Raiders 22, Texans 20: O'Connell's Late Sneak Erases a 17-Point Hole

August 20, 2026 - Houston - Fernando Mendoza's third pass hung in the humid air long enough for Wade Woodaz to catch it, shove the rookie aside near the 15, and finish an 80-yard pick-six. 14-0, Texans. The night looked over before Las Vegas had a clean series.

It was not over. Aidan O'Connell drove 96 yards in the fourth, punched in a 1-yard sneak with 14 seconds left, and the Las Vegas Raiders left NRG Stadium with a 22-20 win over the Houston Texans.

Houston led 20-3 at halftime. Houston scored zero after the break. That is the whole plot.

Stroud's one series, then Mendoza's learning tape

C.J. Stroud played one series in his first preseason action and was 4 of 6 for 27 yards. Woody Marks finished the drive from 20 yards out. 7-0. Ka'imi Fairbairn later hit from 51 and 57. Matt Gay answered from 52 for Las Vegas. The Texans' early cushion was real. So was the Raiders' decision to rest Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby, Ashton Jeanty, and Brock Bowers.

Mendoza, the Heisman winner and top pick, played five first-half series: 8 of 15, 86 yards, one sack, several hits against Houston's second unit, and that pick-six. He chased Woodaz down and still got shed. Afterward he said the margins at this level turn one throw into catastrophe. Klint Kubiak said there is plenty to clean up for both the quarterback and the coaches. He also refused to crown Cousins for Week 1. "I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job," Kubiak said.

Laube, Ogunbowale, then the tush push

Dylan Laube scored from 4 yards late in the third. 20-10. Dare Ogunbowale, the former Texan, ripped a 19-yard touchdown run with under eight minutes left. Kansei Matsuzawa missed the extra point. 20-16.

O'Connell's closing drive included a 33-yard seam throw to Brandon Johnson. The sneak made it 22-20. Matsuzawa missed that PAT too. Devin Lafayette intercepted Brett Rypien to seal it. Patrick Johnson and Jahfari Harvey had strip sacks in the second-half shutout. Mike Washington Jr. ran for 56 yards on nine carries, including a 33-yard burst.

Jadeveon Clowney played the entire first half in his return to Houston. Buddy Johnson left with a shoulder injury and returned. Cornerback Chigozie Anusiem was carted off with a knee injury.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring is built for weekly lines. Preseason boxes are film, not stored AthX Engine week stats yet.

What the verified lines still tell you: Marks' 20-yard rushing TD is 6 fantasy points plus yardage. Laube and Ogunbowale each scored rushing touchdowns. Fairbairn's 51- and 57-yard field goals are big kicker scores under AthX Engine distance rules. O'Connell's 1-yard TD rush is 6. Mendoza's pick-six is a negative on the QB card and a defensive score for Woodaz. Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what the market will pay when Cousins and Stroud are actually under center in September.

Track Stroud, Marks, and the Raiders and Texans on the marketplace.

*Sources: ESPN recap, Raiders.com, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*