Final score: Raiders 27, Texans 20
Texans vs. Raiders live scores, highlights, and updates from ‘Monday Night Football’
Oakland kept pace in the AFC West by finishing strong to topple the Texans, 27-20, in Mexico City.
Third quarter: Texans 17, Raiders 13
Halftime: Texans 10, Raiders 10
First quarter: Texans 3, Raiders 0
Texans/Raiders highlights
DeAndre Hopkins potentially got robbed of a touchdown because the referees mistakenly thought he stepped out of bounds.
The Texans’ kick returner got a good look at a fumble when the ball bounced right off his helmet.
A fan was flashing a laser pointer on the field during the game.
It’s not very often that you see a fullback go 75 yards for a touchdown, but Jamize Olawale did just that.
The Texans appeared to get a first down, but the refs wouldn’t give it to them ... even after a review.
Before the game
NFL football returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2005 on Monday night, and the good people of the Mexican capital are in for a treat. The 6-3 Houston Texans will square off against the 7-2 Oakland Raiders in a contest with major postseason implications.
The Texans are still looking to prove their legitimacy in 2016. Despite wins over the Lions and Chiefs and a solid lead in the AFC South, Houston came in just 20th in SB Nation’s NFL power rankings this week. Part of the reason for the skepticism comes from the team’s high-profile failure in its three losses. The Texans lost to the Patriots (and third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett), Vikings, and Broncos by a combined score of 85-22.
The other reason for skepticism has been Brock Osweiler’s poor performance behind center. The former Broncos quarterback was brought to Texas on a four-year, $72 million contract that has yet to pay off. He currently ranks 30th out of 32 starting quarterbacks in passer rating. No qualified starter in the league has a less efficient yards per pass figure than Osweiler’s 5.61.
Oakland doesn’t have that problem. Derek Carr has developed into an MVP candidate in his third season as the Raiders’ starter. The Fresno State product ended an era of quarterback instability in the Bay Area to lead his team to the top tier of the AFC. Carr is on pace for a 4,400-yard, 30-touchdown season as the centerpiece of a dynamic offense.
The Raiders’ defense hasn’t been as impressive. Oakland ranks 30th in the league when it comes to passing yards allowed. An unproven secondary will give Osweiler the opportunities he needs to prove himself as a legitimate starting quarterback in the NFL. Plus, he’ll be playing at a familiar altitude. Mexico city is more than 7,000 feet above sea level, and he could have a few flashbacks to his time on the field at Mile High Stadium.
Pregame reading
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