Texans QB Brock Osweiler outplayed the Raiders’ Derek Carr until the decisive fourth quarter.
MEXICO CITY — The Texans and quarterback Brock Osweiler had an opportunity to silence their critics and earn respect in their Monday night game against Oakland at Estadio Azteca.
An Osweiler-inspired victory would have elevated the Texans to 7-3, given them a 1½-game lead in the AFC South and ended the Raiders’ best start since 2001.
But the Texans’ best-conceived plans went awry in the fourth quarter when the Raiders overcame a seven-point deficit to pull out a 27-20 victory before a crowd of 76,473.
The Texans made it interesting, with Osweiler building a 20-13 advantage early in the fourth quarter on Nick Novak’s second field goal. At that point, an exceptional performance by the defense was ruined when the Texans allowed Derek Carr to throw two touchdown passes to boost the Raiders to 8-2.
The Texans (6-4) lead the division by half a game over Indianapolis.
The Texans were 6½-point underdogs, and for the first time this season, didn’t embarrass themselves against a good team on the road. Osweiler played better on the road against Oakland than any time this season. He finished 26-of-39 passing for 243 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception, was sacked twice, and had an 81.1 rating.
Osweiler outplays Carr
Until the fourth quarter, Osweiler outplayed Carr, who was harassed by the Texans and victimized by dropped passes.
Carr closed 21-of-31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns. He had one interception and a 117.0 rating. He wasn’t sacked.
Unlike Carr, Osweiler couldn’t rally the Texans when he got the ball one last time. Needing a TD to force overtime, the Texans were unable to dent an Oakland defense that allowed 354 yards.
The Texans couldn’t convert on third-and-2 and fourth-and-1.
The Texans, who controlled the ball for 36 minutes, 21 seconds to Oakland’s 23:33, needed a touchdown because they were trying to build on a 20-13 lead.
Lamar Miller gained a yard on third down, and with what appeared to be a bad spot, Akeem Hunt was stopped short on fourth down. Replay upheld the call.
The Texans had to overcome more than the Raiders. They had fans shining a green laser on Osweiler and his teammates when they had the ball as well as an official who blew dead a play that should have been a long touchdown by DeAndre Hopkins in the first quarter.
The Texans came close to winning. Osweiler’s touchdown pass to Braxton Miller, Lamar Miller’s 1-yard touchdown run and two Novak field goals should have been enough.
Osweiler played his best game this season. His statistics might not have reflected it, but he did. He stood in under pressure. He converted third-down plays. He ran for a first down and lowered his shoulder on a third-down run against rookie safety Karl Joseph.
His line provided good protection, for the most part, but the blockers couldn’t squeeze out an extra yard when they needed it the most in the fourth quarter.
The running game complemented Osweiler well, with Miller generating 104 yards. Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (six catches, 82 yards) worked the middle of the field well. Still, it wasn’t enough. Osweiler drives coaches and fans crazy. He made some terrific throws, but also made three mystifying plays in the first half.
Questionable decisions
Under pressure, Osweiler threw a terrible short pass into the hands of linebacker Shilique Calhoun, but he dropped what should have been a pick-six.
He had Will Fuller open over the middle on a crossing route but threw into coverage deeper and was intercepted by linebacker Malcolm Smith.
Osweiler also had a pass batted back to him, and rather than knock it down, he caught it for a 6-yard loss. He made up for it with the touchdown pass to Braxton Miller.
In his four road games, Osweiler had thrown for 175, 155, 131, 99 yards. He had 182 after three quarters against the Raiders. What he needed most was one more touchdown pass, but he couldn’t do it.