The Houston Texans are putting the finishing touches on a preseason beatdown of the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, building a 20-3 lead by the third quarter behind a dominant defensive performance and a red-hot Woody Marks. The story of the night, though, belongs to Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who threw a pick-six on just his second series and has struggled to find any rhythm since.
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick out of Indiana, entered his second career preseason start looking to build on a modest debut. Instead, he watched rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz jump an early route and return it 80 yards for a touchdown, doubling Houston’s lead before the first quarter had even ended. Mendoza finished the night having completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown across four series, but the turnover and a second-quarter sack by fellow rookie Kayden McDonald overshadowed any positive flashes.
Marks and the Texans’ Backfield Battle Take Center Stage
Houston struck first on offense, and it didn’t take long. With C.J. Stroud getting a limited look before giving way to the backups, running back Woody Marks put together the signature drive of his preseason, breaking off a 20-yard touchdown run to cap a possession that saw him rack up 37 yards on just four carries. It was Marks’ first truly explosive run of the summer, and it reinforced why he has been one of the more talked-about names in Houston’s training camp battles this month.
Quarterback Davis Mills took over for Stroud and turned in a clean, efficient half, completing 11 of 15 passes for 93 yards without forcing anything into coverage. Tight end Marlin Klein continued to make a case for a bigger role in the passing game, hauling in three catches for 31 yards to remain Houston’s leading receiver for the second straight week. Sixth-round pick Lewis Bond also flashed, moving the chains on third down before a negated gain kept his final line modest. If you’re tracking value on Houston’s regular-season win total or player props as this roster takes shape, checking the latest NFL odds is a good way to see how sportsbooks are reacting to camp performances like these.
Mendoza’s Rough Night and the Raiders’ Bubble Battles
For Las Vegas, the concern isn’t just the scoreboard — it’s the shakiness from the quarterback the franchise is building around. Mendoza did convert a handful of first downs, including a completion to rookie wide receiver Malik Benson, and the Raiders’ offense eventually found a rhythm against Houston’s second-team defense late in the half. But a missed 47-yard field goal from Matt Gay compounded the turnover trouble, and Las Vegas managed just three points through three quarters against a Texans defense that rested most of its starters.
Houston’s defensive rookies were the headline act on that side of the ball. Second-round pick Kayden McDonald bulldozed through the offensive line to sack Mendoza, while Woodaz’s pick-six gave the Texans’ rebuilding secondary a signature early-camp moment. For a Raiders team still sorting out roster spots behind Mendoza, performances from bubble players like Benson and running back Mike Washington will matter just as much as the final score when final cuts approach.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Thursday’s game is the second of three preseason contests for both clubs. Houston opened its exhibition slate with a 27-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and was missing several key starters again on Thursday, including Nico Collins, David Montgomery, and Dalton Schultz, while dealing with the season-ending ACL injury to second-year receiver Jayden Higgins. Despite the shorthanded lineup, DeMeco Ryans’ club has now built double-digit leads in back-to-back weeks. The Texans close out their preseason slate on the road against the Carolina Panthers next Friday.
For the Raiders, the next two weeks will be about stabilizing the offense around Mendoza before Week 1 of the regular season arrives. Fans planning to catch that opener in person can browse listings through GameTime as ticket prices settle once final rosters are set. With one more preseason outing left, both coaching staffs will be searching game film from Thursday night for answers — Houston to build on its momentum, and Las Vegas to figure out how to protect its most important rookie investment.
