The Pittsburgh Steelers converted 60 percent (6 of 10) of third-down conversions in the season opener and scored five touchdowns. Over the course of their first four games, the Texans allowed opponents to convert almost 50 percent (17-of-35) of their third-down attempts.

A much different defense is preparing to play against Oakland Sunday though.

The Texans' final four opponents have combined to score a total of just five touchdowns against the Texans. And over that same time span, the defense has allowed opponents to convert just 20.9 percent (9-of-43) of third-down conversions.

"Well, our corners have played very good in the last month," coach Gary Kubiak said. "They are breaking up passes, breaking on the ball. I think we've done an excellent job with that. I think we've made people get rid of the ball pretty quick, even though the sack numbers aren't up. But we have made guys get rid of the football and we've gotten some teams in some longer yardage situations, more-so than we did earlier in the season."

The Texans cornerbacks have been excelling in what they describe as much more aggressive play-calling by defensive coordinator Richard Smith ever since Dunta Robinson returned to the lineup.

Instead of playing as much as zone defense as they did early in the season, the Texans have put their cornerbacks in more man coverage -- a style that seems to best suit Robinson, Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett.

"That's what I love to do -- play man," Bennett said. "That's what I want to do. We're out there on an island a lot more now. Of course when we got Dunta back, it allowed us to do a lot of different things. Our defensive coordinator is putting us in a lot of man, and guys on the edge are making plays."

It's that style that Robinson said has bothered receivers in recent weeks. The Green Bay Packers and Tennessee Titans had the most difficult time against the defense, converting just three of 23 third downs in the past two weeks.

"We're just getting us up in receivers' faces," Robinson said. "Receivers don't like when you play bump and run on them. You can really disrupt guys like that. We're coming down and pressing them and we're letting guys go get the quarterback, making the quarterbacks feel uncomfortable."

Coupled with the defense's 11 turnovers, their stops on third downs have been critical during the four-game winning streak.

"All those wins (on third downs) are punts basically," Kubiak said. "Every time you win on third downs, you're getting the football back, so that's obviously going to help you."

Continuing that success will be important for the Texans this weekend.

"(The Raiders) have a lot of talent," Kubiak said. "They have a young quarterback. You know, anytime you're trying to bring up a young quarterback those are pains you go through. But they have a ton of ability. Two of the teams they've beaten are leading their divisions: Denver and the Jets. They do things that give us problems. They are excellent against the pass and they run the ball very well and they have two great returners. So, I know I'm saying the same things, but if we don't play the same way we've been playing then we'll have trouble beating them."

SERIES HISTORY: 4th meeting. Texans lead series, 3-0. This will be the third consecutive meeting in the series held in Oakland. The Texans' average margin of victory in the last three games has been by 9.7 points.