Official Texans vs. Raiders Game Thread, 10/27/2019

[Arky]

The 4-3 Texans will host the 3-3 Oakland Raiders this Sunday at NRG in a late afternoon game. The Raiders lost a road game 42-24 to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. The Texans lost a road game 30-23 to the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

The Texans are 6-4 all time vs. the Raiders. The Raiders haven't played a home game in Oakland since Sept 15, in Week 2.

The Texans have played only game decided by more than one score, a 53-32 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. I've got them getting their second one this Sunday over a road-weary Raiders team.

Texans 28, Raiders 17

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 3:25 pm CST, Sunday, 10-27-2019

Announcers (https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2019&wk=8) = Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Texans by 6½ to 7

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = Arizona @ New Orleans, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

FOX (early) = Philadelphia @ Buffalo, Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

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Prime time:

TNF = Washington @ Minnesota (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = Green Bay @ Kansas City (NBC)

MNF = Miami @ Pittsburgh (ESPN)

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Byes: Baltimore, Dallas

[Arky]

Gametime!

Raiders win the toss and elect to receive.

Kickoff is a touchback.

[HPF Bob]

Texans have three starters in secondary out today. Everyone else in the AFC South won today. Broncos lost third game this year on last-second FG.

Tunsil false start, his eighth this season.. worst in the NFL.

[Arky]

Both teams have had two possessions and not done much.

Raiders currently with the ball at their 24 with 6:01 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Raiders connect on a short pass that Renfrow turns into a 65-yard TD.

Raiders 7, Texans 0

3:40 left in the 1st qtr.

[HPF Bob]

I seem to recall someone here wanted to draft Renfrow. Can't recall who.

[Arky]

Texans quickly answer. Watson hits D Johnson for a 12 yard TD pass.

Texans 7, Raiders 7

1:39 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Raiders put a drive together and it ends with an 8-yard TD pass to Waller.

Raiders 14, Texans 7

9:36 left in the half.

[chuck]

Fuller's absence really changes the complexion of this offense.

[Arky]

Fairbairn is good from 33.

Raiders 14, Texans 10

1:04 left in the half.

[HPF Bob]

Chris Clark is not capable of 1-on-1 pass blocking. He allowed the one sack on Watson and got called for a hold.

Akins needs some pine time. He's having a terrible game.

Can we suit up Andre Johnson to play pass defense?

[Arky]

Texans drive down and have to settle for a Fairbairn 40-yard FG to start the 2nd half.

Raiders 14, Texans 13

10:28 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

On 3rd and 7, Carr hits Williams for a 46-yard TD pass.

Raiders 21, Texans 13

7:53 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Watson fakes the keeper and then throws to Fells for a 4-yard TD.

Raiders 21, Texans 20

14:56 left in the game.

[Arky]

Carlson good on a 44-yard FG for the Raiders.

Raiders 24, Texans 20

10:48 left in the game.

[Arky]

Watson nearly gets sacked but get the ball off to Fells in the endzone for the 9 yard TD.

Texans 27, Raiders 24

6:26 left in the game.

[Arky]

Texans manage to kill the last few minutes as the Raiders were forced to punt.

Texans kneeling it.

Final score:

Texans 27, Raiders 24

[HPF Bob]

A very rare AFC South sweep.

Let's hope this is not the only Houston win today.

Texans are banged up and have to play in London next week against Jackassville.

If you want a good chuckle, watch a play from the Titans-Bucs game. The Tampa Bay runner takes a handoff near the Tennessee goal line and gets wiped out by the wide receiver crossing on the jet sweep fake. Looks like a play the Dolphins might run.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNJLcAijU-M

You'll see the play at the 4:26 mark of the highlights.

[HPF Bob]

Per NBC, J.J. Watt is getting an MRI tonight on his injured shoulder.

[Keith]

Was at the game so haven't seen the broadcast. Raiders fans still travel well. What with all the expenses for their Halloween makeup it's surprising they can still afford the tickets.

J.J. Watt torn pec muscle and done for the season. An understatement to say this will make an already questionable pass rush even more impotent. Laremy Tunsil also missed significant time for a shoulder injury, I think. And last but not least all the cornerback injuries really caught up to the team today. Man coverage with what was left was dicey.

This game was proof though that in the NFL today if you have the right quarterback, you have every chance to win. Watson taking a cleat to the face and still executing the RPO to find his tight end for the game-winning touchdown was quintessential Watson.

5-3 at the midpoint. A trip to London to face the Jags then the bye. Fun stretch then @ Baltimore and home for the Colts and Patriots will define the second half and likely the playoff hopes and positioning.

[nunusguy]

Wow did not think we'd win that game, but more heroics by Watson and how about that TE Fells ? Those two made some really big plays together.
Last time JJ was out for the year we had a guy named JD Clowney to take up the slack and provide some QB pressure. Thanks for getting rid of JDC,
you are a sorry SOB O'Brien.
Jesus I just hope O'Brien doesn't trade away our last few remaining Draft picks for the next couple years before the trade deadline tomorrow afternoon ?

[barrett]

There's definitely no such thing as a bad road win in the NFL. We didn't look good yesterday but won.

[Arky]

It occured to me yesterday watching the game that the only thing holding this house of cards together is Watson. He didn't have his A+ game yesterday but still pulled out a win. He seems to really get going after the team falls behind..... I saw one play where a handoff went for no gain and his body language seemed to say, "that's not the kind of play I would have called in this situation" (or maybe it was my imagination)..... I think it would be really nice to see OB to slowly turn the playcalling over to him (Watson) or at least trust his judgement more and more....

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Darren Fells was drafted out of UC Irvine by the Cardinals and spent 3 years there. He then became a Lion and then a Brown. He already has personal bests in catches (23) and TD's (5) after just 8 games.

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Early line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) has the Texans as 1 to 3 pt favorites over the Jags in London.

[Warren]

Not sure who has been more of a pleasant surprise -- Fells or Hyde.

[painekiller]

Not sure who has been more of a pleasant surprise -- Fells or Hyde.

IMO Fells has been the bigger surprise, I had imagined him to been an athletic lighter LT. But he has proven to be a surprising weapon.

Hyde was a beast in college, and has been used the wrong way in the pro. OB still tries to use him the wrong way on occasion when he calls outside runs. Hyde is a throwback RB, give him the ball between the tackles.

Also, anyone heard how long Tunsil is out?

[Arky]

Darren Fells was drafted out of UC Irvine by the Cardinals and spent 3 years there.



I guess I need to check my facts better. Wikipedia says (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darren_Fells) Fells spent about 5 years trying to make it in pro basketball leagues and then opted for a career change and signed with the Seahawks, They released him and then the Cardinals picked him up. So, he's 33 years old but low mileage.... On a one-year deal....

I think there's probably a lot of coaching malpractice in the NFL.... Good players not getting used correctly or at all..... OB got one right with Fells (for a change).....