- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
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- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
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Raiders vs. Texans: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2017 NFL Playoffs
- Updated: January 8, 2017
The Houston Texans earned their first playoff victory since 2012 with a 27-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday.
Both offenses were under the microscope coming into the game, particularly at quarterback. The Texans were starting Brock Osweiler for the first time since he was benched in Week 15, while the Raiders gave Connor Cook his first NFL start with Matt McGloin suffering a shoulder injury in Week 17.
McGloin was active as the Raiders backup for Saturday’s game. Derek Carr, who was an MVP candidate before breaking his fibula in Week 15, was not in Houston for the game.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Carr was watching the game at his home in Dublin, California.
The Texans got a positive response to their questions, as Osweiler went 14-of-25 for 168 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing). He even flashed some of the potential that led to his receiving a big contract in the offseason with this tremendous throw to DeAndre Hopkins late in the first half:
The big play that led to the TD! #TexansPlayoffs https://t.co/WNONPw6n00
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 7, 2017
Hopkins would close out that drive with a two-yard touchdown catch to give the Texans a 20-7 lead at halftime.
Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Texans have been unstoppable with a halftime lead during head coach Bill O’Brien’s tenure:
Texans are 18-0 when holding a halftime lead in 3 seasons under Bill O’Brien (only team with no losses in that span) 5-0 this season
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 7, 2017
While Osweiler drew all the attention coming into the game, the Texans defense seemed to go unnoticed in the buildup this week. That unit led the NFL in yards allowed (301.3 per game), ranked second in pass yards allowed (201.6 per game) and finished 11th in points allowed (20.5 per game).
Saturday was an excellent reminder of what Houston’s defense is capable of, especially Jadeveon Clowney. The top draft pick in 2014 missed last year’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs but made his presence felt against the Raiders.
Clowney made a terrific read on this screen pass from Cook in the first quarter to make the interception that set up Houston’s first …
