Cook will be starting in the Wild Card game at Houston, and although he will be facing a stingy Houston defense, he has a good chance of making himself an Oakland hero. I doubt it. Can Connor Cook be the Cinderella story? With Carr out with a broken fibula and back Matt McGloin dealing with a shoulder injury, the Raiders must now rely on rookie Connor Cook to help them keep their season alive. “So I was nervous going into the Denver game, just like I’ll have the nerves going into this game”. Even starting your 40th game can create high anxiety. “We get the opportunity to go out and play and that’s all we can ask for”. Those guys are going to have requests from family members they’ve never heard of that want to come to the game.
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Houston Head Coach Bill O’Brien announced Tuesday afternoon that Osweiler will start over Savage this week, given Osweiler’s uncharacteristically impressive demonstration on Sunday and Savage’s questionable health.
It took 256 regular season games, but we’ve finally whittled down the 32-team National Football League field to just 12 teams that have rightfully earned their place in the 2016-17 National Football League playoffs. Osweiler was deemed not good enough less than a month ago that they turned the reins over to Tom Savage and he will see Khalil Mack zeroing in on him all evening.
Left guard Kelechi Osemele also suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss but has practiced this week, though in a limited capacity. The Raiders didn’t score after he left the game in Week 16, and they managed just six points in Week 17.
The Raiders have let up 340+ yards in all but four games. Running the ball effectively will allow for third-and-manageable situations.
Detroit’s rush defense has been slashed for over 300 yards combined in their last two games, so Thomas Rawls and Alex Collins should have no problem moving the chains on the ground. This caused a great panic among the Oakland Raiders fans as the fear of losing Carr, and having back-up Matt McGloin try to fill Carr’s shoes began to take over. Whatever happens Saturday, just remember that the Raiders did in fact get to Houston this postseason, and that’s something I personally wasn’t counting on this year. That part was pretty good. It was third-and-12. We told our fastest wide receiver to run and the quarterback threw it deep. This is what the Raiders will do. They need Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney to play like their hair is on fire. This is basically a one-man route.
The Oakland Raiders looked all out of sorts last week and that cost them a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Ever since Thomas went down the Seahawks have not been the same team.
Barring an unexpected breakout performance from Cook, the Raiders look like long-shots to make noise in the playoffs. Cooper and Crabtree will still get there receptions and yards, but if the Texans are able to limit there productivity then they may have a shot at winning.
Stafford hasn’t been the same since his finger injury.
On the side bet the key number is over 3 points. The Lions are also 0-5 against playoff teams this season.
Tyreek Hill’s dramatic 95-yard punt-return touchdown on Sunday cost Minnesota’s Marcus Sherels $100,000. Jay Ajayi rushed for over 200 yards when these teams met in Miami on October 16, but plenty has changed since then.
On top of that, if there’s anything that Osweiler’s proven this season, it’s that he still has a whole lot to prove.
For those enamored by the quarterback position, Saturday might be a hard one to get excited about. Rodgers will face a tough test in New York’s shutdown defense, however. I doubt it! The one quality unit in this matchup – when you consider the QB’s – is the Houston defense and that should be the difference in this game.
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What’s the saying, “Defense wins championships”? If the Texans are able to shut the 6th best rushing offense in the National Football League then it will be a good day for them. He’s the X-factor in this game. Bouye of the first meeting with the Raiders. “I mean, Latavius ends up with five carries”. It has been an up-and-down season to say the least for the Texans.
