On the surface, these are two very different teams.The Raiders come in searching for a path to the postseason after years of missing out and having dysfunctional teams.
They owned the No.1 draft pick and took Fernando Mendoza in the draft.
He looked really sharp in his preseason game.A couple of the throws that he had were absolute darts.
He went 10-for-16 overall for 97 yards and a touchdown.He scrambled a bit as well, running twice for six yards.
Aidan O'Connell got the remainder of the work, throwing 13 times.Kirk Cousins was the first quarterback for the team, and he looked excellent in his work, going 5-for-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
This Raiders offense looks like it could be dynamic this season.RAIDERS' NO.1 PICK FERNANDO MENDOZA WILL GET 'PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE' IN PRESEASON DEBUT THURSDAYLas Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug.
23, 2025, in Glendale.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)However, they are going against a team that went to the postseason last year and has one of the best defenses in all of football.
I like the Houston Texans, but they really didn't do anything to address their biggest need, their offensive line.PFF has them ranked at 27th coming into this year.
Meanwhile, the defensive line is ranked second.The lines may not matter all that much here, as head coach DeMeco Ryans has said most of his starters will rest tonight.
That means we won't see CJ Stroud for the second straight game.Davis Mills has been solid in relief, and I think he should be good again.Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans answers questions from reporters after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec.
1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla.(AP Photo/Phelan M.
Ebenhack)I wouldn't be shocked to see this being a bit lower scoring.The Raiders haven't announced much about their starters.
They are missing a few key players, and that might...