The Las Vegas Raiders are hosting the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Here is everything to need to know about the game:
First quarter
The Raiders won the coin toss, but deferred to the second half. Tennessee
got the ball and ran it three time and had to punt. The Raiders’ defense is excellent to start games. They have forced three-and outs in five of their first six games.
The Raiders went down the field on a long drive only to stall in the red zone (as usual). They lead 3-0 with 4:07 to go in the first quarter. Tennessee, according to the Associated Press, became the third NFL team this century, to allow points on the an opponent’s first possession of the game in the first six games of the season.
Second quarter:
Jonah Laulu had a nine-yard sack of Cam Ward to help force a Tennessee punt. Laulu has four sacks this season.
It appeared the Titans had a touchdown return on a Geno Smith fumble, but it was ruled his arm was moving forward on the third down, forcing a Raiders punt.
A.J. Cole looks healthy. He had a 47-yard punt with a lot of hang time. He suffered a low-ankle sprain last week and didn’t punt in practice until Friday.
The Titans’ offense couldn‘t do anything again. A short 25-yard Tennessee punt was followed by an 18-yard punt return by Alex Bachman, giving the Raiders the ball at their own 45. The Titans are 0-3 on third down.
The drive was nailed out by a Tennessee penalty (the Titans make a ton of mistakes) to keep the drive alive, but the Raiders ended up punting, anyway. The offensive line is getting beat and fans are booing the offense.
The Raiders finally got a timely turnover as Cam Ward was strip sacked by Devin White and Tyree Wilson recovered the ball at the Tennessee two-yard line. It setup a touchdown pass from Geno Smith to Michael Mayer to make it 10-0 with 4:44 t0 go in the half. It was Mayer’s first touchdown catch since 2023.
The Raiders are enjoying playing with a rare lead. A sack for Maxx Crosby, forcing another Titans punt. The Raiders have three sacks and the awful Titans are 1 of 6 on third down.
After getting a punt, the Titans’ offense showed some life for the first time all game. Like Smith earlier, a Ward fumble was changed to an incompletion.
But White followed up his strip sack with an interception to end the threat and end the half. The Titans have 81 yards of offense.
Raiders 10, Titans 0 at halftime.
Third quarter:
The Raiders had a nice opening drive of the second half as Ashton Jeanty to score. They are cruising against a bad Titans team, 17-0 with 7:04 t0 go in the quarter. It was a 13-play, 70-yard drive. Jenaty had a total of 52 yards on the drive.
Things are getting worse f0r Tennessee. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley, one of their best players, was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The Titans had a long drive drive, but they ad to settle for a field goal to make it s 17-3 game with 1:06 to go in the third quarter.
Fourth quarter:
Smith threw his 10th interception of the season just inside the Titan’s red zone early in the fourth quarter. It was another poor decision by Smith and a weird call play call by Chip Kelly up 14 in the fourth quarter.
It didn’t hurt the Raiders, though.
Carlson added a 29-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 20-3 lead with 7:14 to go in the game.
The Titans scored a touchdown on a pass from Ward to David Martin-Robinson to make it a 20-10 game with 3:03 to go.
The Titans attempted an onside kick, but the Raiders recovered at the Titans’ 41-yard line.
Final score:
Raiders 20, Titans 10.
Now that the game is over, let’s take a look at the key aspects:
Team records: The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-4.. The Tennessee Titans are 1-5.
What the win/loss means for the Raiders:
The Raiders broke a four-game losing streak, winning for the first time since Week 1 at New England. The Raiders are now 1-2 at home this season.
Turning point of the game:
White’s strip sack pretty much was ball game. The Titans just aren’t game enough. The Raiders weren’t perfect, but they did enough to win this game pretty easily.
Injury report:
Raiders’ backup running back and special teamer Dylan Laube hurt his hamstring late in the game.
What’s next for the Raiders:
The Raiders play at the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. PT.
