When the open up postseason play on Saturday in Houston, they'll be doing something that no other team in history has ever done: playing a rookie quarterback who's making his first career start. NFL playoffs After , Raiders coach Jack Del Rio confirmed on Wednesday that will be the team's starting quarterback against the
Justin Fields Jersey . When Cook takes the field, he'll become the first rookie in NFL history to have his first career start come in the playoffs. Cook, who taken by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2016 , spent the entire season on the bench before being called into action during Oakland's
Damien Williams Jersey 24-6 lo s to the in Week 17. As the third-string quarterback going into the season, the thought of Cook starting in the playoffs seemed almost impo sible just three weeks ago, but everything changed after broke the in Week 16. After Carr's injury, the Raiders gave the starting job to , who only lasted one-and-a-half quarters before being knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury in Denver. That set the stage for Cook to start on Saturday. During his only action of the season against the Broncos, Cook threw for 150 yards and a touchdown, along with one interception. Despite those mediocre numbers, Del Rio . "Connor has done a nice job. He's
Alec Ogletree Jersey done a nice job all year with the work he gets and the attention to detail," Del Rio said, via the . "I think he's really matured, become more comfortable in what we're asking him to do. The ball comes out of his hand nice. I think all the signs are real positive for Connor as we go forward. Even though the Raiders will be starting a rookie quarterback in Houston, all hope isn't lost in Oakland's locker room. Raiders wide receiver says he likes what he's seen from Cook so far. "I was impre sed," Crabtree said. "His composure, the way he was playing, he was smooth out there. For the first time to be out there
Jeremiah Attaochu Jersey , in a crucial situation, that's big." Cook will be the first rookie to start a playoff game since the trio of , and all started during the 2012 season. Rookie quarterbacks have struggled in the playoffs recently, going just 2-5 since 2011. However, it should pointed out that both of those wins came in games where two rookies were playing each other, so someone had to win. The last time a rookie beat a
Jaylon Johnson Jersey team led by a non-rookie in the postseason came in 2009, when led the to the AFC title game. Overall, rookie quarterbacks are 7-9 in the postseason since 2004. The game against the Texans will mark Cook's first start since Dec. 31, 2015, when he was 's quarterback during a 38-0 lo s to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. The upside for the Raiders is that the Texans will be starting , who might not look much better than Cook on Saturday.