Raiders Preview: The Must-Win In Music City -

The Las Vegas Raiders fell apart in the second half on Sunday. Can they rebound in Nashville?

As the Las Vegas Raiders head to Tennessee for their Week 3 matchup with the Titans, a sense of unfamiliarity has befallen the team. This season marks the first time since 2018 that the team did not win the first game of the year. In connection with the unfamiliarity comes feelings of bewilderment after squandering a 20-point halftime lead to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, robbing the team of what many had assumed to be their first win in 2022.

Getting Late Rather Early

Now, with a 0-2 record and any chance of competing for the AFC West slowly slipping away, the Raiders head to Nashville to do battle with the Titans, another team that has struggled early on. After losing on a last-minute touchdown to the New York Giants, the Titans headed to Buffalo to get shellacked by the AFC favorite Bills.

Desperate Franchises

Both teams are coming off agonizing defeats in one way or another, and understand the importance of avoiding a 0-3 start, should they want their playoff dreams to continue, as only 3.4 percent (6-176) of teams to start 0-3 have reached the postseason. In order to avoid the dreaded winless start through three weeks, the Raiders must place emphasis on slowing down Derrick Henry. Both the Giants and the Bills held Henry to under 100 rushing yards (82, 25) and put more emphasis on Ryan Tannehill’s arm, a call which he has not been able to answer. The Raiders cannot return home winless.

Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm

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Forcing Tennessee’s Hand

Through two games, Tannehill is averaging 191 pass yards per game, which simply will not lead to many wins without Henry having a monster day. Statistically, the Raiders are built for a team like the Titans, as their defense against the run (15^th, 109.5 yards per game) ranks far better against their pass defense (28^th, 224.5 yards per game). Slowing down Henry and forcing Tannehill to throw is by no means a unique gameplan, but with the way the Titans’ offense has started the year, the task appears a bit more feasible.

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No Margin For Error

Very few assumed both the Raiders and Titans would be in this position in Week 3, but adjustments to gameplans and expectations can be what keeps a team afloat in this league. Despite Tennessee battling their demons as well, expect the Raiders to come into Nissan Stadium in search of a punching bag, and find one in the Titans.