Who Are Those Guys?

Houston Texans, 30; Oakland Raiders, 14
Who Are Those Guys?

With Week 1’s loss still in their minds, the Oakland Raiders were looking to even up their regular season record by posting a win. Under bright, early-fall skies, ending up 0-2 did not seem like a possibility. Oakland – who went 2-2 in the preseason – might have viewed the Houston Texans – who also owned a 2-2 preseason record – as equals coming into Sunday’s game. It turned out to be a costly underestimation.

On the very first drive, Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick led the horned juggernaut through a series of pass play and runs totaling 80-yards for the Texans’ first score. With kicker Randy Bullock’s extra point, the score with 9:37 left was 7-0. After the Raiders’ four and out, a repeat – for emphasis – from the Texans as they cobbled together a 70-yard drive capped by an Arian Foster 5-Yard run for the TD. With the extra point, the lead was extended to 14-0.

The second quarter seemed somewhat less painful due to the absence of Texan touchdown drives, but was marked by Oakland turnovers. A stunning interception of a Derek Carr pass intended for Mychal Rivera and 65-yard return by Houston’s Kareem Jackson to the Oakland 24 set up a Texan field goal at 10:34 to push the score to 17-0. After an exchange of unproductive drives, Oakland looked like they were ready to awaken. Starting at their 13 and with 2:27 remaining, they put together five plays which would have placed them at the Houston 29. Oakland’s QB Derek Carr unloaded a deep pass to James Jones at the Houston 29…but he fumbled it…then he recovered it at the Houston 13…then he fumbled it again…much to the delight of the Texan’s Strong Safety D.J.Swearinger…who finally recovered it and stopped the Raider’s drive.

“Not another day like Tuesday” goes the joke’s punchline. But much to the silver and black’s dismay, the third quarter was indeed to be very similar to the game’s first quarter. Oakland, remembering their brief bid for glory late in the second quarter, started the third in much the same way. QB Derek Carr moved the Raiders from their own 24 down to the Houston 38. But the very same D.J.Swearinger mentioned earlier caused Raider receiver Mychal Rivera to fumble the ball. Houston’s Johnathan Joseph picked it up and dashed 49 yards to the Oakland 21 before he could be stopped. It took Houston two first downs and a Ryan Fitzpatrick to DeAndre Hopkins 12-yard TD pass (plus extra point) to inflate the score to 24-0.

The long day got longer during Houston’s next possession when Randy Bullock’s 34-yard field goal sailed through the uprights…and with cries from the Greek Chorus, the score became 27-0.

Very shortly into the fourth quarter, Oakland finally succeeded in breaching the formerly impenetrable goal line after a 79-yard drive ending with a one-yard Darren McFadden run. Sebastian Janikowski added the point after and thus assured that the goose would be denied this day. Houston’s following drive kept ahold of the ball for 9:21 – chewing up and spitting out the precious seconds Oakland needed for a comeback. And while they were at it, a 46-yard field goal seemed necessary. Score 30-7.

With 4:46 left, Raider QB Derek Carr had little choice but to go to the air…and the Texans were waiting. Carr’s third down pass intended for McFadden was picked off by Texan linebacker Brooks Reed. But credit-of-the-day goes to the Raider’s special teams for their blocked field goal attempt four plays later – a highlight.

Now with a paltry 1:55 remaining, the next score would be all about respect. Starting at their own 17, Carr picked apart the complacent Texans with pass after pass leading to a 9-yard TD pass to James Jones. With the point after and some sense of honor restored, the score became 30-14. Houston kneeled it out and the formerly unimaginable became reality – the Raider’s record now sits at 0-2.