Stock Watch – Wild Card Edition: Oakland Raiders at Houston Texans

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook (8) is chased out of the pocket by Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the fourth quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Connor Cook (8) is chased out of the pocket by Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the fourth quarter in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) is tackled by Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes (18) is tackled by Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

A weekly series recapping three players on the Oakland Raiders whose stock is on the rise after playing well, and three players whose stock has taken a hit after a poor performance.

It’s over. The clock struck 0:00 at NRG Stadium in Houston Saturday, pulling the cord on a seemingly magical Oakland Raiders season that simply turned sour. It started with the gift of coal on Christmas Eve, in the form of season-ending injury to star quarterback Derek Carr. But with the loss of Carr, the fight in the Raiders suddenly disappeared.

Oakland’s 27-14 loss to the Texans serves as icing on the cake, showcasing a demoralized team, playing hopelessly without their leader.

Nevertheless, several players pounced on the opportunity, while others looked like fish out of water. On the Raiders biggest stage in nearly two decades, some shined, and other’s didn’t.

Here are three players who stepped up, and three players who had it rough in Wild Card Play.

Schedule