Raiders aided by big penalty.

Game-winning TD scores after Titans called for holding

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Raiders got a second life in Sunday’s 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans thanks to a defensive holding call that had their opponents furious.

Tennessee’s B.W. Webb was flagged for holding the Raiders’ Amari Cooper well away from the play on a fourth down with two minutes to go.

“I personally think it was a terrible call, but I can’t really say too much about it,” Webb said. “I didn’t grab him at all. I’m not sure what the ref saw.”

Titans coach Mike Mularkey was still trying to make sense of it.

“They were throwing left all the way,” Mularkey said. “Somehow a call came from the right of where B.W. was. Where it came from I have no idea. Do I agree with it? No. I don’t agree with it.”

The penalty bailed out what seemed like a questionable play call — a jump -ball pass in the end zone to a double-covered Andre Holmes on fourth-and-8. It was knocked down, and the Titans started to celebrate what looked to be their first home win in 12 tries.

Instead, the Raiders scored the game-winning touchdown two plays later and ended their three-game losing streak and evened their road record at 3-3.

Naturally, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio agreed with the penalty call.

“Amari had a double move, the DB held him, and we got the call,” Del Rio said.

The Raiders still had to take advantage of the situation after being handed a first down at the Titans’ 31. Quarterback Derek Carr hit Mychal Rivera over the middle for 19 yards, then found Seth Roberts for the 12-yard game-winning score.

“I felt that our defense stopped them,” Titans tight end Delanie Walker said. “The referees put it in their hands and gave them the opportunity to get the ball back, and of course they scored a touchdown.”

Roberts’ game-winning n touchdown capped his best day in the NFL by far as he had career highs with six catches, 113 yards and two touchdowns — with 18 family members in attendance.

“It’s an awesome feeling, just to have my family watching in the stands,” said Roberts, who was born in Georgia, went to high school in Tallahassee, Florida, and played collegiately at a junior college in Mississippi and at West Alabama.

This was Roberts’ second game-winning touchdown reception — he also caught a 12-yard winner against Baltimore in Week 2. He’s becoming a bigger part of the offense, especially as a downfield threat.

“The game is about opportunities, and when you get your opportunity … you’ve got to make the most of it,” safety Charles Woodson said of Roberts. “Today was huge for this team. To go out there and put together the type of game he put together saved us. We needed it.”

Del Rio awarded Roberts the game ball and praised his performance.

“I thought he came up huge,” Del Rio said. “Great performance by him and overall, I though our quarterback played well today.”

Cooper also played well n after catching just one pass for 4 yards a week earlier. He had dropped four passes the previous two games but didn’t have any Sunday despite the wet conditions.

“One thing about this game, it has valleys and peaks,” Cooper said. “But that’s not me. I don’t like dropping balls. I’m a receiver. I’m not supposed to drop the ball. But I’ve moved past that game. I just want to get better and make plays.”

Cooper’s seven catches and 115 yards give him 58 catches for 851 yards this season, the yardage setting a franchise rookie record. He surpassed James Jett’s mark of 771 yards from 1993.

“It’s always good to break records,” Cooper said.

The Raiders went back to a strategy that had proved successful during their offense’s more successful days. They targeted Cooper early and often. He was targeted 12 times, three in the first quarter.

“We did a better job getting him involved,” Del Rio said. “We got him involved right away. He’s a good football player. He’ll continue to do his thing, and we’ll do our thing, and we’ll have a great relationship.”

Roberts’ two touchdowns n give him four on the year. The Raiders have a franchise-record six players with at least three receiving touchdowns. Joining Roberts is Michael Crabtree, Cooper, Clive Walford, Andre Holmes and Marcel Reece.

Jeremy Ross made n his debut as the Raiders returner and started off glowingly, returning his first punt 20 yards. He finished with a 12.3 average on four punts and a 22.8 average on four kickoffs. But he also fumbled on a kickoff, the exact reason the Baltimore Ravens recently cut the Cal product.