Emotions were high for fans of the Houston Texans, as the Las Vegas Raiders were visiting at a time where the team was still reeling from the loss of wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn ACL. However, you wouldn't be able to tell by either the energy throughout the game.
Aside from the Higgins news, storylines still abounded for the team. How would C.J. Stroud look in his first game since his meltdown in New England in last season's playoffs? What combination of offensive linemen would head coach DeMeco Ryans and co. opt for in the second preseason game? And how fluid would the offense look as a whole with a fuller complement of its weapons on the field?
Houston answered with a resounding opening statement, as they stifled quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders early on and never looked back (at least for the first half). Unfortunately, Houston's backups allowed the Raiders' reserves to climb all the way back from down 20-3 in the second half and walk off with a 22-20 come-from-behind victory with a goal line rush late in the fourth quarter.
First Quarter
Woody Marks punches in a touchdown on a gritty opening drive for the Texans (7-0 Houston)
On 1st & 5 from the Raiders' 20 yard line, Texans running back Woody marks powered his way through tacklers to punch in a 20-yard touchdown run. His strong rush capped off a 10-play opening drive for the offense (10:06)
Wade Woodaz takes Fernando Mendoza's pass to the house for a pick-six (14-0 Houston)
On 1st & 10 from the Texans' 24 yard line, Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz intercepted Mendoza's pass that was intended for Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. and went 80 yards to complete the pick-six (8:18).
Ka'imi Fairbairn increases the lead for the Texans after a 51-yard field goal (17-0 Houston)
From the Raiders 32 yard line, Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn nailed a 51-yard field goal to push the lead to 17 points over the Raiders (3:04)
Second Quarter
Matt Gay gets the Raiders on the board with a 52-yard field goal (17-3 Houston)
From the Texans 34 yard line, Raiders kicker Matt Gay hit a 52-yard strike to give the Raiders three points (13:34)
Ka'imi Fairbairn pushes the Texans' lead back to 17 after 57-yard field goal (20-3 Houston)
From the Raiders 39 yard line, Fairbairn launched a 57-yarder through the uprights to make it 20-3 Texans (00:38).
Third Quarter
Dylan Laube gives the Raiders their first touchdown of the game on a four-yard scamper (20-10 Houston)
Finishing off a six-play, 39-yard scoring drive, Raiders running back Dylan Laube took a 1st & Goal handoff from Houston's four yard line and ran it in for the score, making it 20-10 Texans after the made extra point by kicker Tyler Duzansky (4:57).
Fourth Quarter
Former Texan Dare Ogunbowale closes the gap on the Texans with a 19-yard touchdown run (20-16 Houston)
To conclude the longest scoring drive on the night (12 plays, 93 yards), former Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale made his return to Houston with an emphatic 19-yard touchdown run. Taking the handoff from Houston's 19 yard line on 2nd & 10, Ogunbowale powered his way through Texans defenders to barely clip the left pylon area for the score (7:36).
Raiders take the lead late in the fourth quarter after Aiden O'Connell leads the offense 96 yards in eight plays (22-20 Las Vegas)
To complete a gutsy fourth quarter comeback on 1st & Goal, Raiders quarterback Aiden O'Connell took a tush push tumble right through the heart of the Texans' goal line defense to complete the 17-point comeback for Las Vegas (00:14).
Key stats from the game
Quarterbacks
- C.J. Stroud: 4/6, 27 yards (4.5 average), 76.4 passer rating
- Davis Mills: 11/15, 93 yards (6.2 average), 89.0 passer rating
- Brett Rypien: 6/9, 44 yards (4.9 average), 2 fumbles, 78.0 pass rating
Linebacker Wade Woodaz
His first quarter pick-six was the longest of its kind for a Texans defender since defensive end J.J. Watt took one 80 yards for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in September of the 2014 season (tied for third-longest in franchise history).
Final score: Texans lose to Raiders, 22-20
The Texans take on the Carolina Panthers next Friday (8/28) from Bank of America Stadium to close out the preseason. Kickoff begins around 6:00 p.m. CST
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