How the Raiders can protect Connor Cook from a mauling Texans defense

Welcome to the NFL, rookie! Your first start: an AFC Wild Card Game, on the road against the top ranked Houston Texans defense — good luck!

This is what Connor Cook is up against as he prepares for this weekend. The Oakland Raiders have turned to Cook after their franchise quarterback, Derek Carr, broke his fibula and their second-stringer, Matt McGloin, struggled before hurting his shoulder.

Starting your first game is nerve-wracking. Even starting your 40th game can create high anxiety. Quarterback is a position in which being perfect is tough but almost required. There are so many variables on each play, and so much can go wrong. I don’t know how Cook will handle this situation, but I can tell you how the Raiders will game plan for their rookie quarterback.

I hate this term, but the Raiders will ask Cook to be a “game manager” — someone who won’t screw up, forcing the Texans make more mistakes with the football.

The Raiders are heading into Houston looking for their first road playoff victory since 1980. They are playing a Texans team that they match up well against and beat earlier this season, 27-20, in Mexico City. Saturday’s game features two quarterbacks who have started a combined 21 games, the third-fewest combined starts in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era. The Raiders can take advantage of the Texans’ inexperience under center, too.

The Texans are starting big money free agent quarterback Brock Osweiler, who was benched a few weekends ago. He has struggled big time this season. The Texans are minus-49 in point differential, seventh-worst ever by a playoff team. The Texans are minus-7 in turnover differential, worst among all playoff teams, in large part because Osweiler threw 16 interceptions. On the other hand, the Raiders are plus-16 in turnover differential, tied for tops in the NFL with the Chiefs.

The Raiders have the largest line in the NFL, anchored by soon-to-be All-Pro left guard Kelechi Osemele. At left tackle, Donald Penn will be able to handle the Texans’ best pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney. The Raiders allowed just 16 sacks this season. Cook should have great protection.

The Raiders will also rely heavily on their run game. They have run the most plays in the NFL with an extra offensive lineman — more than 25 percent of their plays! That’s incredible in this era of football. Running the ball effectively will allow for third-and-manageable situations. If this turns into a third-and-long game for the Raiders, Cook won’t succeed.

Next on the game plan is finding easy throws for Cook by using empty sets and quick passes, running nakeds and boots, and calling lots of play action. These plays have a chance to be successful if the Raiders can run the ball.

Lastly, the Raiders should run lots of block ‘em up, chuck it deep plays. I once played a game on a Sunday with a starting quarterback who we signed on a Tuesday. Our best play that day was “136 All Go.” The running back and tight end stayed in to protect. It was third-and-12. We told our fastest wide receiver to run and the quarterback threw it deep. It worked. We scored. This is what the Raiders will do. In fact, they did it this past weekend.

On this play, Oakland has an extra offensive lineman in the game, and keeps a wide receiver in. This is basically a one-man route. The tight end drags across the field, and the token play-action fake holds the high safety for a second. Cook throws it up for Amari Cooper, who makes the play and scores. This type of play will be important for the Raiders to win this weekend.

So that’s it: Force turnovers, protect the ball, run the ball, and take a few shots deep. Nothing fancy.

A few more thoughts on this weekend:

The Seahawks are a rollercoaster team. You don’t know what to expect week to week. They are better at home, however, having won their last nine home playoff games.

Stafford hasn’t been the same since his finger injury. His completion percentage dropped six points, his TD-to-INT ratio is 2:3 (before injury it was 22:7), and his passer rating dropped 20 points. The Lions are also 0-5 against playoff teams this season.

Seattle’s defense has struggled without Earl Thomas and the offensive line is still patchwork, but I think they have the edge in this game.

The Dolphins hosted the Steelers in Week 6, with the Dolphins at full force on the offensive line, and ran for 222 yards en route to beating the Steelers, 30-15. They will need that same type of day to win in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Steelers can score, and score fast. They are second in the NFL with 115 big plays this season — meaning, runs of 10-plus yards and passes of 20-plus yards. Miami will need to keep pace against a Steelers defense that improved as the season went on. That said, Matt Moore, the Dolphins’ backup quarterback, can handle playing on the road in Pittsburgh. He’s a veteran and has already won in New York and Buffalo.

I think the Steelers win this game, but it will be much closer than the point spread.

What’s the saying, “Defense wins championships”? Well the Giants have a Super Bowl-worthy defense. They stop the run and can harass wide receivers. While their offense has struggled, they have Odell. He’s the X-factor in this game.

In the first meeting this season, the Packers limited the Giants offense and won. They held Odell to five catches for 62 yards and a late, meaningless touchdown. They were able to do so because they stayed in Cover 2. The way to get a defense out of Cover 2 is run the ball. The Giants are 7-0 this season in games when their backs get at least 25 carries. That must continue Sunday.

The Packers’ offensive line is built to handle the Giants’ pass rushers. They feature the best pair of pass blocking tackles in the NFL, as well Pro Bowl right guard T.J. Lang. The question is, can they run enough on the Giants to help the pass game?

Also, the Packers’ receivers must win their routes. They struggled to do so early in the season, and this Giants defense will put pressure on them again Sunday. Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Eli Apple will get in their faces and try to disrupt their timing routes.

I don’t see the Giants’ pressure packages working well against a seasoned vet like Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers sees the pressure, and the offensive line holds up, he will make big plays.