Oakland Raiders: Can Oakland Regain Their Form vs. the Houston Texans?

Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans. Two teams who came into last week's game with high hopes.

Both teams left their games, shocked and stunned, for different reasons.

For the Raiders, the hope was that the team would win, go to 2-1 and put themselves into position to challenge the Chiefs after their bye week. For the Texans, the battle of Texas lasted slightly longer than Daniel Boone playing at the Alamo.

Both teams fell, the Raiders' loss was painful when Sebastian Janikowski couldn't hit any one of three attempts...including one with less than five seconds left on the clock.

But, as the Raiders go, when wins are few and far between, a game presents itself as a rallying point.

In past seasons, Oakland has seen wins in places like Denver, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay, giving fans something to warm the heart.

Houston, meanwhile has suffered the same problem. Some seasons the Texans looked primed to break out, getting off to shaky starts, then falling apart in the end.

Oakland's first win against the Texans, helped derail the teams' efforts to finally break the .500 mark, in 2008.

Houston would return the favor in 2009, beating Oakland big time by the score of 29-6.

Last season would mark the Texans' first season of finally broke the mark, improving to 9-7, falling just short of the post-season.

The Texans meanwhile this season started of impressively in their first two games, winning against the Colts and then "doing a Shanahan" to the Redskins.

The Raiders, after the loss to the Texans and a QB change at halftime against the Rams, were 1-1.

Now, Oakland goes against the Texans, featuring a known offensive power at Running Back, an offensive line that imitates Jekyll-and-Hyde, and a Defense that when it wants to be, stubborn when well-rested.

The Texans come into the game, looking at the three way tie in the AFC South. Oakland has a similar logjam, as the Raiders, San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos all are at 1-2...whoever wins, will be in striking position for the Chiefs who are idle.

Key for the Raiders to win this game, will be the concentration on stopping the running game of Houston, who has been able to produce league-leading yardage out of Arian Foster and keeping Andre Johnson bottled up, similar to how the Raiders were able to limit Larry Fitzgerald last week.

For Oakland, though the critical aspect of this game, has to be production in the Red Zone. The troubles faced by Oakland in key downs has to be addressed, and be it smart passing, timely running or even getting everyone to play smarter, Oakland needs some good football now.

This game will either be a good practice session and preparation for the Chargers....
Or a bad omen for the season to come.

Oakland stands a good chance to pull one off against the Texans, who are reeling...but they can't afford let it come down to a field goal situation.