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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
The Raiders entered the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans trailing by three points at Allegiant Stadium Sunday.
And after the Raiders lost four of their first five games, it was reasonable to believe that the Raiders’ hopes of making the postseason and competing for an NFL title came down to the game’s final 15 minutes on a cool, windy day in Las Vegas.
It turned out that it wasn’t Derek Carr or Maxx Crosby or Davante Adams who would save the Raiders season.
It was a hard-running five-foot, 10-inch 220-pounder from Alabama who provided the spark that drove the Raiders past a spunky Texans squad, 38-20.
Josh Jacobs scored his second and third touchdowns of the game in the final quarter before a pick-6 interception by Raiders safety Duron Harmon sealed Las Vegas’ second win of the season.
“They’re making it pretty easy on me,” Jacobs said of the offensive line. “Man, I love the fight in the guys. It’s been a fun, interesting ride.”
Key stats for Raiders: Zero turnovers and balanced offense of 236 passing yards and 164 yards running.
“At the end of the day it came down to executing better in the Red Zone,” Carr said after the win. “I’m proud of the way we finished the game.”
The Raiders are now 2-4 and look to get back into a playoff hunt after last season’s 10-7 record and a wild card berth.
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The day began with news that former NBA star and businessman Magic Johnson was in talks about buying a share of the Raiders, per media reports.
Johnson has a stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers and is a businessman who has invested in urban development projects with business ownership shares in Starbucks and Burger King.
The Raiders’ value has spiked thanks to a revenue-generating and publicly-subsidized domed stadium in Las Vegas and a host of new corporate sponsorship that came about because of Allegiant Stadium, the 62,500-seat venue a 15-minute walk west of the Las Vegas Strip.
For three quarters, Johnson watched the Raiders, the favored team in today’s AFC game, go back-and-forth with Houston. The Texans actually led several times — at 7-3 in the second quarter and 20-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
But that was before Jacobs took over the game. The four-year pro who grew up in poverty and lived in a car at one point as a kid rallied the franchise to the fourth quarter win.
By the time the two teams met in the middle of the grass field in a retractable tray after the Raiders win, Jacobs had piled up 143 yards on 20 carries for three touchdowns.
Carr was efficient passing the ball. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown.
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At kickoff, there were many unfilled seats around Allegiant Stadium.
The crowd included former Raiders players and actor/director Carl Weathers — who played Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies. He lit the Al Davis torch to get the game going. Notice security keeping an eye on things.
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The Raiders relied on the right foot of placekicker Daniel Carlson to lead the Houston Texans 3-0 on a 50-yard FG after the first quarter.
Houston had a chance to tie the game, but kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a FG attempt.
After one quarter: Raiders 3 Texans 0
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Houston took over the game in the second quarter.
Quarterback Davis Mills tossed a 10-yard TD pass to receiver Chris Moore and then Fairbairn nailed a 55-yard field goal for a Texans 10-3 lead late in the second quarter.
The Raiders mounted a drive late in the first half.
With less than five minutes left in the second quarter, Carr led the Raiders on an 82-yard drive, culminating with a 20-yard strike to wide receiver Mack Hollins with 25 seconds left in the half.
Score at halftime: Raiders 10 Texans 10
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Houston took a 13-10 lead on a field goal, but then the Raiders responded, relying on Carr-to-Foster Moreau throws and Jacobs runs and took a 17-13 lead.
But the Las Vegas defense looked leaky. A Mills TD pass to Phillip Dorsett gave Houston a 20-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After three quarters: Texans 20 Raiders 17.
Then it was Jacobs time.
Two touchdown runs by Jacobs and a Harmon pick-6 later Raiders coach Josh McDaniels was savoring the team’s second win this season.
The Raiders do need to limit yards on defense. Las Vegas was actually outgained, 404-400, by Houston in total yards.
The Raiders hit the road with away games against the Saints Oct. 30 and the Jaguars Nov. 6 before they return to Allegiant Stadium to play Indianapolis Nov. 13.