What the Raiders' Second Half vs. Texans Revealed

Las Vegas' coaching staff decided against playing their starters on either side of the ball, allowing them a chance to see their reserve players against a different team. The Raiders' newfound depth in some areas and their remaining lack of depth in others were on full display against the Texans.

So was the need for further development, which is the purpose of training camp and the preseason. Thursday night's game against the Texans was part of the development plan Las Vegas' coaching staff has for every level of the depth chart, as they look to improve more than just their starters.

The Raiders did not play their starters against Houston, but visions of the future still played out in real time. If it were up to Las Vegas' front office and coaching staff, several things that happened against the Texans would be part of their identity moving forward.

It will just look different as the starters will be on the field.

Offensive Revelations

Las Vegas won the game but did not get going offensively until the second half. Those are the types of starts Klint Kubiak and the Raiders hope to have few of in 2026. However, slow starts are sure to happen at some point or another during a 17-game regular season.

Big first-half deficits can happen too, off of one bad play, just like it did on Thursday night. Las Vegas eventually responded to the slow start and Fernando Mendoza's interception, which was returned for a touchdown, winning the game in impressive fashion.

The win revealed that, at its core, Las Vegas' offense has the play-calling and talent to sustain extended offensive drives. If they can do it with their reserves, they should be able to do it with their starters.

The preseason win confirmed that when the unit is rolling on all cylinders, it has the potential to go on 19-0 runs, as they did in the second half. The way the Raiders' reserves performed against the Texans in the second half would have been unfathomable last season, even for last season's starters.

Ideally, the Raiders would like the offense to start games the way they ended against the Texans, but after all Las Vegas' offense has been through in the past three seasons, baby steps, such as a preseason comeback win, will certainly suffice with weeks remaining before Week 1.

Defensive Revelations

The Raiders' reserves showed up big time on defense, hanging around just long enough to make multiple plays that swung momentum into Las Vegas' favor. Las Vegas' defensive rebuild will depend on its depth much more than on the Raiders' offense.

Thursday night's win was made possible by timely stops and turnovers forced by Las Vegas' reserve defenders. Las Vegas' defense forced two turnovers and nearly forced a third, as they forced two fumbles but only recovered one. Las Vegas' defense also sealed the game with an interception.

Las Vegas' defense has a long way to go, even more so than the offense. However, Thursday was exactly what defensive coordinator Rob Leonard and the Raiders coaching staff have in mind. Eliminating the run, forcing teams to throw, then pressuring the quarterback into mistakes.

Again, the starters were not on the field, but the reserves offered a sense of what the Raiders' coaching staff has in mind for the 2026 season and beyond. If Leonard's defense can overcome their own mistakes and the offense's mistakes, that is progress in itself.

Team Revelations

Complementary football is the name of the game, and it is something the Raiders have rarely played over the past three seasons. They did so Thursday night. If they can continue doing so, their rebuild may be ahead of schedule.

It is also worth noting that the Raiders won ugly. Few things went right, and they still battled back and won. It is only the preseason, but after seven wins combined in the past two seasons, progress is progress.