Oakland quarterback Derek Carr woke up a struggling offence by throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead the Raiders to a 27-20 victory over Houston in Mexico.
Oakland had been held to 120 yards through three quarters with the running game going nowhere and Carr finding few open receivers downfield.
But that suddenly changed in the fourth quarter - with star receiver Amari Cooper lined up in the backfield, Carr found fullback Jamize Olawale open for a 75-yard catch and run that tied the score 20-20.
Then Oakland took advantage on two questionable spots by the officials to take over on downs at the 15-yard line and drove 85 yards in five plays to take the lead on a 35-yard pass to Cooper.
The result was a milestone for Oakland as they posted a fourth straight win for the first time in 14 years.
"We weren't doing things the way we usually want to do things executing wise," Carr said. "But there was no doubt in anybody's mind that we'd come back and win the football game."
The Texans were upset on two spots on the fourth-quarter drive before Oakland went ahead.
On third-and-2, Lamar Miller was stopped just short of the first down even though Houston believed he got it. Coach Bill O'Brien went for it on fourth down but Akeem Hunt was stopped about an inch short and the play stood after a replay challenge.
"Very tough loss," Texans defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney said. "We should have won the game, we are trying to win every game. You don't leave the game in the ref's hands."
It was the second NFL regular-season game played in Mexico, and the high elevation 7,380 feet above sea level played a factor.
The Raiders needed to use a timeout on defence at one point in the fourth to catch their breath and receiver Michael Crabtree was seen gasping for breath at one point.
"To be able to play here was amazing," Carr said. "There's so much history, so much rowdiness. I love soccer and it gave me a kind of soccer feel."
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