The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off of the biggest blown lead in franchise history after letting a 20-0 lead slip away to the Arizona Cardinals in an overtime battle on Sunday, losing 29-23. The Tennessee Titans are also coming off of a bad week, getting demolished 41-7 in Buffalo on Monday night. Both teams are looking to get their first wins of the season, but which of these 2021 playoff teams is more likely to come out on top is up for debate.
Titans Overview
The Titans came into the season with high hopes. Ending the 2021 season with the best record in the AFC and claiming the #1 seed, the Titans have as high of expectations as a team can have. Despite losing AJ Brown during the offseason, the reigning AFC South champions have a very dangerous team. The generational talent that is Derrick Henry headlines the roster at the running back position. However, Henry has been all but silenced during the first two games of the season, averaging 3.1 yards per carry on 34 carries while totaling only 107 total yards (Henry averaged 117 yards per game last season).
In fact, the majority of the Titans’ offense has been shut down, with Ryan Tannehill averaging 192 passing yards per game with a 1-to-1 touchdown/interception ratio. The Titans’ defense has struggled as well, allowing 31 points and 404 yards of offense per game (235 passing, 169 rushing). However, much of this is from last week’s self-destructive performance against the Bills.
Tennessee turned the ball over four times last week, allowing 414 yards of total offense while only gaining 187 yards themselves. Tannehill threw two interceptions in the game, while Henry was stifled to 25 yards on 13 attempts – under two yards per carry. To put it simply, the Titans do not want to repeat their Week 2 outing when they head back to Nashville to play the Raiders.
Raiders Overview
Las Vegas comes into Week 3 following two close losses, one against the division rival Chargers and one against the Arizona Cardinals. Both games were one-score affairs, and the Silver and Black likely feel as though they should be 2-0, or at least 1-1 after giving up a historic lead to Arizona. However, the Raiders are moving in the right direction.
In their first game against the Chargers, Derek Carr threw three interceptions, calling into question his ability to put the ball where it needed to go. Last week, Carr adjusted, not turning the ball over once, and the entire team only had one lost fumble throughout the game. Additionally, the Raiders offensive line improved, only allowing one sack during Week 2 after allowing six the week before.
Looking at some of the Raiders’ issues, one that stands out is their run offense. Their 72 rushing yards per game puts them at 30th best in the league, ahead of only the Rams and Seahawks. Their pass defense is also 28th in the league, averaging 275 yards allowed through the air per outing. Las Vegas is also near the bottom of the board in takeaways, having only one forced turnover through the first two weeks. While Las Vegas is still a very promising team, there is much left for them to work on if they plan on making the playoffs.
Keys to Success
Raiders
1. Contain Derrick Henry
The Raiders come into Week 3 with their run defense in the dead center of the pack, ranked 16th in rush yards allowed per game. But, James Conner isn’t Derrick Henry. For a team that allowed 114 rush yards a game last season, keeping the Titans’ best weapon under the century mark could keep this team on its knees.
2. Avoid turnovers
Derek Carr is notorious for his turnovers. After throwing more interceptions last season than ever before in his career, Carr is likely looking to avoid following in the footsteps of his triad of turnovers against the Chargers in Week 1. And it need not be stated that it is much easier to win a football game when you have the ball in your own hands more.
3. Target Davante Adams
After a monster showing in Week 1, Adams only reeled in 29 percent of his targets this last week against the Cardinals. With Hunter Renfrow being evaluated for a concussion after a hard hit that caused him to fumble the ball last week, Derek Carr may need to rely more on Adams to get the passing game moving smoothly.
Titans
1. Feed the King
During Tennessee’s eight games with Derrick Henry last season, they had six with over 100 team rushing yards. During those six games, the Titans were 5-1, their only loss coming in overtime against the Jets and some of their five wins coming against the Chiefs, Bills, and Colts. When Derrick Henry eats, typically the Titans follow suit.
2. Anybody but Davante Adams
Last season, the Packers were 7-1 when Davante Adams had 100 or more receiving yards and were 5-3 when Adams put up less than 100 yards (and played). While the Raiders are currently 0-1 when Adams puts up 100 yards, it surely doesn’t hurt your offense to have its best player go off.
3. Put pressure on Derek Carr
It’s no secret that the Raiders don’t have the strongest offensive line. The Titans are currently tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks with six total, while they ended last season tied for ninth in the league in total sacks. The Raiders were tied for 11th in most sacks allowed last season, creating a dangerous combination for Derek Carr in the pocket, especially after a six-sack game in Los Angeles that likely left the Raiders offensive line demoralized.
Prediction
The loss of AJ Brown proves to be too much for the Titans. Predicting a tough game on the ground, Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther stacks the box to neutralize Derrick Henry for his third straight sub-100-yard game, forcing Ryan Tannehill to try and beat the defense in man-to-man coverage. Suffering from drops and misplaced balls, the Raiders outlast the Titans, snagging their first win of the season in Tennessee led by an 80-yard, one touchdown stat line from Josh Jacobs.
Raiders 20, Titans 13
All stats, unless listed otherwise are via ESPN.com.
