Well, just like last week, Houston had a very deflating finish to this preseason game, losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 22-20, dropping to 0-2 this preseason. Despite the loss, however, this game was a much more satisfying showing from the Texans roster than last week’s loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Tonight, the Houston Texans faced first overall pick QB Fernando Mendoza, hoping to get some positive action from their roster following the devastating news of WR Jayden Higgins‘ injury yesterday. They got exactly what they were looking for on the first two drives of the game: a methodical, run-heavy drive from the first-stringers that ended in a 20-yard Woody Marks touchdown run, and then a pick-six on Mendoza by rookie LB Wade Woodaz!
For a moment, you might’ve mistaken this game to be a pivotal late-season matchup with the amount of cheering from the fans following Woodaz’s interception. Then, on the next Raiders’ drive, DE Jadeveon Clowney announced his return to Houston with a deflection against Mendoza on third down! Seeing that #90 screaming off the edge for Houston’s defensive line again after seven years away is a very welcome sight, especially considering the state the Texans’ franchise is in now compared to the chaotic state it was in during the Bill O’Brien era. Clowney makes for an excellent depth piece on the edge, and if the preseason is any indication, Houston may be leaning on its defensive line a lot once again in 2026.
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Following the three-and-out by the Raiders, Texans backup QB Davis Mills entered the game along with many second and third-string players. He targeted backup TE Foster Moreau and Noah Whittington on this drive, and he even got a nice completion to undrafted rookie Daniel Sobkowicz on third down. Just barely not enough for a new set of downs, though, so Houston settles for a field goal, making it 17-0 with a little over 3 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Raiders answered that drive with a field goal drive of their own, led by some impressive runs from rookie RB Mike Washington – who’s too fast for Texans LB Jake Hummel – and FB/TE Connor Hayward. Texans rookie DT Kayden McDonald put an end to the string of positive plays for the Raiders, sacking Mendoza for an eleven yard loss and reminding everyone what this Texans d-line is capable of. The Raiders settle for a field goal, and then both teams trade punts, and Houston nabs a field goal shortly before halftime.
Texans rookie WR Lewis Bond made an impressive reception on 3rd & 8, and RB Noah Whittington had a few nice runs in the second quarter, but the run-blocking from Houston’s backup offensive lineman still leaves much to be desired. Blake Fisher still doesn’t look the part of a second-round pick, and Braden Smith wasn’t particularly impressive, either. Thankfully, it appears they may have found a star in rookie TE Marlin Klein, who had a 17-yard reception that showcased his ability to track a bad pass, reel it in while in motion, and crank up the speed as he approached the sideline. Klein has made a few plays in each of the preseason games thus far, making you wonder if he’s going to win the TE3 job over the likes of Cade Stover and Brevin Jordan. Both Brevin and Texans RB Jawhar Jordan remain injured and were inactive for this game, putting them in dire straits entering the final ten days before cut day on August 30th.
Entering the second half, the goal for the Texans (at least to me) was to not crumble on defense like they did last week, and to determine who their best depth pieces are at CB, LB, WR, and O-Line. Wade Woodaz made a very impressive tackle on Raiders TE Albert Okwuegbunam, solidifying his spot in my head as a reliable sideline-to-line MLB. For the Raiders, it would be QB Aiden O’Connell and RB Dylan Laube to start the second half, and they would find a similar amount of success as Chargers’ QB D.J. Uiagalelei and RB Jaret Patterson did last week. There’s clearly some air in Houston’s defense left by backup CBs Stephen Hall and Brandon Codrington. Codrington, S Jaylen Reed, and DT Kyonte Hamilton all made a few plays in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to stop O’Connell and Laube from taking over the game and scoring a touchdown in the third quarter, making the score 20-10 Houston. Newly signed QB Brett Rypien would make his first appearance in a Texans uniform this quarter, replacing Graham Mertz following his season-ending injury, and his performance was just about as forgettable as this sentence.
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In the fourth quarter, Raiders rookie RB Roman Hemby and former Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale would lead another touchdown run, making the score 20-16 Houston. Now, the fading nature of this defense was really starting to remind you of last week, and the worrying thoughts about what might happen to this team if several starters get hurt start to crop up, again. But, in my opinion, Ogunbowale should have surrendered himself at the one-yard line considering his former team allowed him to kick a field goal in 2023.
Now, this Raiders team was running all over Houston, and the third-string d-lineman and linebackers didn’t have an answer for Las Vegas‘s rushers. Following three more punts between the two teams (with the only notable play being a 9-yard run by RB Owen Wright), the Raiders would lead a 8-play, 96-yard game-winning touchdown drive at the end of the game, highlighted by some pristine passes from Aiden O’Connell and some more poor coverage from CB Stephen Hall and newly-signed Texans CB Bryce Hall. Great…just, great. It’s just the preseason, it’s just the preseason, it’s just the…
….the preseason…
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This loss felt almost inevitable on that last drive considering how poorly Houston’s players were performing, as if they were helpless as the Raiders meteor descended upon them. It was a better showing than last week, but Houston will need to show more in their preseason finale vs. the Carolina Panthers on Friday, August 28th if they want to placate their fans before September. The stars of this game were certainly LB Wade Woodaz and TE Marlin Klein, and maybe there’s enough room for RB Noah Whittington. Hopefully next week, we’ll get to talk more about a rebound performance from the defensive backfield.
What did you think of the Texans performance tonight, though? Were the Texans able to excite you for the upcoming regular season, or have they made you more nervous? Do you think they’ve found their answer to replacing Jayden Higgins, or is the jury still out? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below!
Go Texans!
HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 20: Quarterback Davis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans hands the ball off to running back Noah Whittington #26 of the Houston Texans during the NFL preseason game between the Houston Texans and the Las Vegas Raiders on August 20, 2026, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
