Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell Sent Message Against Texans

The Raiders gave O'Connell the second half to work the team out of a 17-point deficit. The veteran quarterback went to work, taking advantage of a turnover that Las Vegas' defense forced in the Texans' territory about halfway through the third quarter. O'Connell did exactly what was needed.

Notably, O'Connell connected on a 14-yard pass on third down to move the ball to the Texans' four-yard line. The Raiders would score one play later, bringing the score to 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Still needing multiple scores to win, O'Connell kept making the most of his opportunity.

O'Connell Deserves His Flowers

During the fourth quarter, Las Vegas combined solid playcalling with equally impressive execution. O'Connell guided the Raiders on a 12-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that included multiple completions of 10-yards or more and even more big runs by the Raiders' group of running backs.

The Raiders missed the extra point, leaving the score at 20-16 and forcing them to score a touchdown to win. With a field goal out of the question, O'Connell put together one respectable drive after another. Helping matters, Las Vegas played complementary football down the stretch.

The Raiders defense got the ball back to O'Connell and the offense with less than two minutes left on the game clock, but no timeouts remaining. O'Connell led the Raiders on a game-winning, eight-play, 96-yard touchdown drive filled with the type of throws everyone has been waiting to see from him.

It was only a preseason game, and the starters did not play, but neither of those things takes away from O'Connell leading the Raiders to a 19-point comeback win. That preseason win was just as good, if not better than, any of the four wins Las Vegas had during the 2025 regular season.

O'Connell's Constant Uphill Battle

Thursday night's comeback win confirmed O'Connell's growth and value to those who may have doubted it. However, it also raises questions about what he could do if he were set up and prepared like a starter, rather than a reserve player. This leads to further questions about his future.

Las Vegas is all in on Fernando Mendoza, and rightfully so. However, as he enters his fourth regular season in the league, O'Connell is now on his fourth coaching staff. The comeback win on Thursday makes it fair to wonder how good he could be in the right situation.

O'Connell has played with bad rosters, bad coaches, and one of the worst overall situations for a quarterback in the National Football League. That cannot be argued. O'Connell is the team's backup quarterback, but Thursday confirmed he has potential beyond that.

Considering the situations he has helped the Raiders navigate, his overall growth must be acknowledged just as readily as his shortcomings are. The same doubters who are vocal when he makes mistakes should be vocal when he leads a 19-point comeback win, even in the preseason.

For the first time in a long time, the Raiders appear to be set at the quarterback position. O'Connell is a major part of that. Although Las Vegas is confident in Kirk Cousins, his ability to stay healthy remains to be seen.

Las Vegas could need O'Connell at some point this season in either a reserve role or a starting role. He might be the best third-string quarterback in the league. Like every fourth-year quarterback, O'Connell still has room for additional growth, but he has already shown plenty of it.

He needs more development and more opportunities with Las Vegas' starters, but O'Connell has taken a noticeable step forward this offseason.