In Saturday's 27-14 win over Oakland, Whitney Mercilus recorded two sacks on rookie Connor Cook, becoming the first player in franchise history to have multiple sacks in back-to-back playoff games.
"I did it last year, I did it this year and just continued that on, that's it," Mercilus said. "Just being able to read my keys, studying, preparing all week long and just being able to go out there and play fast without thinking."
Mercilus brought down Cook twice in the third quarter of the AFC Wild Card game for a loss of six and 10 yards, respectively. The fifth-year outside linebacker also notched three tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, and tied for second on the team with seven tackles.
"They've had a good defense all year," Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. "The front was really what generates a lot of pressure. So yeah, Mercilus played well. We knew he'd be a factor coming in, somebody would have to deal with him."
Mercilus has sacked the opposing quarterback five times in the last two playoff games, tying J.J. Watt and Brooks Reed for the most career sacks in Texans postseason history. With six career tackles for loss, Mercilus ranks second in Texans postseason history behind only Watt (7).
With the win, Houston advances to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs next weekend. The Texans will have to wait for the conclusion of Sunday's game between Pittsburgh and Miami to find out who they play next. If Pittsburgh wins, Houston will head to New England to face the Patriots. If the Dolphins upset the Steelers, the Texans will play the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Check out the best photos of the Houston Texans as they take on the Raiders at NRG Stadium.
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ged9hrvzmvrlsjxmx9i3.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/lc5nrttgzc1txfgph7wv.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/tsuljsaoyekiksamipm1.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/bidkiy1chafb8rg8eroh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ssw3k1amhuybcx23xlrd.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/nqm6oyitlgorrlludjvh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/npffqezkuyv1dj7uohfp.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/xc4mnirpmmus2gphl9fh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/jagkqsy5rhyhnrc7bqwm.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/tpexumkisttrjwwfzgcs.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/dma11lj2zptexlwtilwq.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/eglazyz9kn7g8jkkcogi.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/adr3ugv3uzzeb7ezxmgw.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/rs6ntchf0sudedystvdn.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/phj47qnd0kjtbhs7f1gd.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/uyoso91jktjsjr6oxcom.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/gndzrquviytf5ekudprl.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/t1jxubrgr6ph11jcaxun.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/lt0iq2ruqzio2cpxj6po.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/f92cb5ucirhhkw2f8jjo.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/s5npcvxsxwe6q5vme7lg.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/qvg3in6ao11sxadq8ikw.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/bwgpvoeqs2fghfevkyjb.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wldkbdmosnmiobe4voov.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/th1adoaqblhfp8kfgxq8.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/nxsljq9ry0kuuffstlwk.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/injyqwemambhehipkwnj.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ita8bvkzoaxle9wa3e7b.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/cpg6rhs8zh8vuvokqzsf.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/qpm7udocmqibkj6x7n0k.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/difdf4xhqagltjpbdkkl.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/imncqeijvoiwktplh1dc.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/nko09adk0xxhui33v1aq.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/kefmnjejzzztv4qlafnn.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/dfxdcbbvij2uiypaxldh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wl2ikj0f4naqmgvqfvws.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/yhe6vsqfjzhapuafrebb.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/fopieo1trijn9vhsvgrr.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/uokc8og6drq3vvtc15je.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ykkdb4thfjawichcpcif.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ijvt5yibbtbib7ll6m6q.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/b8sruq8pr3fdn28d7mwo.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/zkbfoctpx18ewo250cta.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/joiozhnalgdcpptmdjgc.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/narak5ymsk4ci3p6gvkf.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/fxjncnqfske73mpq9s7p.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/eaxog0kgj87dnmzmwido.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/uvnkz5bfjwvsovgcjivf.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/piscnnmfdngshdvyepcs.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/vkzisxvlbq8jhebqhwrv.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/t6jxo3ayauhzmvq4zpsk.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/vx8cxnsvsu2gqlxndyry.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/w8dogbvcpmvedemosf9j.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/kxfpi7fbamnagvdfgifd.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/yfoskzfvzvtg006zlfev.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ou472loyr3xccf213bhe.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/soykxnzmz7cqsmuv6sph.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/cqywih218a0otxwf5ieo.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/iefomout0w5fcqsushzu.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/puauitr8xvwe9apxlnsh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/kks0aubgpjvqenbunjwu.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/shtg8izzfq1fyljiylyn.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/rrixwsamkrkrducqlyhy.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/yd7xcrxlqrhshudvqmpg.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/tfw4vuhiibhiepjmliam.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/akymutelecgli7davl7z.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/cttzavxqvok3ivyox2k0.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/sehg5ghg59bgf3jrkymp.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/xigq6l0k7jj67onb5xhq.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/przc1y1mwhplh5lcgjhy.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/guohv71nc9xhxme5i4a5.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/p5q8sajpim4topvfzdoa.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ggr5hcwmhgwjxgi7rnh2.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/tdphzykyqodrx6t9dana.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/cuz8tlzcllm9hooyfxtf.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/pygkq8e1hxl80lfcvmcu.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/lec02o9nm0jzhxnzqn32.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/f3y4kacaps8oyj8nsier.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wqav8k4haub7pqqiby22.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/kr82vnq07gaodvrpxs5k.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/qbdahfofnhhcuxgv3mll.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/ak1ikievqhb4hzk8rheq.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/sdgbhkmyg7hzbkgrek33.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/yvimxwkdafuqa6lx4gim.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/whjxfmtu94kkaavzzdqi.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/g0oxfa7wsf36zwoxrsac.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/jtdef5gft9ykuldqngyu.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/zmw4fwqtheafudpvpfpi.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/pvuzzuml7spn6svjtf4z.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/jwdbbbanxanrfv0lvgue.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/zv1asnkqvbnatwuzmnyx.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/pqtzluwzsndccxkqcx3m.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/olg7grn5fcacaahjixpv.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/nwuiul7uyv6w64bp4gam.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/db8ekj7w84fwhpz3isgx.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wowgxomygreyc3vz0exa.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/vccivl7krllfotijdids.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/rnccmjjfonldkd4j2ixn.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/fioquykr3ndpyvgyu2zb.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wla9rsgarwlpewimwmyi.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/xrugctz3cdo7ed496kcy.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/wlwaqjhxyoylm3nue26b.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/zbjmyunpbuutzlrcoayc.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/pwejjrozvq4nbiy2wvns.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/h5uwcfowymzpnzryqm8a.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/jew6i5jzef2qqwkoas0i.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/joruvqaxrx7qiim4pwrc.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/xre7fyojbnbf8irwkbnh.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/g9zilfeyehzxi2qhhopn.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/u7oco3ftrmxexqxnjhmz.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/omvsnh7imzacizc4kzcd.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/cwb8iiwiwtifvr2somk0.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/bkvfw7kel2omafhpiuck.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/qk8u3xlanmzdo9olupv1.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/sjiuyylfvygfqvd3owma.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/w5ustziyzbiyplebaz9q.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/uccdcn4b29nyidrjrbqb.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/hmi1hd5sfuuuni3ihxok.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/jguajjokl6rxkbguug4o.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/texans/extb0tguq3ib6nhlu2ga.jpg)