Smith: Mexico City setting practically home game for Raiders

referring to a fall forward that apparently came up an inch short.

Referees drew fire on social media as soon as the Raiders moved to 8-2. Asked about two huge game-changing calls — a clear Hopkins first-quarter TD and Hunt’s late failed fourth down — linebacker Whitney Mercilus pointed the mirror back at a defense that allowed 14 shocking fourth-quarter points.

“It’s nothing we can really do about that,” he said. “The refs make the call. We’ve just got to go out there and play. Even toward the end of the game, we can’t give up easy passes.”

Clowney had one of the best games of his career. To No. 90, all that mattered was his team’s coming up short.

‘We gave the game away’

“We should have won,” Clowney said. “We gave the game (away).”

The NFL’s first regular-season game in Mexico in 11 years and first “Monday Night Football” contest outside America sold out in less than two hours. The buzz leading up to the evening was nothing compared to the night itself.

Walking around sold-out Azteca Stadium, which first came to life in 1966 and sits 7,280 feet above sea level, was almost impossible an hour before kickoff. Raiders fans were literally everywhere, drowning out Texans supporters who traveled well but disappeared into a black hole once gates opened.

What was technically a Raiders home game, despite the neutral site, completely belonged to Oakland in person. The famous silver-and-black Raiders logo covered midfield, black tarps with Oakland logos circled both end zones, and the jumbotron displayed tribute videos for Raiders legends Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett. The Texans got their name painted in one end zone — that was it.

For Oakland, Mexico City was another step toward renewed NFL validation. David Carr’s little brother — who once watched Texans practices from the sideline and tossed passes to Andre Johnson — entered the evening as one of the league’s most promising young quarterbacks and had guided the Raiders to their best start since 2001.

For O’Brien’s Texans, a twohour flight south was devoted to finally earning a little national respect.

Osweiler threw for just 131 yards in a depressing “Monday Night” beatdown by Denver in Week 7. The Texans were blown apart by Minnesota in Week 5 and shredded by a third-string QB in New England in Week 3, all of which followed a 30-0 playoff disaster versus Kansas City that cruelly ended 2015. If it was a strong opponent on the road or a game that mattered, the Texans had caved.

While Osweiler tried to throw for 300 yards for the first time this season — or at least break the 99-yard mark — Texans-Raiders also served as a one-night look back at the 2014 draft. O’Brien’s team chose Clowney No. 1 and then took Xavier Su’a-Filo to lead off the second round. Picking second both times, Oakland ended up with Khalil Mack and Derek Carr.

Week 11 about 1,000 miles from Houston also carried political weight. United States President-Elect Donald Trump has vowed to build a wall at the Mexican border, while controversial statements about immigration and deportation shadowed the NFL’s return to Mexico.

Respectful reaction

But predictions that the American national anthem would be harshly booed were overblown. When the U.S. flag was formed on the field via hand-held colored cards, there were light jeers. But the anthem was performed to respective silence, then cheered while fireworks shot toward the night sky.

Osweiler, the Texans’ playcalling and their offensive line approached season bests during the first half. Seven receivers recorded catches, Osweiler’s pocket was consistently clean, and the Texans were tied at 10 at halftime as Oakland accounted for just 81 first-half yards.

But there were also classic Texans road blunders that have dragged down O’Brien’s team all season. Osweiler was picked off toward the end of the first half, rookie Tyler Ervin coughed up a kickoff return that turned into an Oakland field goal, and first-and-goal at the Raiders’ 1 somehow turned into a 6-yard loss on a pass that ended back up in Osweiler’s hands.

It was 20-13 Texans with 10:45 to go.

Then Carr torched the Texans for a 75-yard, blowncoverage TD.

Osweiler pushed his offense again. The Texans got within Oakland’s 15. Then O’Brien went for it all. What should have been the Texans’ seventh win suddenly belonged to the Raiders.

“The defense should have made a stop,” Clowney said. “You can’t blame nobody but us.”

And the wrong call at the wrong time.