Game review

OFFENSE

The Raiders averaged 7.1 yards per play. But they had just three possessions in the second half, holding the ball for 9:13. Their running game was held under 100 yards for just the third time in seven games. Derek Carr threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns but had a few overthrows and receivers had some costly drops, including one by Tyrell Williams in the fourth quarter.

DEFENSE

After halftime, the defense couldn’t get off the field. The Texans had four possessions, resulting in two touchdowns, a field goal and a drive that ate up the game’s final 3:56. Deshaun Watson thrived on rolling out and creating plays with his feet or throwing on the run. Missed tackles hurt late. The Texans gained 130 rushing yards, second most allowed by the Raiders this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Rookie Cole netted punter 43.3 A.J. yards per attempt.

The return game didn’t do much: Trevor Davis returned a punt for 3 yards and Dwayne Harris had one kickoff return for 18 yards.

Daniel Carlson made his lone field-goal try, a 44-yarder.

The Raiders started their average drive on their 23, not ideal, though Houston’s average starting position was its 22.

COACHING

The Raiders did a good job of containing Watson — for a half. After halftime, the Texans seemed to make a point of getting Watson moving, freeing him to make plays, as he threw for 156 of his 279 yards and rushed for 34 of 46 in the second half.

The Raiders scored on a nice play design to Darren Waller in the first half, but a 30-yard completion was called back for an offensive pass-interference call that Jon Gruden disputed.

OVERALL

Several Oakland players said afterward this felt like a game they should have won. That would have given them a winning record in their 48-day stretch between games in Oakland and with tiebreakers over multiple possible AFC wild-card teams.

Instead, they’ve fallen from 3-2 to 3-4. The good news:

They don’t play on the road again until Nov. 24.