The Raiders notched their second win of the season on Sunday, defeating the 1-3-1 Houston Texans in a 38-20 blowout victory. Led by a monster game from Josh Jacobs – 143 yards and 3 touchdowns – the Raiders got their first win immediately following a bye week since 2016.

First half

The Raiders got off to a slow start, only scoring on a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Following a Texans missed 39-yard field goal, the Raiders held the lead after the first quarter.

Down 3-0, the Texans got moving in the second quarter, scoring a touchdown and a field goal in their only drives of the quarter. Fearing a 10-3 halftime deficit, the Raiders drove the ball down the field during the last five minutes of the half.

Derek Carr found Mack Hollins at the end of a grueling 10-play drive with 25 seconds left, tying the game for the Raiders going into the half.

Second half

Both teams started the back half of the game on fire. The Texans began with the ball, driving down the field and kicking a field goal to take their second lead of the game.

The Raiders answered back, with Josh Jacobs scoring his first touchdown of the game from four yards out on their opening drive of the half, taking their first lead since 3-0. Adding to the back-and-forth nature of the game, Davis Mills found Philip Dorsett for a 25-yard touchdown pass, taking a 20-17 lead. This would prove to be their last lead of the game. The Raiders turned on the afterburners as the game progressed to the fourth quarter.

Icing the game

On their first drive, the Raiders drove down the field and got Josh Jacobs his second goal-line score of the game.

Leading 24-20, the Raiders held the Texans to a three-and-out, the Texans’ first and only punt of the game. Following the punt, Josh Jacobs put points on the board for a third time, stretching the lead to 31-20.

With seven minutes left in the game and their odds of victory fading fast, the Texans started to drive. Making their way down the field, Davis Mills found himself dropping back on a first and ten at the Raiders’ 40-yard line. Targeting Brevin Jordan down the middle of the field, Mills threw a game-sealing pick-six to Raiders safety Duron Harmon, putting the Raiders’ lead at 18 points.

The Raiders didn’t have much left to do and ended up kneeling the game out after a Texans turnover on downs on their next drive.

Game notes

Josh Jacobs needs to get paid

During the last three weeks, Josh Jacobs has put up 441 yards and 6 touchdowns, an average of 147 yards and 2 touchdowns per game. Following the Raiders declining his fifth-year option, Jacobs is in a contract year and has been showing up more than any other Raider has this season. The Alabama product has shown that he is an extremely valuable asset for this offense, and he may be something the Raiders can’t afford to lose if they look to contend for a Super Bowl.

Limiting turnovers works

In their first three games (0-3), the Raiders had five turnovers. In their most recent three games (2-1), the Raiders have not turned the ball over a single time. Need I say more? If you hold onto the ball, you’re simply going to win more games. 

Next game

The Raiders face the New Orleans Saints next Sunday at 11 a.m. MT and the game can be seen on CBS. 

All stats via www.ESPN.com.

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