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.

[Arky]

Murray carries for 1. Ball at the 8 yard line of the Raiders.

Clowney deflects the pass, inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Screen to Cooper only gets about 1. Raiders will have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds about the Raider 40 yard line. Great field position. Texan's ball.

9:49 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Quick pass to Hop gets 3.

L Miller caught for a loss of 1. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Griffin gets 6...... Texans going for the FG.

Novak's 50-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Raiders 0

7:57 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Raider 23. Raider's ball.

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Murray for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Richard gets caught for a loss of 3. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Clowney with the deflection and the pick! Texans ball at the Raider 4!

[Arky]

L Miller rolls left for the TD! 4 yards!

Texans 10, Raiders 0

6:16 left in the 1st qtr.

[chuck]

JJ would have scored on that. JD's got to up his game.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Raider's ball at their 25.

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Pass to Crabtree goes for 19.

Reader with the sack! Loss of 6!

Pass to Crabtree off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 16.

Pass to Crabtree is ruled inc. Raider's challenge that it was a catch. Would be a 17 yard gain and a 1st down if overturned...

Wow, play is confirmed. Raiders to punt....

Punt sneaks into the end zone for a touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

4:27 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

L Miller for 2.

L Miller for 2. Not this....

On 3rd and 6, pass to Fido off the mark, inc but a flag is down......PI on Fido is declined. Texans will have to punt.

Punt gets returned all the way to the Texan 38. Raider's ball.

2:56 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Gonna need more points - no time to go conservative...

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Murray gets loose for 18.

Murray for 6.

Pass to Walford goes to the Texan 7. 1st and goal.

Murray goes to the 1 yard line. 2nd and goal coming up.

Murray punches it in.

Texans 10, Raiders 7

1:01 left in the 1st qtr.

That didn't take long....

[popanot]

This offense sucks so bad. Blocking sucks and then on top of that you have to overcome Os's ineptitude.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by popanot

This offense sucks so bad. Blocking sucks and then on top of that you have to overcome Os's ineptitude.

I start to get pissed at the idiotic play calling and then I realize that this may literally be all BO can do.

[Arky]

Blue brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 18. Texan's ball.

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Oz bobbles the snap and falls on it. Loss of 2.

Blue for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 12.

End of the 1st qtr.

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On 3rd and 12, quick screen to Fuller gets blown up. Loss of 4. Texans to punt.

Raiders bring the punt back to their 43 yard line. Raider's ball.

14:19 left in the half.

[Arky]

Pass to Crabtree good for 14.

Murray for 1.

Pass to Crabtree is dropped, inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Pass to Cooper broken up by JJo, inc. Raiders will have to punt.

Punt is downed by the Raiders at the Texan 5. Texan's ball.

13:09 left in the half.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

I start to get pissed at the idiotic play calling and then I realize that this may literally be all BO can do.

OB has had to dumb down the offense for this historically inept QB. He can't challenge downfield or even beyond 5yds. Load the box, rush the passer and you're golden.