The upcoming Raiders game, 10/9/2011
 

Next up, the Texans will host the Oakland Raiders this Sunday in an early CBS game. The Texans (3-1) are coming off a 17-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers but suffered the loss of WR Andre Johnson in the game due to a hamstring ailment. The Texans will be looking to go three games over .500 for the first time in team history.

The Raiders (2-2) fell last week at home to the New England Patriots 31-19. The Raiders actually outgained the Pats 504 to 409 in total yards but lost the turnover battle 2-0. Raider QB Jason Campbell was 25/39 for 344 yards and one TD but had two INT's. League leading rusher RB Darren McFadden (468 yds/6.2 ypc) only carried 14 times for 75 yards (5.4 ypc). The Raiders have victories over the Broncos and the Jets - their two losses came to the Bills (38-35 in a squeaker @ Buffalo) and to the Patriots.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST

Announcers = Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

Favorite = Texans by 6 to 7

Bye weeks begin this week with Cleveland, Dallas, St. Louis, Miami, Washington and Baltimore (Texans next opponent) all getting Sunday off.

Big, big test for them boys on Kirby this week. I for one hope that Shaun Cody forgets he's.....Shaun Cody. Need him to step up big time and plug up some holes. Hopefully he can do that more times than not. DMC is an absolute beast now that he's fully healthy, and quite frankly has me a little concerned about this one. It will be interesting to see a ton of our base D this week. Don't think that has happened too much so far. Week 5, things should be getting closer to settled in, and I am hoping to see major improvements with DeMeco.

Don't want to discount AJ's importance, but I truly think the O will be just fine in the down time, especially this week. Arian seems to have such great vision, and our O-Line, coupled with our TE's, are doing a great job blocking 1st and 2nd levels, so I am not worried too much for the 8 man fronts we will likely see this week (next wk...different story). I'm actually expecting for the new Johnson to be a pretty decent factor this week with play action, and OD to be BIG across the middle.

Vegas see's this around a 49 pt. ball game, which I think is a little on the high side. I would have thought it would be in the low 40's, especially with AJ likely out. Offenses are generating about the same pts./game (OAK +1 pt @ 27.8), but there is an 11 pt. swing on the D (H 17.5/gm OAK 28.2).

No way I would touch that line.....on either side.

Should be a good game, glad its at home!

Who will fill in for AJ in the Oakland game? JJ and Walter couldn't catch a cold in the second half last week. BJ, or will they bring up Jeff Maehl from the p.s.?

Terrel Owens is still out there. So is Randy Moss. Of course I don't like either one, but it wouldn't hurt to bring 'em in for a workout.

They can't catch it, if its not thrown to them....
Schaub threw a total of 8 passes after AJ went down. 6 went to OD or Arian.
JJ was thrown 1 pass up the sideline, and it was well defended (incomplete).
KW was thrown a short one over the middle, but was incomplete.

Kubes has already said JJ will start, and Bryant would be #3.

Unless he is out for over a month, I don't see a roster move coming, not with the TE arsenal we have.

I think this is one of those weeks where missing AJ wont hurt our offense as much. If we win this game then we can afford to get another loss against Baltimore because I dont think AJ plays in that game either. Quite honestly I believe that AJ will be out for a good amount of time somewhere in the 4 to 5 weeks range (crossing my fingers that it's not more than that). It's never a good sign when someone is seeking second opinions on a medical evaluation.

Walter and JJ did not get it thrown to them but there is a reason for that. They didn't get open. And it wasn't like we didn't need them. We had one scoring drive in the 2nd half. Walter is a complimentary player who is valuable opposite AJ, but doesn't get great separation if he the defense is not rolling coverage away from him. And JJ just doesn't run good routes. They will need to play better this week. With a week to gameplan our passing attack has to find a downfield element from somewhere. I am guessing we will have to do something design wise to get JJ in one-on-one situations out of playaction.

If we get out to an early lead the Raiders will be in trouble because they will feel the pressure to put the ball up. But if they get to play it patient and run at us 35 times, we may find ourselves in trouble.

The keys as I see it.
Quick Start (neutralize their running game).
No big plays (they are dangerous but can't really sustain drives).
No turnovers (they probably aren't good enough to win if we don't spot them points).

