continue against a very tough schedule down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Houston is a fraud. Flat out. The Texans are now going home to take on the San Diego Chargers, a team that would win the South going away if only it could leave the West for a season. San Diego has a very good chance to steal a win at NRG Stadium, considering the difference in talent at the quarterback position. The Texans will need to overcome Philip Rivers, and it won’t be with Brock Osweiler making throws all over the field.
Osweiler was 26-of-39 for 243 yards and a touchdown with an interception on Monday. The numbers are mediocre, and should have been much worse. David Amerson dropped an interception that hit him right between the numbers, while another potential pick was flubbed in the first quarter on a screen pass. Osweiler continues to be a huge bust, and someone that will hold back any potential the Texans have.
For the final nail in the coffin, see head coach Bill O’Brien’s punt on Houston’s last possession. Instead of going on 4th and 3 near midfield, O’Brien punted with under three minutes remaining and one timeout in his pocket, down a touchdown. Read that sentence again.
Oakland and Houston are going to make the playoffs, but there is ample reason to believe both will be out quickly.
