Official Texans @ Raiders Game Thread, 9/14/2014
 

The Texans travel to Oakland on Sunday to take on the Raiders in a late afternoon game. The Texans won their season opener over the Redskins 17-6 while the Raiders were losing 19-14 to the Jets in New York. The Raiders will be led by rookie QB Derek Carr and should not be underestimated.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 3:25 pm CST, Sunday

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein (the "Z" team)

The odds = Texans by 2.5 to 3

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Early televised games in the Houston area:

FOX = Jacksonville @ Washington -- Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

CBS = Dallas @ Tennessee -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman (who do you root for in this one?)

Is it possible that a team that just ended a 14 game, 11 month losing streak can already have a trap game?

It's a shame we won't get to face Schaub since we should know how to step in front of his passes.

My goodness that's six hours of quality football right there - J'ville vs the Skins and Houston at Oakland. And if that doesn't work for you, there's Dallas at Tennessee. We're talking playoff preview here.

Not sure if its a trap game but with a little bad luck I'm sure we could loose.

If we win turnover and sack battle should keep it close.

I'm hoping to see a little improved consistency by our offense.

We could indeed be "flat" after that season opening effort @ home vs the Redskins and now without the motivation of the Texans facing former teammate/QB Schaub, it's possible. And another thing that's notable is that just the second game after that disastrous losing streak, surprisingly the Texans are favored on the road.

I guess that's the concerning part for me. Teams that aren't that talented (Houston) cannot just show up expecting to be better. This team has to be desperate every week and that is very hard to maintain. Does the success of week 1 make them take the Raiders lightly? I have no idea. But the fact that it is possible just after the long losing streak is odd.

Traditionally, the Texans have played the Raiders well, whether home or away. I can see them winning as long as they prevent big plays by the Raider offense. They need to make stops on third down.

I doubt they get any big plays. Carr's passes averaged like 4 yards downfield.

One of my all-time favorite Raider video clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2msmYpNXic

Then there's this Dunta Robinson pick and watch the blindside block near the end. I think they threw a flag on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9Nl5NRIQ6g

I thought I'd put this here, one of my favorite saws:

http://www.thesidelineview.com/columns/nfl/nfl-changing

It does seem the mobile QB is a current trend in our socalled copycat leage.

It was nice and slightly unexpected for Fitz to have some nice runs.

I guess a good OLine helps any style offense succeed.

Inactives:

HOUSTON
- TE C.J. Fiedorowicz
- WR DeVier Posey
- FS Shiloh Keo
- OLB Jadeveon Clowney
- T Jeff Adams
- QB Tom Savage
- DT Louis Nix III

OAKLAND
- QB Matt McGloin
- RB Maurice Jones-Drew
- CB Taiwan Jones
- S Jonathan Downling
- LB Nick Roach
- G Tony Bergstrom
- DE Shelby Harris

Redskins all over the Jags 41-10, Titans don't look so tough falling to the Cowboys 26-10... Colts play Monday night. Good opportunity today for the Texans to make some space in the AFCS....

Texans to receive the opening kickoff.

Kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texan's ball at their 20.

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Foster for 9.

Foster for 3 and a 1st down.

Screen to D Johnson good for 4.

Pass to AJ is broken up but PI on the Raiders gives the Texans a 1st down at their 36.

Foster caught for -1.

Pass over the middle to Foster good for 9. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to AJ is good in Raider territory for a 1st down.

Foster carries for 6 to the Raider 41. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Foster squirts loose for 41 yards and the TD!

Boo, the replay places the ball at the 1/2 yard line..... 1st and goal Texans.

Foster stopped for no gain.

Wide open for the TD is JJ Watt?!?! Eheh.

Texans 7, Raiders 0

9:37 left in the 1st qtr.

I'm pretty sure I called that shot during the offseason.

JJ!

I like how they bring in the expert to analyze the official review yet don't show us the replay.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Raiders ball at their 20.

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McFadden gets stopped by Tuggle for a TFL of -1.

McFadden for 4. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Carr's pass to Jones is inc. Raiders have to punt.

Punt is fair caught by the Texans at their 30. Texan's ball.

8:12 left in the 1st qtr.

Antonio Smith with an offside penalty. Shocking.

