O'Connell's Late TD Lifts Raiders Past Texans 22-20

A Thrilling Finish in Houston

The Las Vegas Raiders completed a resilient comeback to defeat the Houston Texans 22-20 in a highly competitive preseason matchup at Reliant Stadium. The victory improved Las Vegas's record to 1-1, while the home team fell to 0-2 on the schedule.

Early Dominance by Las Vegas

The Raiders established control early, exploding for 17 points in the first quarter. Woody Marks opened the scoring with a 20-yard run, followed by an 80-yard interception return by Wade Woodaz that extended the lead to 14-0. Ka'imi Fairbairn added a 51-yard field goal just before the half. Houston managed only a field goal of their own in the first period, trailing 17-3 at halftime.

Defensive Stand and Second Half Struggles

The second quarter saw Matt Gay narrow the gap with a 52-yard field goal for Houston. However, Fairbairn responded with a 57-yard boot to make it 20-3 at the break. The third quarter was a defensive struggle, but Las Vegas struck again when Dylan Laube scored on a 4-yard run. Houston's offense remained stifled, failing to score in the second half.

Late Rally Falls Short

Houston began a late rally in the fourth quarter. Dare Ogunbowale cut the deficit to 20-16 with a 19-yard touchdown run, though the extra point was unsuccessful. The Texans' hopes were dashed when Aidan O'Connell scored on a 1-yard run with the two-point conversion also failing, securing the 22-20 win for Las Vegas.

Key Performances

Aidan O'Connell was instrumental in the Raiders' victory, completing 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards and adding the game-winning touchdown. Mike Washington Jr. contributed on the ground with 9 carries for 56 yards, while Brandon Johnson led receivers with 2 catches for 41 yards.

For Houston, Davis Mills threw for 93 yards on 11-of-15 passing. Woody Marks provided a spark with 37 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Marlin Klein recorded 3 receptions for 31 yards. The game drew an attendance of 69,765 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX.

Sources

ESPN