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Oakland Raiders: 4 Bold predictions vs. Texans, Week 8

By Steve Rivera

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 20: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders communicates prior to the snap against the Green Bay Packers in the game at Lambeau Field on October 20, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 20: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders communicates prior to the snap against the Green Bay Packers in the game at Lambeau Field on October 20, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 20: Carlos Hyde #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 20: Carlos Hyde #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /

3. Raiders stifle Texans rushing attack

The Raiders will have a good day on Sunday stopping the Texans run game. In Houston’s 23-30 Week 7 loss at Indianapolis, lead running back Carlos Hyde rushed for only 35 yards on 12 carries. For Oakland to have an opportunity for another AFC South win, keeping the Texans rushing attack under wraps will be key.

Houston has demonstrated the ability to throw the ball all over the field. If Week 7 in Green Bay is any indication, Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will need to dial-up a much better coverage scheme to minimize the damage Watson can inflict. Rodgers was absolutely masterful in carving up the Raiders D, going 25 of 31 for 429 yards and five touchdowns.

Is Watson capable of Superman numbers like Rodgers? Absolutely. Watson is quickly separating himself from the garden variety quarterbacks who dot the NFL landscape. Stopping the Texans running game is a much easier task than stopping Watson. If they can force him to go to the air more than even he’d like to, Oakland has a chance to steal another one on the road.

It’s only bad luck that the Raiders have to again face a quarterback who might end up in the MVP discussion by season’s end. Having already seen Mahomes and Rodgers, going 0-3 against the best quarterbacks playing isn’t entirely unpredictable. However, not letting Hyde get going gives them a chance to beat Watson.

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