Countdown to Paydirt: Houston Texans vs. Oakland Raiders
Raiders kickoff returner Justin Miller
On Sunday, the Houston Texans (7-7) will try to extend their winning streak to a franchise record fifth straight when they visit the Oakland Raiders (3-11).
Neither club is making the playoffs, but the upstart Texans are shooting for their first nine-win season with victories to close out the season and a fourth straight win in their all-time series against the Silver & Black.
The emotional wear and tear of the season has tested Oakland’s young passer, as he stated this week, “It’s tough to tell the guys to keep fighting, just to keep pushing, that things are going to turn around.” JaMarcus Russell continued, “Everybody looks at each other like, ‘When?’ It’s really depressing.”
OAKLAND RAIDERS
On Offense:
Oakland ranks 31st in total yards per game, 32nd in passing yards, 30th in total points scored and 32nd in third down conversion rate. The abysmal numbers are widespread on offense. Pick a category and Oakland is most likely ranked near the bottom of the rankings.
The one thing they could do earlier in the season was run the football. But even that part of their game has sputtered. In the final two weeks, the one thing the Raiders should showcase is their rookie rusher.
Darren McFadden has been a disappointment due to his injuries, the staff’s lack of creativity in using him and the ineffectiveness of the offense to balance itself out enough to make him a threat.
It’s time to feed McFadden the football, feature him the rest of the way and let him give some glimmer of hope for this offense’s future.
What to Expect:
Mario Henderson will be in at left tackle again. Kwame Harris shouldn’t see action the rest of the year and at this point, this glimpse of Henderson could go a long way in determining whether or not he can play on this offensive line in 2009.
Head coach Tom Cable has relegated him to the bench most of this season. And even with Harris’ struggles, Henderson was kept on the sidelines because of a perceived lack of passion in his game.
“It’s taken longer than I think anyone would have liked, but we’re seeing signs of it now, and that’s a good thing,” said Cable.
On Defense:
“It’s very frustrating,” said defensive end Derrick Burgess regarding his side of the football.
“I’ve been here four years. It’s the same defense. We’ve been running the same defense for four years. To still have these same kinds of problems is hard to explain.”
That is an indictment on Rob Ryan. And because of Ryan’s inability to field a consistent defense during his time in Oakland – even though talented young players are scattered on this defense – his days are likely numbered.
What to Expect:
Nnamdi Asomugha has struggled in recent weeks. And even though he did face one of the better receivers this league has ever seen last weekend, it appears that the first time pro-bowler has hit a wall. It doesn’t get any easier this weekend, as the league leader in receiving yards comes into town.
The Raiders need to generate more pressure from their front-seven or they’ll fall victim to a passer that has compiled 698 yards in his last two contest.
HOUSTON TEXANS
On Offense:
Matt Schaub has posted big passing numbers the last two weeks. With Andre Johnson being the best wide receiver in the game and Owen Daniels’ 60 receptions for 714 yards, it is easy to see why the Texans have the 4th ranked pass attack in the league.
Kevin Walter, their third leading receiver, has more receptions (57) and receiving yards (859) than any Raider target.
What to Expect:
Rookie Steve Slaton has become the featured back in Houston. And with the Raiders horrendous rush defense, you can expect the former West Virginia star to run circles around Ryan’s bunch. Slaton has run for 1,124 yards – 7th in the NFL – averaging a stellar 4.9 yards per carry.
If Johnson does not have big game, expect Walter or Daniels to get open on shallower routes and have a field day against a struggling linebacker crew that was chasing targets the last two weeks versus San Diego and New England.
On Defense:
The sensational linebacker DeMeco Ryans leads the defense. The team leader in tackles sounded confident this week about this weekends match-up.
“Yeah, we expect our team to go out there and win,” Ryans commented. “We’re not looking at Oakland as a cakewalk or anything like that. Even though a lot of people may expect us to win this game, we still understand that Oakland, they can get it done. If we go out there and we don’t play our game, they can definitely get it done. They have some great playmakers out there. It’s still the NFL.
“Everybody has their day. Everybody has their day to shine. We just can’t let them shine on us.”
What to Expect:
Mario Williams was voted to his first pro bowl this week. And now he faces a left tackle trying to find a niche in this league. It appears that Williams has cemented himself as a pass rushing menace in this league after bumps on the road early in his career.
“It was a lot thrown at me,” Williams said. “I’m thankful for it because I’ve seen so much stuff and I guess it kind of made me grow up a lot faster than I would expect to.”
Williams will get to Russell this weekend. How many times? I think Henderson is in for a long day.
GAME NOTES
- The Raiders have been outscored 110-45 since their last win at home versus the New York Jets.
- Both Ashley Lelie (calf) and Ronald Curry (toe) could miss the game. Johnnie Lee Higgins, who has been one of the few sparkplugs this season for Oakland, will start. Oakland should try to get the ball to Higgins in space, as he is very good once the football in his hands weaving through traffic.
- DE Trevor Scott leads all rookies with five sacks.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Asomugha vs. Johnson
The best confrontation of the day! They’ll one-up each other, but can the Raiders defense the other targets Schaub has to his disposal?
Miller Time!
Justin Miller has back-to-back games with kickoff returns for touchdowns. Will three be the charm?
The Slaton Sleigh
The rookie is a good pass catcher as well. If Oakland cannot contain him, this will be a blowout.
PREDICTION
Texans 29 – Raiders 16
TV & RADIO
The game will be televised on CBS with Bill Macatee providing play-by-play and former Raiders QB Steve Beuerlein handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air locally on KPIX Channel 5. The game will also air in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13 as well as on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KGO’s Rich Walcoff. (BROADCAST INFORMATION CITED FROM OFFICIAL RAIDERS WEB SITE)
GAME INFO
Home Team: Oakland Raiders (3-11) Home: 1-6 Road: 2-5
Road Team: Houston Texans (7-7) Home: 5-2 Road: 2-5
When and Where: Sunday, December 21, 2008, 1:05 p.m. PT | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
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