Las Vegas Raiders defeat Houston Texans 22-20 in preseason

The Las Vegas Raiders secured a 22-20 preseason victory over the Houston Texans, highlighted by a late comeback led by Aidan O'Connell. The game featured significant attention on Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, who played the entire first half, struggled with an 8-of-15 passing performance for 86 yards, including an 80-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz.

Despite the rookie's mistakes, Mendoza received mixed reactions, including praise from analyst Troy Aikman for his potential and lighthearted social media attention regarding his post-game interview with ESPN's Joe Buck. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has declined to officially name Kirk Cousins as the Week 1 starter, stating he does not want any player to feel too comfortable in their position.

On the Texans' side, the preseason has been marked by mixed results and injuries, including a suspected ACL tear for quarterback Graham Mertz. C.J. Stroud saw his first preseason action during the matchup, leading an early touchdown drive.