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Predictions

Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans

By Bush StaffUpdated 1d ago·1 min read
Las Vegas RaidersLV(0-1 PRE)
Houston TexansHOU(0-1 PRE)
22—20
FINAL
Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Raiders(0-1 PRE)
WLWLL
22
Texans(0-1 PRE)
LLLWW
20
Best BetTexans -104
Postgame

Wrong. Houston never found a finishing punch, and Las Vegas closed it out 22-20 — exactly the longer-starter-run risk we flagged in the bear with Cousins and Mendoza combining to cover the whole game. Losing Higgins right before kickoff didn't help a passing game that already had less continuity than the Raiders' plan.

Pregame

Houston's the moneyline dog here mostly because Las Vegas is technically the more decorated roster on paper, but with Stroud and the top-line starters held out, that gap shrinks fast. The Texans' backups have had a strong camp storyline behind them -- Collins and Montgomery both getting praise in practice -- and that depth trickles down. Getting a plus number on the home side in a game where both teams' true talent gap is mostly irrelevant is where the value sits.

This one had actual quarterback stakes attached. Kirk Cousins came in with coach Klint Kubiak calling the Raiders' starting job "his to lose," and Fernando Mendoza was ticketed to take over for the second half. Houston went the other way, giving C.J. Stroud only a few series behind the first-team offensive line before pulling him. That's a real gap in workload for the guy who's actually QB1 in Week 1.

The injury news hit Houston harder this week. Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in a joint practice with Las Vegas and is done for the year, pushing Xavier Hutchinson and Tank Dell into bigger roles behind Nico Collins. The Raiders weren't spared either — Chigozie Anusiem was carted off with a knee injury during the game, and Buddy Johnson left with a shoulder issue. Preseason football chews through depth charts, and this one chewed through two of them.

Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders
(0-1 PRE)
Aug 21W@ TexansPre22-20
Aug 14Lvs CardinalsPre14-27
Jan 4Wvs Chiefs14-12
Dec 28Lvs Giants10-34
Dec 21L@ Texans21-23
Houston Texans
Houston Texans
(0-1 PRE)
Aug 21Lvs RaidersPre20-22
Aug 14Lvs ChargersPre7-27
Jan 18L@ Patriots16-28
Jan 13W@ Steelers30-6
Jan 4Wvs Colts38-30
Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders
(6)
  • QuestionableChigozie Anusiem (CB) — Anusiem suffered a knee injury and was carted off the field during Thursday's preseason game against the Texans, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.08/21
  • QuestionableBuddy Johnson (LB) — Johnson (shoulder) is questionable to return to Thursday's preseason matchup with the Texans, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.08/21
  • QuestionableDont'e Thornton Jr. (WR)
  • Injured ReserveJustin Pickett (G) — ir08/19
  • Injured ReserveBrennan Jackson (LB) — ir08/19
  • Injured ReserveChris Collier (RB) — Collier (undisclosed) reverted to injured reserve with the Raiders on Sunday, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.08/02
Houston Texans
Houston Texans
(10)
  • DoubtfulJayden Higgins (WR) — Higgins was diagnosed Wednesday with an ACL tear, which would rule him out for the 2026 season, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.08/19
  • QuestionableJaylin Noel (WR) — With Jayden Higgins having reportedly suffered a torn ACL, Noel (hamstring/finger) is a candidate to see added work in Houston's offense this coming season, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.08/19
  • QuestionableCollin Wright (CB)
  • QuestionableJa'Marcus Ingram (CB)
  • QuestionableBrevin Jordan (TE)
  • QuestionableJawhar Jordan (RB)
  • QuestionableBritish Brooks (RB)
  • QuestionableTank Dell (WR) — Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he's unsure if Dell (knee) will play during the Texans' preseason slate, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "With Tank, he's on his own plan," Ryans noted. "Whatever that entails, geared toward what's best for Tank Dell."08/17
  • Injured ReserveJosh Pitsenberger (RB) — ir08/19
  • Injured ReserveGraham Mertz (QB) — ir08/19

None of it played out under bad conditions — Reliant Stadium's a dome, so the 95-degree Houston afternoon never factored in. What did factor in was who stayed on the field longer. Vegas' plan to run Cousins deep into the game and hand off to Mendoza for the second half meant more continuity than Houston got from its constantly-rotating QB room, and it showed up on the scoreboard.

Sources

NFLLas Vegas RaidersHouston TexansPolymarketKalshi
Raiders Outlast Texans 22-20 In Preseason Finale Tilt | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush