Both the 4-3 Houston Texans and 3-3 Oakland Raiders will roll into Sunday’s Week 8 tilt at NRG Stadium with something to prove. Each is coming off of an away loss, yet remain in contention to win their respective AFC division.
The Texans are 6.5-point favorites to get the win in Houston. If they want to make those odds-makers in Las Vegas look good, three players, in particular, will need to step up.
1. OLB Whitney Mercilus
Whitney Mercilus got off to the fastest start imaginable in the first quarter of the season. Through four games, the outside linebacker looked the part of a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, posting four sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and six quarterback hits.
Since then, Mercilus hasn’t been the game-changer Houston got accustomed to. In the last three weeks, the 29-year-old has half a sack, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hits.
Houston will need to generate pressure against Oakland. Many teams haven’t been able to do so, as Derek Carr has taken just eight sacks on the year. With all of the Raiders’ linemen healthy, the blocking is expected to be outstanding. Mercilus needs to step up; if not, J.J. Watt and D.J. Reader may be stuck doing the brunt of the work.
2. WR Kenny Stills
Will Fuller, out (with a hamstring injury). Kenny Stills, in (as his replacement).
The Texans took out an insurance policy in case of a Fuller injury by bringing Stills in during the famed Laremy Tunsil trade on cut-down day. Through five games, his production looks more of the part of a starter, as he has tallied 15 receptions for 293 yards and a touchdown.
Now, Stills will insert as the starter. His speed, size and strong connection with Deshaun Watson should prove to be valuable, nor will he restrict Bill O’Brien’s playbook. Sunday will tell if that is true.
Luckily, Stills will face a zone heavy defense that hasn’t done their job at a particularly high-level. Sunday’s match-up could be one to build upon.
3. CB Gareon Conley
After arguably the worst game of his young career, the Raiders traded cornerback Gareon Conley to Houston, six days before playing the Texans, in Houston. They traded him for a third-round selection, less three years after taking him in the first. Talk about disrespect.
Though Conley won’t say Sunday’s matchup is a revenge game — saying, “It’s just another game and I’ve got to get ready and prepared for it. I’m just ready to contribute to a win,” on Thursday — it certainly is.
Conley will get to prove to the Raiders that he is better off without him. Or, the Raiders will know his game too well and expose him.
Getting a win over his old team days after they traded him could be a change in momentum for Conley’s career arch. He has the opportunity to do so, being that he is slated to play and could thrive in his new man-heavy scheme. Only time will tell if he acts on it.
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