The Las Vegas Raiders will have their hands full against the playoff-hopeful Houston Texans in Week 16.
The Raiders have been eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks now and have turned their focus towards giving rookies more looks, like receiver Jack Bech (10 receptions on 12 targets since Week 13) and right guard Caleb Rogers (allowed five pressures and one sack on 110 snaps).
Although it was due to injury, the Raiders also made a quarterback change last week, with Kenny Pickett starting in place of the injured Geno Smith against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pickett was rewarded with the chance after he relieved Smith in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos, in which he completed eight of 11 passes for 97 yards and a garbage-time touchdown.
Pickett didn’t have the same luck against the Eagles, as he completed 15 of 25 passes for just 64 yards and an interception in the 31-0 shutout loss. With Smith practicing in full Wednesday and Thursday, it’s likely that Pickett’s starting role ends after just one week.
Whoever starts for Las Vegas will have the daunting task of trying to avoid Houston’s No. 1 ranked defense and ferocious pass-rush.
“Whether QB Geno Smith (shoulder) or Kenny Pickett starts Sunday, it won't make much of a difference because of the team's struggles on the offensive line,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote Friday. “Las Vegas has allowed at least four sacks in nine games this season. ‘[The Texans] have playmakers at all their spots, particularly [Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter] jump out,’ coach Pete Carroll said. ‘... We've got to make sure that we're doing a good job of keeping them from owning the game.’”
Las Vegas’ offensive line has been battered all season long and are relying on backups like Rogers to protect the quarterback. The Texans defense is as stingy as they get and after allowing 20 points to the Arizona Cardinals last week, that unit surely wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“The Raiders rank last in points per game (14), and Houston has the NFL's No. 1 defense,” wrote ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. “The Texans are coming off a game in which they allowed 20 points to the Cardinals, and coach DeMeco Ryans said, ‘That game was not up to our standard.’ So expect Houston to try to shut out Las Vegas.”
Las Vegas will try to spoil Houston’s week and shake up the American Football Conference playoff bracket.