Raiders @ Titans
Final Score: Titans 24, Raiders 22
Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)
The Las Vegas Raiders traveled to the Music City on Sunday in a matchup of winless 2021 playoff teams. The game had a blowout feel early in the game, with the Titans scoring on four of their first five drives and taking a 24 – 10 lead into halftime. The Raiders’ defense made adjustments, didn’t allow the Titans to score again, and got back into the game. With the game on the line, the Raiders scored a late touchdown but missed on a game-tying two-point conversion. The result was Tennessee Titans 24, Las Vegas Raiders 22.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr: 26/44, 303 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 2 Carries, 17 Yards
Davante Adams has a TD catch in all 3 games a Raider — he and Derek Carr have connected for TDs in 12 straight games together dating back to their Fresno State days 🔥🔥🔥
(🎥: @NFL) | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/M071K5Ns0m
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) September 25, 2022
Derek Carr doesn’t deserve the lion’s share of the blame for this loss. The team around him and even the system have failed him multiple times. Carr started strong on his first two drives, going nine of eleven for 93 yards and a five-yard touchdown to Davante Adams. The next two drives ended in punts, with Carr going two for five and 15 yards to close out the first half. Highlights were his two deep balls to Foster Moreau and Mack Hollins for 22 yards and 20 yards, respectively.
The second half started with Carr scrambling for 11 yards, dinking, and dunking his way down the field into field goal range. Two drives later, Carr and the Raiders took over on downs, had the ball on their 44, then flipped the field with a 17-yard pass to Darren Waller. Carr then took a shot at the endzone and had a touchdown pass tipped by Darren Waller and intercepted by Tennessee. The last two drives for the Raiders were crazy; Carr went 8 – 20 and helped the team get a field goal and a touchdown. He utilized Hollins with a 48-yard connection on the last drive to set up a Hollins 9-yard touchdown. The Raiders missed the two-point conversion ending the game.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: 13 Carries, 66 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 31 Yards
Brandon Bolden: 3 Carries, 17 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 4 Yards
Here’s a Josh Jacobs sighting for you guys.#Raiders pic.twitter.com/0ICLaGIQZD
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) September 25, 2022
Josh Jacobs ran well for a guy who was sick for the week and missed practice. I was wondering if they would hold back his workload, but they had him in there for the entire game, only bringing in Brandon Bolden for a change of pace back. Jacobs ran for five yards a carry and averaged six yards a reception in this game. It was surprising to see him pulled from the second-half game plan because of one fumble. That could’ve been more of a pass urgency situation rather than him being dog housed. Jacobs’ longest runs on the day were for 13, 10, and nine yards, and his biggest receiving play was for 13 yards. Jacobs getting involved in the receiving game is a major plus to his value in fantasy and this offense.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mack Hollins: 10 Targets, 8 Receptions, 158 Yards, TD | 1/1, 4 Yards
Foster Moreau: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 44 Yards
Davante Adams: 10 Targets, 5 Receptions, 36 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, -4 Yards
Darren Waller: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 Yards
Keelan Cole: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Darren Waller dropping a WIDE OPEN ball is WILD to me#Raidernation @Raiders pic.twitter.com/ds99Mv45TY
— Talk Yo Shield (@itsartee__) September 25, 2022
Mack Hollins had a career game with eight receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown. Hollins seems to be a rising star in this offense, and his biggest moment in this game was on its final drive. Hollins made a great 48-yard snag to bring the Raiders into scoring position, and on fourth and goal, Hollins caught a nine-yard touchdown. Big play Hollins might be a name he goes by going forward, as he made two more big plays in this game for 60 yards and 20 yards.
Davante Adams had another double-digit target game (10), bringing in five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Adams now has a TD in his three games as a Raider, but he’s also not getting used how he was in the first game. It’s very disappointing to see a guy who is a weapon on the field not being properly used, and coach McDaniels has a lot of work to do to get this team where it needs to be this year.
Darren Waller could’ve had two touchdowns this week if he just focused up and caught a couple of easy targets. Waller caught three of five targets for 22 yards, and his two drops were critical. His first was an interception in the endzone that was perfectly thrown to him and came off his fingertips into Kevin Byard‘s hands. Waller is a highly paid tight end and needs to come down with that pass. The second pass saw him downfield wide open, and Carr overthrew it by an inch. The problem is Waller still got a full hand on the ball. If you can do that, then you should be able to reel it in. Foster Moreau served as a solid second tight end for the team. He caught passes of 22 and 14 yards.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill: 19/27, 264 Yards, TD, INT | 4 Carries, 2 Yards, TD
Ryan Tannehill finds @GeoffSwaim87 for a #Titans TD!
