***SWAMPY WILD-CARD WEEKEND - GAME 1 - OAK @ HOU***
***OAKLAND RAIDERS @ HOUSTON TEXANS***
Oh baby oh baby Wild-Card Weekend is finally among us and the SwampMan can't wait! (Bart Scott Voice)
Naturally the first game of the weekend is the least appetizing of the four but I think we may be pleasantly surprised when the battle of the QB carousels takes place as the Oakland Raiders head into Houston where the Super Bowl will take place, to take on the Texans. To state the obvious here, two weeks ago the Raiders lost their fearless leader in the young gunslinger QB Derek Carr to an injury. Needless to say they missed him last week in their final game of the season when they went into Denver to take on a pissed off and already eliminated rival in the Broncos who were essentially motivated by their Coach's resignation due to health issues but that is neither here nor there. My point is that despite the Bronco's down year after winning the Super Bowl last season, they were up for their last home game of the year and to finish strong. The Raiders on the other hand had the wind taken out of their sails without their QB and were forced to go with the backup veteran Matt McGloin who was quickly beaten to a pulp by the Broncos defense and it was then an abrupt "welcome to the NFL" for the Rookie, third string QB in Michigan State's Connor Cook. The Raiders still had the potential number 2 seed on the line in this game and it was clear that they weren't up to the task and were left asking "dude, where's my Carr?" (couldn't wait to use that). Maybe they just knew deep down that with McGloin they had no chance, and it quickly became clear as to why when we got to see how inaccurate and awful he was before getting injured. Cook played fairly well considering it was his first real NFL action ever and up against a stout defense like Denver's. I won't get into Cook's whole history here for the sake of time and reading, but basically I liked Cook during his college days and remember being intrigued when the Raiders were the ones to draft him. I thought "hmm thats a weird spot for him" since they already had young stud QB Derek Carr with backup in place. To keep it short and sweet, Cook reminds me of Kirk Cousins a bit, and maybe it is because they are both from Sparty, but Cook has a big arm and plenty of potential to get the ball to the many weapons that Oakland has so long as he doesn't panic. Believe it or not, the short sample size we got of him playing in Denver was enough for me to decide that the kid has what it takes to get it done and probably the best QB option of the ones available between the two teams in this game! Absurd to say I know. He has literally never started a game before, in fact he will be the first Rookie QB to make his first start in a playoff game. I think Cook will be level-headed enough to go into Houston today and really seize the moment. The guy has absolutely nothing to lose, he already has an excuse working in his favor no matter how he plays today because everybody knows this is a HUGE ask of a Rookie QB. I know OT Donald Penn is out today and yes that is a GIGANTIC loss for the Raiders, but their offensive line as a whole was one of the best in the game this season. They will shuffle around some guys and input Manelik Watson over to LT to replace Penn and Austin Howard will be back at RT. I believe they will play just fine and do enough to protect their Rookie knowing what is being asked of him here today and what is at stake.
In my opinion, after last season's 30-0 blowout that the Texans suffered on this very same day in this very same spot to open up Wild-Card weekend coupled with how much of a bomb the highly paid QB Brock Osweiler has been this year, the pressure is entirely on the Texans in this one. I've read reports this morning about how Head Coach Bill O'Brien may be coaching for his job today and if they lose to a Raiders team with a third string Rookie QB making his first start, his time in Houston as Head Coach could be over. After his team winning the AFC South for the second year in a row that seems a bit extreme doesn't it? Well the truth is this division is extremely weak and if not for the Bengals missing a game ending FG on Christmas Eve, the Texans wouldn't be here. I think the O'Brien and Houston end has been a long time coming and apparently there has been a bit of a rift between him and ownership. I don't think O'Brien was never a fan of acquiring Osweiler and especially paying him all that money, which now looks to be an extremely dumb move on their organization's part. O'Brien finally got fed up enough with Osweiler stinking up the joint and benched him a couple weeks ago but now after backup Tom Savage suffering an injury last week, Osweiler is back starting by default. He played fairly well in the loss and looked like the benching possibly may have done him some good, or Savage was also just THAT inept on offense in comparison. Either way, I feel as if this Houston team isn't too strong and in my mind, they shouldn't even be in the playoffs. That being said, I don't think it would be too crazy for the Raiders to come into Houston today and upset them even with Cook at QB. Do I think Osweiler will play better? I do. I believe he will find some success at home versus a weak Raiders secondary. Houston has the weapons at WR with Hopkins and Fuller to take serious advantage of them deep. However Rookie Safety Karl Joseph is back today for Oakland which should provide this defense with a huge boost on the back end. Head Coach Jack Del Rio has also challenged his Raiders defense to pick up the slack and basically put the team on their backs in this one, and I believe they will. I like Raider LB/DEs Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin to be the difference makers in this one and wreak havoc in the backfield making it tough for Osweiler to operate. I also believe the Raiders will do a good enough job protecting their young Rookie despite losing Donald Penn, and will give him enough time to find his WRs Cooper and Crabtree who need to step up today and bail him out. The Raiders will surely try to pound the ball with RB Latavius Murray to help the kid out but I don't think they will fear letting him rip it deep either. The "unknown" factor that Cook brings to this game against the Texans defense really plays into Oakland's favor and if I'm Del Rio I would let Cook throw a ton this game knowing that Houston is probably keying on the stopping the run. They have the weapons, he has the arm, why not? Everyone speaks about how good this Texans defense is and I got to be honest I just don't see it. They haven't impressed me by beating any playoff caliber teams and have looked pretty average to me when I have watched them at times this year. They have some suspect areas and I think today will miss their leader JJ Watt and the experience he brings. Bottom line here in the Swamp, after such an amazing season I don't think da rrRRAAIIIdaAAZZZz let these injuries stop them. It has been a very long time since the Black and Silver has graced the playoffs and I believe they will come together in a close one to "just win baby!" RAIDERS+4