Foster for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster up the gut for 8.

Short underneath pass to Hopkins gets 6 and the 1st down.

Blue for -1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Blue for 2 or 3. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Graham over the middle good for big gainer. 26 yards.

Foster for 3. Ball at the Raider 24.

Foster for maybe 1. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Timeout Texans (#1).

Pass to AJ goes to the Raider 13 and a 1st down.

Screen to AJ goes to the 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Foster gets 2 but looks like the Raiders were off sides..... Ya, 1/2 the distance to the goal places the ball at the 4.

Oy, pass to AJ in the endzone nearly picked but inc. 3rd and 1/2 a yard for the 1st down.

Man, Foster gets marked just short of the TD but it's a 1st down. 1st and goal at the 1.

Delay of game on the Texans -5.

Foster punches it in from the 6 for 6!

Texans 14, Raiders 0

5 seconds left in the 1st qtr.

What does pastor chuck always preach, men?

Signs are definitely continuing to point to the idea that Bill O'Brien can coach. At the very least he is smart enough to figure out the best way to win with the personnel on hand (something Kubiak never grasped).

Raiders bring the ensuing kickoff out to their 17. Raider's ball.

End of the 1st qtr.

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Carr's pass to Streeter down the sideline goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Carr keeps right side for big gainer.41 yards.

McFadden for 4. Ball at the Texan 38.

Pass to Holmes good for 7 and the 1st down.

KJ with the INT and big return! Texans ball at the Raider 24!

Pass to AJ goes to the 10 yard line.

Grimes for 1.

Grimes for no gain but flag is down. Holding on Griffin -10. Makes it 2nd and goal from the 20 yard line.

Blue for about 5. 3rd and 15 to the goal line.

Fitz's pass is deflected at the LOS, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 33-yarder is good!

Texans 17, Raiders 0

10:34 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the endzone, touchback. Raider's ball at their 20.

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McFadden for 4.

McFadden for 4 more but flag is down. Offsides on JJo, 5 yards. Makes it 2nd and 1 coming up.

Pass to Rivera gets about 4 and the 1st down.

Pass to Moore over the middle gets about 11.

McFadden TFL'ed by Cushing -1.

Pass to Jones in the flat good for 4. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Carr's deep pass to Streater goes inc. Raiders have to punt.

D Johnson muffs the punt but falls on it at the Texan 24. Texan's ball.

Why do we keep looking for ways to get the ball in Johnson's hands? The guy is terrible and looks a second away from fumbling every time. He is like a smaller, slower, waiver wire version of Jacoby Jones.

Foster for 1.

Screen to D Johnson is inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Draw to Foster goes for the 1st down. 16 yards. Ball at the Texan 41.

Blue for 2.

Pass to AJ goes for 15.

Foster for maybe 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Foster for about 5 but flags are down. Holding on Texans, taunting on Raiders. Offsetting, repeat the down. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins good for 15 but holding on Griffin brings it back. Makes it 2nd and 19 coming up.

Screen to Foster goes for 3. 3rd and 16 coming up. 3:01 left in the half. Ball at the Raider 48.

Fitz's pass to Hopkins sails inc so Texans have to punt.

Raiders fair catch at their 11. Raider's ball with 2:27 left in the half.

McFadden for 6.

Pass to Jones in the flat gets 5 and the 1st down.

2 minute warning.

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Carr's pass to J Jones goes for 15. Ball at the Raider 39.

Pass to Streater good for 6.

Wow, goofy play. Pass to Jones goes for big gain, he fumbles, picks it up fumbles again and the Texans (Swearinger) fall on it at their 1 yard line. Play is being reviewed......

Texans get the ball at their 1 yard line.

Foster (?) for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Foster for 2. Texans have to punt.

Lechler's punt is fielded and out of bounds at the Raider 33 yard line.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a guy fumble twice on the same play and I know I've never seen a guy force two fumbles on the same play.

Pass to J Jones goes for a 1st down but flag is down. Illegal use of the hands on the Texans declined. Ball at the Raider 45.

Carr scrambles for 3. 12 seconds left in the half.

Short pass to McFadden goes for a 1st down as time expires.

