Raiders vs Texans: 3 things we learned

Three things we learned from the Houston Texans’ 27-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

The Houston Texans advanced in the AFC playoffs after their defense rolled down the shutters to beat the Oakland Raiders and rookie quarterback Connor Cook 27-14. He was sacked three times and pressured into as many interceptions, as the Texans won with room to spare at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Cook found himself smothered by an ultra-talented front seven guided expertly by master coordinator Romeo Crennel. Fortunately, Crennel and Co. also got some help from the Houston offense for a rare time this season.

Brock Osweiler threw a touchdown pass and ran for another, while Lamar Miller chipped in with a score of his own. The Texans were no scoring juggernaut, but they protected the ball and did enough to capitalize on their dominating defense.

Dominance on defense is something the Raiders can still only dream about, though. Despite a plethora of well-established names, the Oakland D continued to flounder.

Major changes are needed on this side of the ball to support an offense sure to click once Derek Carr retakes the reins under center next season.

Here’s what we learned from the first game of the playoffs:

1. Romeo Crennel is the Texans’ X-factor

Crennel loves to stir the pot on defense and always finds creative ways to use his best players.

Against the Raiders, he showed the inexperienced Cook and an injury-riddled O-line a myriad of looks. Specifically, he moved bookend pass-rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus around at will.

One look saw edge-rusher Mercilus lined up as a middle linebacker, while normal mike ‘backer Benardrick McKinney put his hand down on the outside. Clowney also rushed from a middle linebacker spot, and he even spent some time lined up over center.

The moving parts and changing pressure looks detonated the Raiders’ offense. Some of the numbers highlighted how inept Cook and Co. were when facing Crennel’s hall of mirrors.

Consider the heavy work day for punter Marquette King, per NFL Research:

Then there are the dismal numbers on third down:

The Raiders finished a measly 2-for-16 on football’s money down.

There are few better at keeping offenses guessing than 69-year-old Crennel. He’s Houston’s best chance of pulling off a major upset in the next round.

2. Clowney and Mercilus becoming football’s best one-two punch

Is there a more devastating combination in the NFL than Clowney and Mercilus? At the rate the pair are going, it won’t even be a question worth asking by this time next season.

No two players did more to destroy the Raiders. Clowney recorded a tackle for loss, knocked down a pass and intercepted another to set up Houston’s first touchdown, a four-yard run by Miller.

Mercilus was even more disruptive. He notched two of Houston’s three sacks, takedowns that put him alongside the best in the franchise’s brief history in the playoffs, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

If you want one reason to believe the Texans can actually win next week, just picture Clowney and Mercilus hanging off the collar of the quarterback. The AFC’s remaining playoff teams will need smart plans to keep these game-wreckers quiet.

3. Raiders let down by disappointing defense

Sure, the Raiders missed Carr. Sure their wide receivers dropped too many passes. Yet the real reason the Raiders even found themselves in this stage of the playoffs is a defense not living up to its star names.

It’s tough to explain the mediocre rankings (20th in points, 26th in yards) and performances when you look at some of the players lining up on D’ for the Silver and Black.

Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin are devastating pass-rushers. Veteran Reggie Nelson is a brilliant bruiser at safety. Linebacker Malcolm Smith is a Super Bowl MVP.

Yet these Raiders just can’t stop anybody. They never laid a glove on Osweiler in Houston, a crime considering he’s prone to mistakes under pressure.

The Raiders also routinely failed to take away the inside routes that gave Osweiler easy reads and throws.

Next: Jadeveon Clowney records interception in Wild Card game vs Raiders (Video)

Oakland boasts a playoff-worthy offense in every department. But this team will never go far in the postseason without major improvement, in both personnel and coaching, on the other side of the ball.