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Raiders vs. Texans: Odds, Stat Predictions for 2017 AFC Wild Card Game
- Updated: January 6, 2017
The NFL postseason is set to get underway Saturday afternoon when the Oakland Raiders travel to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans. This game has the makings of an exciting offense vs. defense matchup with a few added twists.
Because of injuries at the quarterback position, both teams are going into this game with players who aren’t necessarily first choices under center. The Texans have been forced to turn back to Brock Osweiler because of a concussion suffered by Tom Savage in Week 17. The Raiders, meanwhile, have seen both Derek Carr and Matt McGloin fall to injuries over the past two weeks.
Oakland will now rely on rookie quarterback Connor Cook, a former Michigan State standout and fourth-round pick.
This game, of course, isn’t going to be just about the quarterbacks. Houston’s defense, which allows a league-leading 301.3 yards per game, will look to carry the Texans. The Raiders have the luxury of leaning on a ground attack that ranks sixth in the NFL with an average of 120.1 yards per game.
The quarterback who makes the fewest mistakes might be the one who wins this game, but plenty of other factors will be involved.
We’re going to take an in-depth look at the game, along with the current odds from OddsShark. We’ll also project statistics for key players on both teams. Our projections are based on factors like past performances, projected roles and matchups.
Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans
What: AFC Wild Card Game
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
When: Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET
National TV: ESPN
Line: HOU -3
Player Projections
Players to Watch
Brock Osweiler, QB, Texans
A lot of eyes are obviously going to be on Cook this weekend. He’s making his first NFL start in the postseason and against a Texans defense that is rated eighth overall.
However, this game actually might hinge more on the play of Osweiler.
Cook is a rookie. The Raiders can’t be sure of what to expect from him, but they’re likely to try protecting him with easy throws and a strong rushing attack. Osweiler, on the other hand, was benched earlier this season due to poor performance.
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