RAIDERS (1-1) VS. TITANS (1-1)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, NISSAN STADIUM, NASHVILLE uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 708
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
About the Raiders: One week after edging the New Orleans Saints in a wild ending, the Raiders lost a 35-28 thriller to the Atlanta Falcons. QB Derek Carr dazzled again, going 34-for-45 for 299 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as he found options in 11 different pass catchers. RB Latavius Murray had 101 yards from scrimmage and WR
Amari Cooper kept Atlanta’s defense honest with five receptions for 71 yards. All of that offense was necessary because of Oakland’s inability to make stops on defense. The Raiders have allowed 1,035 yards of offense and rank last in passing yards allowed and second to last in passing touchdowns allowed.
About the Titans: Tennessee, which lost six games by six or fewer points in 2015, found a way to win a nail-biter in Week 2 at the Detroit Lions. The Titans are hoping their 16-15 win will help push them over the hump. Considering that their next six opponents enter Week 3 with a combined record of 3-9, anything can happen for the Titans if their defense continues to play sound football. Their new-look offense has sputtered at times, and the run-heavy approach that was hyped throughout the offseason with RBs DeMarco
Murray and Derrick Henry has yet to produce a rushing touchdown. QB Marcus Ma
riota has played clean enough to keep the Titans in the mix, but it will take a lot more points to keep pace with the Raiders.
Matchup to watch: Raiders LT Donald
Penn vs. Titans OLB Brian Orakpo. The Raiders offensive line has been outstanding in pass protection through the first two games,
spearheaded by Penn’s efforts on the left side. The only sack the line has allowed was on a play in which Carr was forced out of bounds for a minimal loss on a scramble. Meanwhile, Orakpo menaced Detroit for two sacks in Week 2 and will be a constant threat of disruption for Oakland’s offense. Player to watch: Titans TE Delanie
Walker. Mariota made his trusty tight end a frequent target in Week 2, completing six passes on six targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. Walker could be due for an even bigger showing in Week 3, considering Falcons TE Jacob Tamme had five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown last weekend against Oakland.
Number crunching: 500. The Raiders are the first team since the 1967 Falcons to allow 500 yards of offense in each of its first two games
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Run, run, run: Considering how much success both teams have had in running the football, they’re not doing it enough. Oakland’s three RBs, Latavius Murray, DeAndre
Washington and Jalen Richard, have combined for 6.44 yards per carry, while Tennessee’s Murray and Henry have combined for 4.46.
2. Playing conservatively: Carr said one of the best things the Falcons did to limit Oakland’s success was to keep everything in front of them and limit the plays deep downfield. The Titans defense allowed two plays of 30-plus yards when it blitzed Detroit and none when it sat back in coverage.
3. Extending drives: The Raiders rank first in the league by gaining 42.3 yards per drive, while their defense ranks last in the league by allowing 50.4 yards per drive. They also rank first and last defensively and offensively in first downs, giving up 54 and gaining 54 in two games. The Titans are somewhere near the middle of those rankings.
Jordan Godwin