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Raiders Rally From 20-3 Halftime Deficit to Win

8/23/2026

Summary

Raiders Rally Past Texans

Raiders overcame a 20-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Houston Texans in a preseason game.
Johnson recorded a strip sack that led to a Raiders touchdown after a 39-yard recovery.
McCollum led the Raiders with seven tackles, six solo, and multiple tackles for loss.
Mendoza completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards, threw an interception returned for a touchdown, rating 42.6.

Summary

O'Connell Leads Rally

Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins tore his ACL, ending his 2026 season.
After the injury, Texans signed veteran wideout Sterling Shepard and former Raider Zay Jones.
Raiders third-string quarterback Aidan O’Connell led a comeback, improving his roster prospects.
Former Texans Dare Ogunbowale rushed 35 yards and scored a touchdown for the Raiders.

History

Historical Context

In 1993, the Buffalo Bills erased a 32-point halftime deficit to defeat the Houston Oilers 41-38 in a historic playoff comeback. Quarterback Frank Reich completed 19 of 33 passes for 210 yards, orchestrating three fourth-quarter touchdowns that secured the win. Similarly, the Raiders rallied from a 20-3 halftime deficit to beat the Texans in a 2026 preseason, while rookie Jayden Higgins tore his ACL. The comeback underscores the Raiders’ depth, prompting them to retain quarterback Aidan O’Connell and sign Sterling Shepard and Zay Jones to bolster the roster.

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Raiders Rally Past Texans

Raiders overcame a 20-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Houston Texans in a preseason game.
Johnson recorded a strip sack that led to a Raiders touchdown after a 39-yard recovery.
McCollum led the Raiders with seven tackles, six solo, and multiple tackles for loss.
Mendoza completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards, threw an interception returned for a touchdown, rating 42.6.

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