Halftime.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Fitz 11/15, 104 yards, 1 TD

Rushing: Foster 18/96, Blue 4/8

Receiving: AJ 5/54, Foster 2/12, Graham 1/26

Tackles: JJo 5, Cushing/Mohammed/Bouye 3 each, Tuggle/Lewis 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 20:46, Raiders 9:14

Total yards: Texans 209, Raiders 174

1st downs: Texans 13, Raiders 8

3rd down efficiency: Texans 6/9, Raiders 0/2

Red zone: Texans 2/3, Raiders 0/0

Penalties: Texans 4/29, Raiders 2/4

Turnovers: Texans 0, Raiders 2

Kendrick Lewis is being credited with the first forced fumble. Here's the bizarre play-by-play entry:

Murray of the Raiders brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Raider 24. Raider's ball.

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Pass to Jones broken up by KJ, inc.

McFadden goes left side for 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Jones gets the 1st down at the Raider 37.

McFadden goes up the middle for 7.

McFadden for about 8. Ball at the Texan 46.

Screen to Reece goes for 11.

Carr's deep pass sails out of bounds, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

McFadden goes left and is TFL'ed for -3. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Fumble!!!! Receiver fumbles after the completed pass and JJo picks it up for 50 yards the other way. Texans ball at their 21.

Foster for 1.

Foster for maybe 1. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins inc but flags are down. Holding on the Raiders, 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Ball at the Raider 15.

Fitz's pass to Hopkins in the endzone sails inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for about 3. About 9 minutes left in the 3rd qtr.

On 3rd and 8, Fitz hits Hopkins along the sideline for the TD!

Texans 24, Raiders 0

8:29 left in the 3rd qtr.

Raiders down the ensuing kickoff in the end zone. Raiders ball at their 20.

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McFadden goes for a big gainer but it is called back because of holding. Makes it 1st and 20.

Pass to Jones in the flat good for 4.

Carr's pass off the mark, inc. Flag is down.....hands to the face on Raiders is declined. Makes it 3rd and 16 coming up.

Pass to Rivera off the mark, inc. Raiders have to punt.

D Johnson brings the punt back to the Raider 45. Texan's ball.

Short pass to Graham comes back because of holding (Newton). Makes it 1st and 20.

Foster for 6. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Screen to AJ goes for 20.

Foster for 4.

Foster for 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Short pass to Hopkins just gets 3. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 39-yarder is good.

Texans 27, Raiders 0

3:14 left in the 3rd qtr.

Raiders bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 21 yard line. Raider's ball.

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Screen to McFadden goes for 23.

McFadden for 3.

Pass to Rivera goes for 10 and the 1st down.

Screen to Moore goes for 6.

Screen to Butler loses a couple. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Rivera gets close to the 1st down marker. Looks like 4th and 1 coming up at the Texan 34.

End of the 3rd qtr.

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Raiders are challenging the spot of the ball...... Ruling is confirmed, 4th and 1 coming up.

Carr sneaks for the 1 yard and a 1st down.

Pass to Moore along the sideline is inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Deep pass is broken up inc but they get Bouye for PI. Places the ball at the Texan 1 yard line.

McFadden goes left for the TD. Offsides Texans is declined.

Texans 27, Raiders 7

14:07 left in the game.

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

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Foster goes right for 3.

Foster up the gut for 12 and the 1st down.

Foster for 5.

Foster for 6 and the 1st down.

Blue for 4.

Blue for 5. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Blue goes left side for 11 and the 1st down.

Blue for maybe 2.

Blue for 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Blue for 3 and the 1st down at the Raider 21. About 8 minutes left in the game.

Mix up in the backfield, Fitz loses a yard. Flag down. Illegal chop block on the Texans makes it 1st and 25.

Grimes for 1. 2nd and 24 coming up.

Blue for no gain. 3rd and 24 coming up.

Grimes for about 6 or 7. Bullock on for the FG on 4th and 17.

46-yarder is good.

Texans 30, Raiders 7

4:46 left in the game.

Did Foster tweak something?

Raiders bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 17 yard line. Raider's ball.

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Pass to Rivera gets 6.

Pass in the flat is inc.

On 3rd and 4, Carr is hit by Watt as he passes and the deflected ball is INT'ed by Brooks Reed!

Texans ball at the Raider 11.