The Houston Texans had the kind of first-half showing that can fool you into thinking everything is lining up just right.
Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston came out sharp, physical and in control. The defense smothered Fernando Mendoza early, the offense moved with purpose, and the Texans built a 20-3 lead that looked plenty comfortable. Then the backups took over, and Las Vegas spent the second half chipping away until Aiden O’Connell finished the job with a goal-line tush push for a 22-20 Raiders win late in the fourth quarter.
It was a frustrating finish for Houston after a night that started with plenty of questions hanging over the roster. Fans were still absorbing the loss of wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL, while also watching for C.J.
Stroud’s first game since his meltdown in New England in last season’s playoffs. Add in the ongoing evaluation of the offensive line combinations head coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff might settle on, plus the larger picture of how the offense would function with more of its weapons available, and there was plenty to watch.
For a while, the Texans answered those questions with authority.
Woody Marks gave Houston the tone-setting start. On the opening drive, he powered through traffic on 1st & 5 from the Raiders’ 20-yard line and finished a 10-play march with a 20-yard touchdown run. That put the Texans up 7-0 with 10:06 left in the first quarter.
Then Wade Woodaz delivered the kind of defensive swing play that can change a preseason night in a hurry. On 1st & 10 from the Texans’ 24-yard line, the rookie linebacker jumped a pass from Mendoza intended for Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. and raced 80 yards for a pick-six. Suddenly it was 14-0 Houston with 8:18 left in the opening period.
Ka’imi Fairbairn kept adding to the cushion. He drilled a 51-yard field goal from the Raiders’ 32-yard line at 3:04 in the first quarter, pushing the Texans ahead 17-0.
Las Vegas finally got on the board in the second quarter when Matt Gay connected from 52 yards out, trimming the margin to 17-3 at 13:34. But Fairbairn answered again just before halftime, burying a 57-yard field goal from the Raiders’ 39-yard line with 38 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 20-3 Houston.
The Raiders started to turn the tide after the break. Dylan Laube punched in their first touchdown of the night on a four-yard run to finish a six-play, 39-yard drive, cutting the lead to 20-10 at 4:57 in the third quarter.
From there, the Texans’ cushion kept shrinking. Former Texan Dare Ogunbowale capped Las Vegas’ longest scoring drive of the night, a 12-play, 93-yard march, with a 19-yard touchdown run that brought the Raiders within 20-16 at 7:36 in the fourth. Then, with just 14 seconds left, O’Connell led an eight-play, 96-yard drive and finished it with a tush push into the end zone on 1st & Goal to complete the comeback.
Woodaz’s interception return stood out even in defeat. The 80-yard score was the longest pick-six by a Texans defender since J.J. Watt returned one 80 yards for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in September of the 2014 season, and it is tied for third-longest in franchise history.
The Texans will finish the preseason next Friday, 8/28, against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is set for around 6:00 p.m. CST.
In Other News...
Texans Suddenly Have A Receiver Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Texans moved quickly to reinforce their receiving room Friday, signing Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones after hosting a series of workouts at the position. Houston also brought in Josh Reynolds for a look and is checking the market for possible trade help, a sign the front office knows the depth chart needs attention after Jayden Higgins was lost for the season and placed on injured reserve.
Shepard and Jones arrive with plenty of experience, and Reynolds' workout adds another layer to a search that still appears ongoing. For a Texans offense trying to stay on track, the question is not whether help is needed, but how much more the team will add before settling on a plan at receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Preseason Loss Still Left A Few Young Names Rising
The Texans left their preseason meeting with the Raiders feeling better about the direction of a few young players, even if the result was a 22-20 loss that pushed Houston to 0-2. Woody Marks helped provide an offensive spark with a touchdown run, while rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz made his mark on defense with a pick-six. The game also offered a look at Jadeveon Clowney back on the field, giving Houston another familiar name to evaluate as it sorts through the rest of August.
There were still the usual preseason bumps, with rookies and backups getting extended run and producing mixed results across both sides of the ball. But the tape gave the Texans a few reasons to keep watching, especially with young players showing they can affect the game in different ways. For a team still sorting out depth and roles, those flashes matter even in a loss, and they leave open a bigger question about which of these names can turn an encouraging night into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Texans O-Line Battle Just Put One Expected Week 1 Plan In Doubt
Houston has spent the offseason reshaping its offensive line through trades, free agent additions and the draft, and the competition is now spilling into the final stretch of the preseason. What looked like a fairly settled plan a few weeks ago is suddenly being tested, with the Texans weighing a different combination on the interior and using the second preseason game as a live look at how it might function.
Keylan Rutledge at left guard and Evan Brown at center is now very much in the mix, even though that was not the original expectation coming out of the spring and early summer. The Texans have not made final decisions on their starters yet, which leaves one of the teams most important Week 1 questions open as the last preseason reps continue to sort out who fits where. [Read more 🡒]