Report now says AJ out 3 weeks after a procedure to remove scar tissue to speed up healing of his hamstring. That is not good.

But on the other hand we all saw him collapse without contact and immediately grab for a spot behind his knee. I found myself envisioning scenarios where he might literally never play again. Compared to the various other possibilities we all contemplated three games seems like a lark.

At the very least we're going to get to see if a solid running game, a very good and possibly great receiving TE and a rejuvenated defense are enough to beat some good teams.

Frankly, I don't really care if he sits out until the bye. The Texans will have to play out of their minds to beat the Ravens with or without AJ, and the other teams in that stretch are absolutely beatable if the Texans do the basics: run the ball, stop the run and commit no turnovers.

We threw the ball 8 times from the time AJ went down for the balance of the game, only 6 in the 2nd half. Did they not get open in those 8 passes...maybe? Still haven't see the DVR to tell.
3rd Qtr:
Only drive - 2 passes incomplete to Foster. (open might have been an issue)
4th Qtr:
1st drive - 2 passes to OD - 1 for 9 yds., 1 for 30. (Foster 42 yd TD run)
2nd drive - 1 pass to Foster for 2 yards (open might have been an issue)
3rd drive - 1 pass - Sideline route to JJ - Good pass/coverage but incomplete
4th drive - No passes

My only point was that there wasn't a whole lot of opportunities, and I don't think we can just write off either. JJ stepped up fairly well last year when he was given AJ type of targets. He's no AJ, but if we have a healthy Foster and a healthy OD, we can get by for a couple three weeks without him.

Here's to hoping he does it again.

I was actually happy to hear that news, especially seeing him go down the way he did. That was some scary stuff.

Best case scenario, IMO.

Losing Andre for the Tennessee game on the road is the toughest. I think that's what will really test the coaches... that is an important division game.

Hopefully missing Andre won't hurt the Texans much against Oakland, and catching Baltimore at home after their bye is going to be tough regardless. It's that Tennessee game that hurts missing Andre.

Jacoby and Walter need to do a better job getting open, no doubt, but I think we have yet to see the best of what Schaub can offer this season, too.

+1 Chuck!!

TO is still out there because he is still recovering from his knee surgery this off season. He blew out his knee and had major knee surgery. If he can play this year it will be very late in the season.

As for Randy Moss, there are 31 other teams not signing him also. He quit on the Pats, Vikings and Titans last season, I do not see Smith and Kubiak bringing him in.

Ditto this.

I'm to lazy to look it up, but IIRC AJ has never had a big day against Oakland and we have held up pretty well against them.

And I get that this is not the same Oakland team of the last few years.

One word: Nnamdi. And he isn't there anymore.

In 4 career games against the Raiders, Andre has 11-209, 1 TD, so yeah these are below average stats for him.

2004: (home) 6-115, 1TD
2006: (away) 1-9
2008: (away) 2-19
2009: (home) 2-66
2010: (away) DNP (ankle), Texans won 31-24

I get that Nnamdi kept AJ at bay. my point still is that without AJ being a factor we have been able to more than hold our own against the Raiders.

They do not have Nnamdi this year and AJ should've been a huge factor in the game. But that is mute now.

Can we beat the Raiders without AJ? Yes as you point out we have done it before.

Too lazy! you once chastized me for being that way. Are you getting old too?

As for Oakland, maybe the absence of Nnamdi will make up for the lack of Andre.

I think my concerns more than pass offense are run defense and turnovers.

If we can stop Raiders run game, either by getting ahead or really stopping them, then our DL might get some sacks similar to last week.

Maybe if Raiders load up 8 guys in the box on defense, our OL is good enough to protect and make our passing attack downfield pretty successful. And our run game to do pretty good anyways.

A matured JJ will be plenty fast to stretch defense for others and his receiving has been fairly consistent lately for hanging on the ball, we shall see Sunday. A good opportunity for JJ to show his value to us now.

So, I am agreeing with Chuck as well. A winnable game.

The problem with this logic is you're not factoring in Dre's presence on the field. He may not have had big games, but with him on the field it takes their best DB (Nnamdi at the time) and quite possibly a S out of the equation opening it up for others. That won't be the case this time around. Even still, this is a very winnable game. As chuck said, they just need to play smart, not give the football away, and keep DMC in check as best they can.