Raiders vs. Texans: Takeaways from Oakland's Win over Houston
The Oakland Raiders got an unexpectedly strong performance from rookie quarterback Matt McGloin yet in typical fashion needed a late stand from the defense to pull out a 28-23 win over the Houston Texans.
Coach Dennis Allen’s team ended an eight-game losing streak on the road despite being without starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and running back Darren McFadden.
It didn’t matter.
McGloin threw three touchdown passes in his first NFL start, and Rashad Jennings put together another stellar effort to balance the offense while helping Oakland end its two-game losing streak.
Here are the top takeaways from the Raiders’ win over the Texans.
*All information and quotes used in this and any report by Michael Wagaman were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Jennings Muscles Up
1 of 8
Rashad Jennings continues to make a case to be the Raiders’ starting running back for not just the rest of this season but possibly beyond that.
With Darren McFadden sitting out a second straight game with a hamstring injury and the running threat of Terrelle Pryor no longer a factor, Jennings was the focal point of Oakland’s attack and responded with a career-high 150 yards.
He also provided the signature play of the game when he lined up in the Wildcat formation and scored on an 80-yard touchdown run after he bulldozed Houston safety D.J. Swearinger at the 29, then sped the rest of the way untouched into the end zone.
It’s the second time in three games that Jennings has topped the 100-yard mark, and his ability to consistently push the pile kept the offense in very manageable situations.
At this point, it makes no sense to even worry about playing McFadden again, even when he comes back healthy.
Defense Rattles Houston QBs
2 of 8
Whenever the Raiders have ran into trouble defending the pass, it’s generally come from a lack of pass rush. That certainly wasn’t the case against Houston, even though they had just two sacks.
Oakland got plenty of pressure from all over and for most of the afternoon, doing it in a number of ways, with a four-man rush and by blitzing the linebackers and defensive backs.
Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett were particularly effective at harassing Case Keenum and Matt Schaub, forcing the Texans quarterbacks into numerous hurried throws and incompletions.
The only breakdown came when Lamarr Houston narrowly missed sacking Keenum on 3rd-and-1 in the second quarter, which resulted in a broken-play 42-yard touchdown.
Pass Protection Much Better
3 of 8
Part of the by-product of Matt McGloin’s quick release is that it took a lot of pressure off the Raiders offensive line, which was once again battered by injuries. McGloin was sacked just two times and was able to stay comfortably in the pocket for most of the afternoon.
It helped playing against a Houston defense that hasn’t done a good job pressuring opposing quarterbacks this season. The Texans went into the game with just 21 sacks, tied for the 24th fewest in the NFL.
Part of it was also a change in style at the quarterback position.
Terrelle Pryor’s best asset is his ability to scramble away from pressure and make plays with his feet. That often puts extra pressure on the offensive line to hold its blocks longer.
McGloin, on the other hand, is more of a classic pocket passer, which enabled Oakland’s offensive line to have a pretty good idea where he’d be on almost every play.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
More Moore Drops
4 of 8
As good a day as rookie quarterback Matt McGloin had, his numbers would have been even better had his receivers done a better job holding on to the ball. Then again, that’s been somewhat of an issue for the Raiders most of the season.
Wide receiver Denarius Moore dropped passes to raise his team-leading total to five. Rod Streater and fullback Marcel Reece also let throws from McGloin slip through their hands, part of five total drops by Oakland.
The drops are magnified even more by the fact that they accounted for more than one-third of McGloin’s 14 incompletions.
Critical Penalties Derail Momentum
5 of 8
Oakland has been a mostly disciplined team this season when it comes to penalties, but lately, the breakdowns have been cropping up more frequently in key situations.
The Raiders repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with a series of penalties, most of them on offense.
Left guard Lucas Nix was called for a false start on a 1st-and-goal play from the 5-yard line. Oakland overcame that gaffe but was unable to do the same after right guard Mike Brisiel was hit with a personal foul penalty that wiped out an 8-yard reception by wide receiver Rod Streater.
Likewise, the Raiders couldn’t shake off tight end Jeron Mastrud’s false start on a 3rd-and-1 play, which set the stage for Houston’s Keshawn Marin’s 87-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Cornerback Mike Jenkins was also hit with a pass interference call that helped sustain a drive that ended in a field goal for the Texans, though it appeared to be a borderline call.
Big Plays Hurt Defense, Special Teams
6 of 8
The Raiders didn’t have many breakdowns on defense or special teams, although the ones they had were critical.
When Lamarr Houston missed on a sack attempt of Texans quarterback Case Keenum, it opened the door for Garrett Graham’s 42-yard touchdown catch. It initially looked as though Oakland free safety Charles Woodson had been beaten, but it was a broken play in which Woodson got caught in between receivers as Keenum was scrambling away from Houston.
The Texans also got a break when Keshawn Martin fielded a punt that bounced and deflected off his facemask, returning it 87 yards for a touchdown. It was one of those quirky plays that happen from time to time, but the Raiders missed plenty of opportunities to bring Martin down before he found open field.
C-Wood Strip Comes Through Again
7 of 8
One of the trademark signs of Charles Woodson’s NFL career has been his ability to strip the ball from opposing players. It’s part of the reason he’s likely headed to the Hall of Fame and something some of the league’s younger defensive backs should try to emulate.
Woodson did it again against the Texans when he came in from behind to rip the ball out of Garrett Graham’s hands on Houston’s opening possession. Phillip Adams recovered for Oakland, setting up the team’s first touchdown.
Woodson, who dropped a potential interception in the first half, later came back to make another pivotal play when he stopped Houston running back Ben Tate a yard shy of the first-down marker on the Texans’ final drive. Woodson hit Tate so hard that the running back fumbled after being stopped cold in his tracks, though he was able to recover the ball.
Offensive Line Banged Up Again
8 of 8
Right tackle Tony Pashos talked earlier in the week about how nice it felt for the Raiders to finally be getting closer to full strength along the offensive line. He should have known better.
Pashos, who missed three of the previous four games with a hip flexor injury, went out in the third quarter after aggravating the injury, then came back in after Menelik Watson got his legs rolled up on by Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.
Oakland also lost right guard Mike Brisiel to a knee injury as well as backup Andre Gurode. That forced seldom-used Lamar Mady into action.
The injuries had little effect on the Raiders offense, but with 341 total yards of offense, it was a little easier to absorb.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
