Texans have green laser pointed at them during MNF

Derek Carr threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Raiders rallied for a 27-20 win over the Houston Texans.

Houston threatened during the ensuing drive, driving just shy of midfield before the Raiders defense stepped up, starting with a sack of Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, taken down by linebacker Bruce Irvin.

Carr threw two touchdown passes in the final quarter in a total of 295 yards as the Raiders won for a fourth straight time.

One thing that helped the Raiders stay in it until the end was the support from the fans in Mexico City.

The Raiders (7-2) are coming off a bye week, but posted a big win in Week 9, a 30-20 decision over defending champion Denver. The annoying kid in class with the laser pointer is at an National Football League game and his immaturity could turn this harmless prank into something more if Osweiler isn’t lucky. First, let’s focus on the Raiders. Olawale was open deep because several Houston defenders got caught with their eyes in the backfield, where star receiver Amari Cooper had lined up as a running back before releasing into the flat.

They were lucky that the Texans weren’t particularly good on either side of the ball, and that Houston head coach Bill O’Brien made some questionable decisions that might have cost his team points, and that the officials made some questionable calls that might have taken Texans points off the board.

The Raiders caught a break there, and took full advantage.

The Texans defense had an outstanding start, allowing just seven net yards rushing until halftime and keeping the Oakland Raiders to just three points off a pair of Houston turnovers. Jalen Richard caught a 17-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, and a muffed kickoff recovered by Taiwan Jones put the Raiders in prime position to score again. Crabtree had a poor outing, only recording 3 receptions for 5 yards and fumbling a Carr pass that Oakland recovered.

The pick came on the first play of the second half and was a bad throw by Carr, who was pressure and just threw the ball up for grabs. It was intercepted by Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye and led to a one-yard Lamar Miller touchdown run to cap a 13-play, 65-yard drive. The Texans were unable to challenge the play because it was blown dead and they settled for a field goal on that drive.

Tommie Smith, below left, lights the torch in in honor of former Oakland Raiders before an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, in Mexico City. Didn’t matter. Monday night’s crowd at Estadio Azteca was decidedly partisan, clearly favoring the Silver and Black.

Green lasers are around 500 times more powerful than a typical red laser pointer that might be used in a classroom setting.