📺: FOX | via @NFL pic.twitter.com/GkDvte7bb4
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 25, 2022
Ryan Tannehill had a very good first half and a lackluster second half. Tannehill came out of the gate hot in this game. The Titans scored on four of their first five drives in this contest, and Tannehill was 16 of 19 for 192 yards and one passing touchdown and rushing touchdown. Tannehill was incredibly efficient, completing 84 percent of his passes. He had a two-yard touchdown to Geoff Swaim and ran in a one-yard touchdown. He also developed a strong connection with Robert Woods, completing four of seven passes to him for 84 yards, including a 41-yarder that set up his TD pass to Swaim. Tannehill also tossed four passes to Derrick Henry in the first half for 39 yards, which was highlighted by a catch and runs of 23 and 13 yards.
The second half wasn’t so kind to Tannehill as he and the Titans put on cruise control as he went three for eight, with 72 yards and a poorly thrown interception. Tannehill only targeted Woods twice in the second half after making him the primary guy in the first with seven targets. The Titans’ passing game seemed to crumble around Tannehill, and he couldn’t bring it back up, as the team didn’t score one point in the second half and lost the ball on multiple occasions. The Titans walked out with a win in this one, but you have to be concerned that Ryan Tannehill went from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jekyll quickly in this game.
Running Back
Derrick Henry: 20 Carries, 85 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 58 Yards
Dontrell Hilliard: 2 Carries, 14 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 30 Yards
@Titans @KingHenry_2 pic.twitter.com/gIoURkPG6J
— Mark Newcomb (@markedwardnewc) September 25, 2022
Holy cow! Derrick Henry is back, and if you need any reassurance, check out his 24-yard run that should’ve led to his second touchdown. Henry did score on the previous drive from the one-yard line. Henry was explosive, and defenders were bouncing off Henry non-stop. Henry was also heavily involved in the receiving games, catching five of his six targets for 58 yards. King Henry made the most of his opportunities, catching dump-off passes for 24 and 13 yards. He has had multiple runs of ten or more yards. As I said, Henry should’ve had two touchdowns but was still a beast and seems to finally be back after last year’s foot injury.
Dontrell Hillard was back this week, too, and came back with a bang catching a short pass and extending it for 30 yards. Hillard carried the ball for 14 yards on the ground as well.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Robert Woods: 9 Targets, 4 Receptions, 85 Yards
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 40 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)
Geoff Swaim: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 19 Yards, TD
Austin Hooper: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards
Treylon Burks: 1 Carry, 8 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 13 Yards
Bobby Trees is breaking out! @robertwoods
📺: Watch #LVvsTEN on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/MfIOocfr6A
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) September 25, 2022
Robert Woods showed up and out in the first half of this game, getting all four of his catches on seven targets for 85 yards. Woods showed out early on the first drive running a slant for 16 yards on second and 12, helping get the Titans in position to score their very first touchdown. Woods’ biggest play of the game would come on the next drive as he beat his man deep for 41 yards, bringing the Titans into touchdown range. The talented ex-Rams receiver would finish up his day with two catches for 28 yards on the third drive of the game, once again setting up a touchdown. Woods had a very good half and pedestrian game, as he only had two targets in the second half.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught all three of his receptions for 40 yards. Westbrook-Ikhine had two separate catches for 15 yards on the day, but perhaps his biggest play was recovering a strip sack forced by Maxx Crosby. If he wasn’t there, then the Raiders might’ve taken over on the Titans 14 yard line with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Geoff Swaim caught Ryan Tannehill’s only touchdown pass of the game on a two-yard flat route. Swaim did show back up on the fourth drive of the first, catching two passes for 17 yards.
Austin Hooper wasn’t utilized the best in this game, as he was targeted twice and caught both passes for 19 yards. Treylon Burks was also used sparsely in this game, most likely due to the team coasting in the second half. Burks did have a 13-yard catch that was a half-yard short of a touchdown and led to Derrick Henry‘s first and only score of the game.