Before Oakland's Connor Cook on Saturday, no rookie quarterback had made his first NFL start in a playoff game during the league's Super Bowl era, which dates back 51 seasons. The Texans' showed why Saturday, although the Raiders didn't have much choice in deciding to go with their fourth-round draft pick, having lost both starter Derek Carr and backup Matt McGloin to late-season injuries.
Pro Bowl-bound defensive end Jadeveon Clowney deflected, then intercepted Cook's third pass of the game deep in Raiders territory on Oakland's second possession to set up Lamar Miller's 4-yard touchdown run and the Texans ultimately coasted to a 27-14 victory at NRG Stadium, advancing to the Division Round for the third time in the franchise's 15 seasons.