The Las Vegas Raiders looked headed for a long night in Houston before a second-half comeback turned their preseason matchup with the Texans into a dramatic 22-20 victory.
Las Vegas went into halftime trailing 20-3 after rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza endured a difficult opening half. The No. 1 overall draft pick completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards, but an interception returned for a Houston touchdown helped put the Raiders in a sizable hole.
With veteran Kirk Cousins sitting out, the Raiders eventually turned to Aidan O’Connell, and the backup quarterback made the most of his opportunity.
O’Connell completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards and helped Las Vegas erase the 17-point halftime deficit. His biggest contribution came with the game on the line, when he directed the Raiders on a 96-yard drive before scoring on a 1-yard run with only 14 seconds remaining.
The late touchdown completed an impressive turnaround for a Las Vegas offense that ultimately outgained Houston 400-219.
The Texans had plenty of encouraging moments despite watching their lead disappear. Starting quarterback C.J. Stroud completed four of his six passes, while rookie running back Woody Marks broke loose for a 20-yard touchdown. Rookie defender Wade Woodaz also provided an early highlight by returning a Mendoza interception for a score.
For the Raiders, however, the night became another example of why preseason football is about more than the final score. Mendoza experienced some of the growing pains that come with being a rookie quarterback, while O’Connell provided a reminder of the value of experienced depth.
Elsewhere, the San Francisco 49ers had considerably less trouble putting away the Los Angeles Chargers.
San Francisco cruised to a 41-17 victory behind contributions from multiple phases of the roster. Jacob Cowing supplied one of the night’s most explosive moments with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown, and Sincere McCormick paced the 49ers’ rushing attack with 53 yards and a score.
The Chargers used three quarterbacks during the game, with Trey Lance contributing through the air and on the ground. Lance passed for 73 yards and rushed for another 42.
Neither San Francisco nor Los Angeles asked much of its starting quarterback, with both starters limited to one series as the teams continued evaluating their rosters ahead of the regular season.
For the Raiders, Texans, 49ers and Chargers, the results will soon become secondary to the decisions awaiting their coaching staffs. But Thursday night’s games still delivered plenty to examine, from a rookie quarterback’s rough outing to a backup’s last-minute comeback and a special-teams touchdown that helped San Francisco turn its game into a rout.
