With 14 seconds left in Houston, Aidan O’Connell took the snap from one yard out of the end zone. The Las Vegas Raiders had trailed by 17 points at halftime and still needed a touchdown to win. O’Connell pushed across the goal line to put Las Vegas ahead, then Devin Lafayette intercepted Brett Rypien to seal it. The Raiders walked away with a 22–20 win in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason.
The Las Vegas Raiders vs. Texans Match Player Stats tell the story of two very different halves. Houston built its lead with a long touchdown run, a pick-six, and two field goals. Las Vegas answered with three rushing touchdowns and a defense that kept the Texans scoreless after the break.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Texans Match Player Stats and Game Overview
Houston took a 17–0 first-quarter lead at Reliant Stadium. Running back Woody Marks opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown run. Wade Woodaz then intercepted Fernando Mendoza and returned the ball 80 yards for another touchdown. Ka’imi Fairbairn’s field goal capped a quarter in which Houston scored three ways.
The Texans led 20–3 at halftime. Dylan Laube cut the gap to 20–10 with a four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Dare Ogunbowale cut the deficit to four with a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth. A missed extra point left the Raiders trailing 20–16, so their final drive ended with a field goal.
Las Vegas started that drive at its own four-yard line and covered 96 yards in eight plays. O’Connell found Brandon Johnson for a 33-yard gain before finishing the drive himself. The Raiders scored 19 unanswered points after halftime, including 12 in the final quarter.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Texans Match Player Stats at Quarterback
Aidan O’Connell led all passers with 166 yards, completing 15 of 24 attempts without an interception. He finished with an 83.0 passer rating. His official rushing line was unusual for a player who scored the winning touchdown. He finished with zero net rushing yards on two carries, one of which was his one-yard scoring run.
Fernando Mendoza completed eight of 15 passes for 86 yards, with one interception and a 42.6 passer rating. One of his best throws went to Jalen Nailor for 22 yards. His first-quarter interception was the costliest play of his outing, giving Houston seven points once Fairbairn added the extra point.
Davis Mills led the Texans with 93 passing yards, completing 11 of 15 attempts for an 89.0 passer rating. C.J. Stroud went four of six for 27 yards and a 76.4 rating. Brett Rypien completed six of 10 for 44 yards, with one interception and a 30.8 rating. Mills had the highest passer rating, while O’Connell had the most passing yards.
| Player | Team | Completions / Attempts | Passing Yards | Passing TDs | Interceptions | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan O’Connell | Raiders | 15/24 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 83.0 |
| Fernando Mendoza | Raiders | 8/15 | 86 | 0 | 1 | 42.6 |
| Davis Mills | Texans | 11/15 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 89.0 |
| Brett Rypien | Texans | 6/10 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 30.8 |
| C.J. Stroud | Texans | 4/6 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 76.4 |
Mike Washington Jr. Leads the Raiders’ Ground Game
Mike Washington Jr. led all rushers with 56 yards on nine carries. His 33-yard run was the longest of the game, and he added two catches for 18 yards. Laube picked up 37 yards on six carries, while Ogunbowale gained 35 yards on four attempts. Roman Hemby added 27 yards on six carries.
Houston’s Woody Marks was just as dangerous in a smaller role. He gained 37 yards on four attempts, including the opening touchdown. Owen Wright added 21 yards on eight carries, and Noah Whittington gained 11 yards on nine attempts. Marks also caught one pass for six yards.
The Raiders finished with 159 rushing yards on 28 attempts, compared with Houston’s 78 yards on 25 attempts. The teams ran the ball a similar number of times, but Las Vegas averaged 5.7 yards per carry to Houston’s 3.1. The Raiders also picked up 11 first downs on the ground, more than twice Houston’s five.
Brandon Johnson and Marlin Klein Top the Receiving Stats
Brandon Johnson led the game with 41 receiving yards on two catches, including that 33-yard gain on the winning drive. Shedrick Jackson added 36 yards on two catches, and Nailor had 22 yards on his only reception. Ian Thomas caught three passes for 19 yards, while Phillip Dorsett II also finished with 19 yards on two catches.
Marlin Klein led Houston with 31 yards on three catches. Daniel Sobkowicz came close with two catches for 30 yards, including a 22-yard completion from Rypien. Foster Moreau added 23 yards on two receptions. Jared Wayne had 13 yards, while Lewis Bond, Justin Watson and Whittington each finished with 12.
Las Vegas spread its 23 completions across 16 players, while 13 Texans combined for 21 catches. Johnson made the longest reception of the night, but receivers, tight ends and running backs caught the ball on both sides. All four offensive touchdowns came on the ground.
| Player | Team | Category | Carries or Catches | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Washington Jr. | Raiders | Rushing | 9 carries | 56 | 0 |
| Dylan Laube | Raiders | Rushing | 6 carries | 37 | 1 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | Raiders | Rushing | 4 carries | 35 | 1 |
| Aidan O’Connell | Raiders | Rushing | 2 carries | 0 | 1 |
| Woody Marks | Texans | Rushing | 4 carries | 37 | 1 |
| Brandon Johnson | Raiders | Receiving | 2 catches | 41 | 0 |
| Shedrick Jackson | Raiders | Receiving | 2 catches | 36 | 0 |
| Marlin Klein | Texans | Receiving | 3 catches | 31 | 0 |
| Daniel Sobkowicz | Texans | Receiving | 2 catches | 30 | 0 |
Two Interceptions Shape the Raiders vs Texans Result
Wade Woodaz’s pick-six doubled Houston’s early lead from 7–0 to 14–0 after the extra point. It also accounted for Houston’s only touchdown after Marks opened the scoring. The Texans reached 20 points before halftime, but their offense never found the end zone again.
The Raiders recorded three sacks. Patrick Johnson, Jahfari Harvey and Thomas Booker IV each had one, with Johnson and Harvey forcing a fumble. Las Vegas recovered one of Houston’s two fumbles. The Raiders also committed nine penalties for 83 yards, reminding everyone how much they had to overcome even as they gained ground on offense.
Devin Lafayette made the final defensive play that mattered. After O’Connell’s touchdown put Las Vegas ahead, Houston got the ball back with one last chance. Lafayette intercepted Rypien, ending the Texans’ attempt to get into field goal range.
Conclusion
The Las Vegas Raiders vs. Texans Match Player Stats show how quickly this preseason game changed. Houston led 20–3 at halftime after Woody Marks scored on a 20-yard run and Wade Woodaz returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown. The Texans had a 17-point cushion, but they never scored again.
Las Vegas found its way back on the ground. Mike Washington Jr. led the game with 56 rushing yards, while Dylan Laube and Dare Ogunbowale scored in the second half. The Raiders finished with 159 rushing yards to Houston’s 78, a gap that helps explain how Las Vegas kept its comeback alive.
Aidan O’Connell delivered when the Raiders needed a touchdown. He threw for a game-high 166 yards and led the final drive from his own four-yard line. Brandon Johnson’s 33-yard catch helped move Las Vegas into scoring range before O’Connell crossed the goal line on a one-yard sneak with 14 seconds left.
Houston still had one last chance, but Devin Lafayette intercepted Brett Rypien to seal the 22–20 result. The Texans had made the longest scoring play of the night. In the end, the Raiders took the lead with the shortest touchdown of the game and held it.
(FAQs)
When did the Raiders play the Texans in the 2026 preseason?
The game took place on Thursday, 20 August 2026, at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The evening kick-off in Houston fell on Friday, 21 August, in Pakistan.
How many total yards did the Raiders and Texans gain?
The Raiders gained 400 net yards, while the Texans finished with 219. Las Vegas had 241 net passing yards and 159 rushing yards. Houston had 141 net passing yards and 78 rushing yards. Sack yardage is deducted when calculating net passing yards.
Who kicked the longest field goal?
Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 57-yard field goal before halftime. He also made one from 51 yards. Matt Gay made a 52-yard field goal for Las Vegas.
Who scored touchdowns for the Raiders?
Dylan Laube, Dare Ogunbowale and Aidan O’Connell each scored a rushing touchdown. Laube scored from four yards, Ogunbowale from 19, and O’Connell from one.
What were the teams’ preseason records after this game?
The win moved the Raiders to 1–1. The Texans fell to 0–2 with one preseason game left for each team.
