texans-1-7-2017

Texans 27, Raiders 14
Jan. 7, 2017 NRD Stadium
Houston, TX

STAR OF THE GAME The Texans' top-ranked defense dominates the Raiders' impotent offense. Houston has three interceptions, allows only 203 total yards and sacks Connor Cook three times. Linebacker Whitney Mercilus has two of the Texans' sacks and three tackles for loss. Houston (10-7) limits Oakland to 64 rushing yards on 21 carries.

KEY STATS The Raiders' Connor Cook, making his first NFL start, is 18 of 45 passing for 161 yards and a TD with three interceptions and a woeful 30.0 rating. The Texans' Brock Osweiler, benched on Dec. 18, is 14 of 25 passing for 168 yards and a TD and a 90.1 rating. Cook is sacked three times by the Texans while Osweiler is not sacked by the Raiders.

Playing their first playoff game since 2002, the Raiders (12-5) average a mere 2.9 yards on 69 plays compared to 4.2 yards on 69 plays for the Texans. Oakland does not have a sack for the third straight game and has three turnovers for the second consecutive game.

Raiders receivers have little success against the Texans' second-ranked pass defense. Starters Michael Crabtree has two catches for 33 yards before being sidelined with a concussion and Amari Cooper has two catches for 10 yards. Andre Holmes contributes four catches for 50 yards, including an 8-yard TD reception during the fourth quarter, and Mychal Rivera has four catches for 31 yards.

Lamar Miller has 73 of the Texans' 123 rushing yards and a TD. Latavius Murray leads the Raiders with 39 rushing yards on 12 carries and a TD.

Raiders running backs combine for three catches for 20 yards. In Oakland's come-from-behind 27-20 win over Houston on Nov. 21, Raiders backs had 11 catches for 199 yards and two scores.

THEY SAID IT "It was his first start, on the road, in a playoff game, against the No. 1-ranked defense. It was a tough draw for him. We had hopes that we would be able to do enough around him so he wouldn't have to do as much."

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on
QB Connor Cook's performance

"I was trying to do too much at times."

Raiders QB Connor Cook
on his first NFL start

BY THE NUMBERS 0: Raiders sacks on Texans QB Brock Osweiler.
0: Sacks by Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack in the season's final four games.
2-3: Raiders record the final five games of the 2016 season after a 10-2 start.
2 of 16: Raiders' third down efficiency, an abysmal 13 percent success rate
3: Raiders turnovers against the Texans. Oakland had six turnovers in its final two games after having a league-low 11 turnovers through the season's first 15 games.

DID YOU KNOW? The Raiders' Connor Cook becomes the first NFL quarterback to start his first game in a playoff game after starter and MVP candidate Derek Carr broke his leg against the Colts on Dec. 24.

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is 1-3 in postseason games. He had a 1-2 playoff record as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach.

Updated: 1-8-2017