Official Texans vs. Raiders Playoff Game Thread, 1/07/2017

[Arky]

The NFL playoff season is upon us and the 9-7 Texans will be hosting a Wild Card game this Saturday @ NRG. The opponent is the 12-4 Oakland Raiders. The Raiders will be without QB Derek Carr (leg fracture) and whether Matt McGloin (sore shoulder) or rookie Connor Cook will start is still up in the air - might see both during the game. Expect to see quite a bit of rushing from the Raiders with Latavius Murray (788 yds, 4.0 avg), Jalen Richard (491 yds, 5.9 avg) and DeAndre Washington (467 yds, 5.4 avg) carrying the load. The two main targets in the passing game are Amari Cooper (1153 yds, 13.9 avg) and Michael Crabtree (1003 yds, 11.3 avg). Many more are available including TE Clive Walford (359 yds, 10.9 avg). The Raider defense is 26th giving up 375.1 yds/game but they have a few stars: LB Malcolm Smith leads the team in tackles with 103. DE Khalil Mack has 11 sacks and LB Bruce Irvin has 7. The Raider defense gives up 24.1 pts/game (20th). Overall the defense is last (32nd) in sacks with 25 but where they really shine is causing turnovers: 2nd in takeaways with 30 for an excellent give/take of +16 (tied for 1st) - obviously, the Texans will have to find a way to deal with this opportunistic defense.....

The Texans will have to depend on their own defense to keep the Raiders in check. The Texan defense finished #1 giving up 301.3 yds/game. However, they were 11th allowing 20.5 pts/game and are not particularly good at creating turnovers (26th w/17). The Texans major weakness is their offense rating bottom 5 in many categories. They won't blow you out and if they don't turn the ball over, their defense can keep them in the game with just about anybody. QB Brock Osweiler is expected to start. If he struggles, the Texans may turn to either Tom Savage (if Savage passes the concussion protocol) or Brandon Weeden.

These two teams met in Mexico City in Week 11 with the Raiders winning 27-20.

The Texans are 7-1 (4-3-1 ATS) at home; the Raiders are 6-2 (6-2 ATS) on the road.

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TV = ESPN (possibly ABC), Saturday, 3:35 pm CST, 1/07/17

Announcers = (probably) Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden

The line = Texans by 3½ to 4

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Other playoff action:

NBC - Saturday, 7:15 pm CST, Detroit @ Seattle

CBS - Sunday, 12:05 pm CST, Miami @ Pittsburgh

FOX - Sunday, 3:40 pm CST, New York Giants @ Green Bay

[HPF Bob]

That line has been growing since the Sunday games completed. Despite all the "buts", I feel confident the Texans can confuse Cook into mistakes as long as they don't let the Raiders dominate on the ground.

The Mexico City game was one of Osweiler's best if you watch the game instead of the stat sheet. Beware of Reggie Nelson, though, the former Bengal who is a true ballhawk over the middle of the field. Work some sideline routes with D-Hop into the mix and provide a steady dose of ball control.

I hate to be a jinx but I feel optimistic. I keep wishing J.J. were lining up this year.

[Keith]

I wish J.J. could make a playoff comeback, too. I imagine that even if his back were healthy enough, he is nowhere near football shape though. He probably lost quite a bit of muscle.

Cook passed the eyeball test with me during his college years and before any off the field talk came up about him was a player I really admired. So he has the potential tools to make things happen, but I am sure the #1 defense will give him very few opportunities. Short of Osweiler throwing four picks, this should be a winnable affair for the Texans.

[Arky]

Video - Texans vs. Raiders TRT = 7:29

Teddy Covers breaks it down. Teddy is big on using the chatter/comments coming out of the locker room in his handicapping...

[nunusguy]

It's one thing for O'Briens old boss Bill Belichick to beat him with a third-string QB in New England, but it's something else entirely different if the Raiders were to come into NRG in a PO game with a third-string QB who's also a rookie with practically no starting experience and beat him.
With that scenario we'd have a real indictment of O'Briens ability of being a successful NFL coach which sure sounds like a fireable offense to me.

[Arky]

Pendergast breaks it down: NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Round: Raiders-Texans — Four Things to Watch For

Yes, their quarterback is a disaster, but there are plenty of building blocks in place here. If the Texans were a house, they'd need a few rooms made over and a kick-ass home theater (quarterbacks are home theaters), but it's not a total tear-down and rebuild.

[Arky]

Here we go.............

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Raider won the toss and defer. Hunt brings the kickoff back to the Texan 25. Texan's ball.

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L Miller up the gut for 3.

Checkdown pass to L Miller too hot to handle, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Griffin good for the 1st down at the Texan 39.

L Miller goes right side for 7.

Pass to Griffin goes to the Raider 42, 1st down.

Delay to L Miller gets 1.

On 2nd and 9, pass to Griiffin off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Oz pressured, scrambles for about 5 yards. Texans going to punt.

Punt is fair caught at about the Raider 6 yard line. Raider's ball.

11:18 left in the 1st qtr.