Oakland couldn’t keep up last Sunday in a 35-28 loss to Atlanta. Tennessee eked out a 16-15 win over Detroit last week.
The Raiders’ offense has been churning out yards and points so far this season as QB Derek Carr looks to be the franchise QB the Raiders have been looking for since the unseemly exit of Rich Gannon. He has averaged over 300 yards passing per game and has a perfect 4-0 TD/INT ratio to go with a passer rating of 107.4. WRs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree are the big weapons but several other players are contributing. Tennessee’s pass defense has been solid so far this year (237 ypg) but they haven’t faced a passing attack like this yet. Oakland has also averaged a robust 6.3 ypc average as a team as they have three RBs that have run for 60+ yards already. The Titans new-look defense is so-so in run defense and the Raiders big o-line should be able to move some bodies and create space for their big-play backs.
Tennessee has scored 16 points in each of their two games as they haven’t been able to sustain drives or finish them off in the red zone. Despite offseason personnel additions, the Raiders are playing the worst defense in the league. They have allowed 808 passing yards but the Titans don’t have the playmakers outside to take full advantage. The Titans are a run-first offense but have only run the ball 46 times. Oakland’s run defense has been a little better than their pass defense but they will still be in for a stern test in this one. QB Marcus Mariota is off to a good start but has thrown 2 picks, been sacked 5 times and lost a fumble. The Raiders need to put better pressure on Mariota than they have exhibited in their first 2 contests.
In this NFL match-up between Oakland and Tennessee it appears the public consensus is leaning slightly to the Oakland Raiders getting 1.5 points will take this game by 74%. The over/under is a little more even action with only 56% believing this game will go over the posted line of 46.5.
