No. 7 back in action.
Head Coach Pete Carroll confirmed Friday that Geno Smith, who was a full participant in practice this week, will suit up against the Houston Texans after missing last Sunday's game.
Lingering back and shoulder injuries suffered in Week 14 forced Smith out of action for a week. In his stead, Kenny Pickett went 15-of-25 for 64 yards and an interception in the Raiders' 31-0 loss to the Eagles.
While the Raiders offense should benefit from Smith's return, the quarterback hasn't had an ideal season with the Silver and Black. He's thrown the second-most interceptions in the league and is tied with Cam Ward and Justin Herbert for taking the most sacks.
Houston, their defense is a problem
Unfortunately for a returning Smith and his offense, the Houston Texans are a well-oiled machine on defense.
Heading into Week 16, the Texans rank No. 1 in fewest points (228) and yards (3,769) allowed to opposing offenses. They also rank top 10 in the league in interceptions (16), quarterback sacks (38) and tackles for loss (73). The Texans' starting edge rushers, Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, are the only teammates in the NFL with double-digit sack totals. Houston also has three defensive backs with double-digit passes defensed – Kamari Lassiter, Jalen Pitre and All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
Meanwhile, the Raiders offense has scored the fewest points (196) and totaled the least yards (3,418) this season.
"They're good on all three levels," quarterbacks coach Greg Olson said of Houston's defense. "Really their D-line and linebackers and secondary are playing really, really well right now. So, it's not a surprise when you watch them on tape as to where they're at right now defensively and statistically across the board. They're good in a lot of areas."
Unlocking Jeanty
While the Texans defense has been dominant, Ashton Jeanty's usage could provide a path to neutralize them.
Since the Raiders' Week 8 bye week, the rookie running back has recorded 34 receptions on 44 targets for 180 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Per Next Gen Stats, his target rate has also increased from 17.9 percent to 25 percent since the bye week, with 294 yards after the catch (third-most among running backs) and 12 missed tackles on his receptions (most among running backs).
As for the Texans defense, they're tied for 11th-most missed tackles (85). Therefore, getting Jeanty the football in open space could be a beneficial strategy for the Raiders.
"He's very good when he gets out in the open field and has a chance to square up a defensive back in the back end," Olson said. "Whether he needs to make him miss or run him over, he can do both. So, we do like what we see when we get him in open field, and we like his toughness inside."
A look at Texans QB1
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has been playing some of best football as of late as the team tries to clinch a playoff berth.
The Pro Bowler had some struggles early in the season, which included missing three games of action while in concussion protocol. Since returning to the field in Week 13, he's led his team to three straight wins while throwing for 739 yards and four touchdowns.
"He is playing well," Pete Carroll said. "His pick numbers are way down. He's in great shape with moving around to make the pocket available and the movement available, and he scrambles to throw the football because he's really, really good at doing it. I think I probably mentioned earlier in the week, that was one of the factors I thought really jumped out in the year he came out with all those guys and that he was the best guy doing that, and he's still doing it."
It's also worth noting that Stroud has completed a career-high 66.5 percent of his pass attempts against zone this season, per NGS. The Raiders have deployed zone defense at the second-highest rate in the NFL (83.9 percent) while allowing the second-highest completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks (69.2 percent).
Bringing physicality back to Texas
The Raiders have two key defensive players lining up against their former team.
Linebacker Devin White and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. both had stints with the Texans. White, who's currently ranked second in the NFL with 149 total tackles, appeared in seven games with Houston last season.
Johnson was a second-round pick by the Texans in 2019, and recorded 13 pass deflections and three interceptions in his 44 games played there.
"It's going to be a physical game," Johnson said. "That's how they coach out there, and that's how we've been coached over here. We're going to see what happens. It's my former team, but it is what it is."
What's on the line?
The Texans will have some added motivation against the Raiders with postseason implications on the line.
The Texans, currently standing at 9-5, are one game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for first place in the AFC South. Currently hanging on to the seventh and final seed in the AFC, a win against the Raiders would give them a 97 percent chance of clinching a playoff berth. With a loss, that chance drops down 15 percent.
While the Raiders handed the Texans a 38-20 defeat in their last contest in 2022, the Texans have totaled at least 325 net yards in each of their last eight games against the Silver and Black.
As the Raiders get ready for their Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans, take a look at photos from their past matchups.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Doug Gabriel (85) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp (99) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Amos Zereoue (28) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins (5) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders tight end Courtney Anderson (83) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
The Oakland Raiders during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Amos Zereoue (28) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 3, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back ReShard Lee (42) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tackle Langston Walker (66) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks (2) lines up before the snap during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back ReShard Lee (42) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas (25) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks (2) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp (99), defensive tackle Tommy Kelly (93) and linebacker Kirk Morrison (52) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks (2) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back ReShard Lee (42) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
The Oakland Raiders during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at McAfee Coliseum, Sunday, December 3, 2006, in Oakland, Calif.
The Oakland Raiders during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Chaz Schilens (81) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Jon Alston (55) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins (15) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tackle Cornell Green (74) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson (37) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) and tackle Cornell Green (74) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas (25) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Jon Alston (55) with linebacker Jon Condo (59) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 4, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 4, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Justin Fargas (25) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 4, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell (2) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 4, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Jay Richardson (98) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, Sunday, October 4, 2009, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford (12) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Richard Seymour (92) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller (80) makes a 14-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins (15) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders running back Michael Bush (29) during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Sunday, October 3, 2010, in Oakland, Calif.
Oakland Raiders safety Mike Mitchell (34) and defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Bruce Davis II (58) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Quentin Groves (52) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Rock Cartwright (25) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Denarius Moore (17) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Taiwan Jones (22) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 9, 2011, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Kaelin Burnett (95) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) makes a 26-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Taiwan Jones (22) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin (14) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings (27) rushes for an 80-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King (7) during the regular season away game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) during the regular reason away game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca, Monday, November 21, 2016, in Mexico City, Mex.
Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) rushes for a 17-yard touchdown during the regular reason away game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca, Monday, November 21, 2016, in Mexico City, Mex.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Denico Autry (96) during the regular reason away game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca, Monday, November 21, 2016, in Mexico City, Mex.
Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) kicks a PAT during the regular reason away game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca, Monday, November 21, 2016, in Mexico City, Mex.
Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) during the regular reason away game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca, Monday, November 21, 2016, in Mexico City, Mex.
Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) during the Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Saturday, January 7, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Stacy McGee (92) during the Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Saturday, January 7, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) during the Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Saturday, January 7, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders tackle Darius Latham (75) during the Wild Card Playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Saturday, January 7, 2017, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Tyrell Williams (16) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, Sunday, October 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) punts during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) passes during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) makes a tackle during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) stiff arms the defender during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and center Andre James (68) line up before the snap during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Duron Harmon (30) makes a tackle during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) defends during the regular season home game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium, Sunday, October 23, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nev.
