For three quarters, the Texans controlled the contest with their ground attack, tight ends and an advantageous matchup between wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and cornerback D.J. Hayden.
Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler spread the football and logged 14 first downs via the passing attack. Running back Lamar Miller notched 24 rush attempts for 104 yards. Houston’s defense held the Raiders to fewer than 200 total yards going into the final quarter.
Several drops and a poor interception pit the offense in a deep hole, but quarterback Derek Carr spoiled the Texans’ winning recipe with consecutive touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter. The defense broke out of a 45-minute stupor with two huge stands to force a turnover on downs and a punt.
Good teams find a way to win on bad days. Oakland took a sloppy game filled with miscues and flipped the outcome under pressure against a playoff team. In addition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, the Raiders have won two contests that they should’ve lost. That’s a benchmark for a postseason club.
Don’t consider the Silver and Black as a feel-good story. The Raiders are the story of the 2016 season through 11 weeks.
Begin Slideshow
...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
