Okay, so get this: The Las Vegas Raiders, a team that stumbled to a brutal 3-14 record last season and finished dead last in the AFC West, are actually 1.5-point favorites tonight! They’re hitting the field against the Houston Texans, who were a seriously respectable 12-5 last year, grabbing second in the AFC South. Seriously, how wild is that for a Week 2 preseason matchup? Kickoff for this one is at 8 p.m. ET from Reliant Stadium in Houston.
Preseason Grind and Last Season’s Ghosts
Both teams are desperate to get into the win column after a rough Week 1. The Raiders took a 27-14 hit from the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday. Not exactly a confidence booster, right? Meanwhile, the Texans didn’t fare much better, dropping a 27-7 decision to the Los Angeles Chargers on the same night. Neither squad showed much offensive fire, with the Raiders only putting up 14 points and the Texans managing a measly seven. It makes you wonder what’s going on, especially when you consider where these teams were just last season. The Raiders were an abysmal 1-7 on the road, while the Texans were a force at home with a 7-2 record. So why the favoritism for Las Vegas? It’s a head-scratcher, no doubt.
New Faces, Old Problems, and the Guru’s Call
Tonight’s all about who steps up and flashes some potential. For the Raiders, everyone’s watching quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown last week, and you know he’s getting another long look. Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. also turned heads, carrying the ball six times for 63 yards, including an explosive 53-yard run. That’s the kind of spark you need! Over on the Texans’ side, Davis Mills is getting another shot under center after backup Graham Mertz went down with a knee injury. Mills threw for 82 yards and a score on 9 of 15 passing in Week 1. And keep an eye on former Oregon running back Noah Whittington, who rushed 13 times for 40 yards. These guys are fighting for roster spots, every carry and every pass counts.
When it comes to the odds, respected handicapper Jeff Hochman, who’s been crushing it since the 90s with a 99-88-3 (+686) record over the last five NFL seasons, is leaning heavily on the under for total points. The current over/under is 39.5, and Hochman doesn’t expect a high-scoring game, picking Under 40.5 combined points. Given both teams’ anemic offensive showings last week, that prediction makes a lot of sense. Don’t expect a shootout here, folks; it’s going to be a grind at Reliant Stadium. These guys need to show some serious improvement if they want to build any momentum.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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