MEXICO CITY -- Derek Carr made more big plays for Oakland, questionable calls by the officials peeved the Texans and an unexpected laser show from the stands took both teams off guard.The NFLs second regular season game in Mexico City featured a little bit of everything.Carr threw two of his three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and the Raiders capitalized on two disputed spots that thwarted a potential scoring drive for Houston to beat the Texans 27-20 on Monday night.It wasnt maybe one of our cleaner games in terms of execution but we showed tremendous grit, coach Jack Del Rio said. We got an opportunity late in the game to seize control and we did.The Raiders (8-2) got a little help as well on the way to their first four-game winning streak since their last playoff season in 2002. The most notable breaks came midway through the fourth quarter when the Texans (6-4) were driving for a potential go-ahead score after Oakland had tied the game on Carrs 75-yard pass to Jamize Olawale .On a third-and-2 from the Oakland 16, Lamar Miller ran wide and appeared to get the first down before being tackled by Malcolm Smith. But the officials spotted it short of the marker and coach Bill OBrien opted not to challenge.OBrien then went for it on fourth-and-inches instead of kicking the go-ahead field goal. Akeem Hunt ran up the middle and the Texans thought he got the first down, only to have it marked about an inch short . OBrien challenged this time but with no clear angle, the play was not overturned.I felt like we needed a touchdown there and obviously we did, OBrien said. And so we went for it. Thought we had it, looked like it was clear that we had it, so I challenged it and they said we didnt have it. They said the call on the field stands, so I dont know.Five plays later, Carr connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper that gave the Raiders (8-2) a 27-20 lead and sent them to their fourth straight win.The most memorable image of the NFLs first game in Mexico City since 2005 might have been the green laser that frequently shined in Houston quarterback Brock Osweilers direction as a potential distraction used more commonly in soccer games here.I never want to say one things a difference maker, but certainly having a laser zoomed in your eyeball definitely affects how you play a game, Osweiler said.Here are some other things to take away from the Raiders win:CARRS NIGHT: Carr turned a lackluster night into a special one with his big fourth quarter. He finished 21 of 31 for 295 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Just like he did in comeback wins over New Orleans, Baltimore and Tampa Bay, he was at his best in the fourth quarter.Having that trigger man who can make those kinds of plays is everything, Del Rio said. He did a great job tonight staying poised. To me thats one of the keys, the poise hes playing with is kind of unflappable.CLOSE CALL: The Texans nearly scored a touchdown on their opening drive when DeAndre Hopkins took a short pass from Osweiler and ran into the end zone. But officials ruled he stepped out at the Oakland 36 after a gain of 24. The Texans were unable to challenge the play because it was blown dead.FAVORITE TARGET: Theres something about facing Osweiler that brings out the best in Mack. After sacking Osweiler five times last year in Denver, Mack brought him down again on the final play of the first half. That gives Mack sacks in five straight games.TOUCHDOWN FIRSTS: The teams traded touchdowns in the first half with a pair of rookies getting their first scoring receptions in their career. Oaklands Jalen Richard struck first when he took a third-down slant from Carr and ran over two defenders for a 17-yard score . Houstons Braxton Miller answered when he juked David Amerson with a nifty move for a 12-yard score that tied the game at 10.WHATS NEXT: Both teams have a short week coming up with the Texans hosting San Diego and the Raiders hosting Carolina on Sunday. Both teams hold a one-game lead in the division race and have little margin for error.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Shoes Canada For Sale . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Clearance New Balance Canada Shoes . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. http://www.clearancenewbalancecanada.com/ . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Wholesale New Balance Canada Fast Shipping . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. Discount New Balance Canada . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. EVANSTON, Ill. -- There is at least one big question hanging over Northwestern coming off a rebound season.Can the Wildcats sustain it?Northwestern used a dominant defense to carry a struggling offense on the way to a 10-3 record last season.While the Wildcats re-established themselves as a threat in the Big Ten after going 5-7 each of the previous two years, there was certainly room for improvement. After all, the offense finished last in the conference in scoring and yards per game. Good thing for Northwestern, the defense came up big -- particularly linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.Hes back, and the Wildcats want to show that they are, too.They come into their 11th season under coach Pat Fitzgerald eyeing another big run like the one that led to bowl games five straight years before the recent struggles.Here are some things to look for this season:ITS A BIRD! ... ITS A PLANE!Its The Franchise, Anthony Walker Jr.The star linebacker coming off a breakout sophomore season is at the center of a promotional blitz the likes of which Northwestern has not launched since touting quarterback Dan Persa as a Heisman Trophy candidate five years ago.The Franchise campaign plays off the nickname teammates gave Walker. It also adds in a superhero twist complete with a logo, comic strip and lunch box as well as videos -- one featuring coach Pat Fitzgerald in a so-called news report about his powers.It all comes on the heels of a season that saw Walker lead the Wildcats in tackles (122) by more than 30, finish fourth in the nation with 20 1/2 tackles for loss and earn third-team, All-America honors.You definitely have to be humble with it and know what got you there, Walker said. Its a blessing. Everything happens for a reason. I love it.CLOSE LOOKNorthwestern went 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less, including a 30-28 victory at Nebraska and a 13-7 win at Wisconsin.Credit the Wildcats for pulling out tight victories. The narrow margin also underscores just how thin that line between 10 wins and a .500 record or even a losing mark was for them. And when then they lost, did they ever do it in grand style.They got blasted at Michigan 38-0 and dominated at home by Iowa 40-10 the following week.dddddddddddd And they wrapped up the season by getting pounded 45-6 by Tennessee in the Outback Bowl.When you talk about motivation in the offseason you dont have to look any further than those three games and a lot of specifics that well talk about internally in areas that we need to improve on in all three phases for us to win those games, Fitzgerald said.ARMED AND READY?Whether Northwestern builds on a big season could hinge on its ability to score more points, and that begins with the man behind center.Quarterback Clayton Thorson did not have to carry a heavy load last year. But now that he has a season behind him, things could change. His development could go a long way toward determining how successful the Wildcats are this season.GROUND GAINSAnother big key for the Wildcats will be Justin Jackson. He comes into his junior season as the Big Tens top returning rusher after finishing second to Ohio States Ezekiel Elliott last season with 1,418 yards. As impressive as that sounds, there was plenty of room for improvement.He shouldered a huge load with 312 attempts but averaged 4.5 yards per carry and ran for five touchdowns. In the losses to Michigan and Iowa, Jackson combined to run for 55 yards.I feel like when were able to run the ball, our team is successful, Jackson said. It takes some pressure off the passing game, some pressure off our defense -- it gives them a rest. In those games, that didnt happen.ABOUT THAT `DWhile Walker returns, the defense will be missing four starters from last season. Defensive ends Deonte Gibson and Dean Lowry, cornerback Nick VanHoose and safety Traveon Henry all played important roles. The Wildcats are counting on Ifeadi Odenigbo (15 career sacks) and Xavier Washington to take over for Gibson and Lowry.SEASON OPENERThe Wildcats open at home against Western Michigan on Sept. 3. The Broncos are one of the better teams in the MAC, coming off an 8-5 season capped by its first bowl win (45-31 over Middle Tennessee State in the Bahamas). ' ' '