Deshaun Watson leads Texans’ comeback 27-24 over Raiders

Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for three touchdowns to mount a successful fourth quarterback comeback to lead the Houston Texans past the Oakland Raiders 27-24 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

Watson completed 27-of-39 for 279 yards and also scrambled 10 times for 46 yards. On the game-winning drive, his second of the season, Watson connected with tight end Darren Fells for a 9-yard touchdown with 6:34 left in the ballgame.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr also threw three touchdowns on the day as he completed 18-of-30 for 285 yards. The Texans defense did not sack him, but the Raiders defense managed to drop Carr’s counterpart, Watson, three times for a loss of 21 yards.

Houston receiver DeAndre Hopkins had a game-high 11 catches for 109 yards. Fells’ two receiving touchdowns are part of a new single-season high in touchdown catches with five.

The Texans produced 29 first downs and limited the Raiders’ to 15. Houston out-gained Oakland 388 to 378. The Texans were 3-of-5 in the red zone and 6-of-14 on third downs.

Houston had to overcome significant injuries on defense. Late in the second quarter on the Raiders’ penultimate drive of the first half, defensive end J.J. Watt sustained a shoulder injury that forced him to leave the game.

On the same play, rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson, who saw a majority of the snaps due to injuries to front line starting cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby, left the game with a concussion.

The Raiders fall to 3-4 on the season and will take on the Detroit Lions at home, the first of a three-game home stand.

Houston improves to 5-3 on the year and will head to London to complete their season series with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the last game before their bye week.

Summary

Deshaun Watson notched his second fourth quarter comeback on the season as the Houston Texans scored 17 second half points to beat the Oakland Raiders 27-24.