Note: Raiders vs Texans

The Raiders are the #2 team against the #3 team in the American Conference, which shows that they are two squads in a similar position with a similar level, but there are certain points that can tip the game in favor of the Raiders:

SUFFOCATE THE OPPONENT'S QB

It is no secret that Brock Osweiler is not an elite quarterback and has failed to become the star the Texans were looking for, so making his life a nightmare is a mission for the defense. The speed of their front line and linebackers, as well as constant pressure, will put the QB in a desperate situation. He struggles in such situations: nine interceptions (the 7th worst in the NFL), only a 58% completion rate on average (the 4th worst), and one of the highest average of incomplete passes in the league with 14. This will allow the Raiders to test their pass defense, which is one of the worst in the league, although they have recovered 15 fumbles (7th in total).

CONTAIN CLOWNEY

Jadeveon Clowney doesn't have scary numbers (three sacks and 28 tackles), but his presence may require double-teaming to block him and prevent him from causing problems. The Raiders' offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and will know how to adapt to stop the Texan's lineman #90, but they should not lose sight of the other defensive players.

ANOTHER MASTERCLASS FROM THE OFFENSIVE LINE

It is one of the gems of the Raiders and must shine again, as they have done all year. They are the team that has allowed the fewest sacks (11), so not only do they take good care of Derek Carr, but they also give him time to make big plays through the air. In addition, due to the characteristics of the Texan's secondary defense (one of the best in the NFL), they will be the reason why the trio of running backs (Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, and Jalen Richard) can have another luxurious day, as they did against Denver where they ran for 218 yards.

DOMINATE THE FIRST HALF

The Raiders are a team that knows how to take control of the game from the beginning to finish strong in the second half, and the Texans are a favorable opponent for them to do so. Houston only averages nine points scored in the first half, and Oakland's defense allows nine points by halftime. But that low number drops further in the second half of the game, as Houston only scores eight points, so with the 14 points they usually score, the distance will be insurmountable.