The Raiders defeated the Titans 20-10. Las Vegas was a memorable day for the Las Vegas Raiders. Led by Devin White, Maxx Crosby, and Jonah Laulu, the Raiders defense defeated the Tennessee Titans 20-10, snapping their four-game losing streak. The victory was not only a relief for the Raiders but also a brilliant demonstration of the strength of their defense, which had faced criticism in recent games
Defense Dominates
The Raiders defense delivered what had been expected for the past few weeks This defensive uit which had allowed more than 40 points in two of the previous three games looked fully prepared this time around Devin White lit the field on fire with nine Tackles a sack an interception and a forced fumble He became the first Raiders player since 1999 after Khalil Mack (2016) and Trace Armstrong (2002) to record a sack a forced fumble and an iterception in the same game
Maxx Crosby continued his nine-game streak with two sacks, recording at least one tackle for loss in each game. This is the longest such streak by a Raiders player since 2008. Jonah Laulu also recorded his fourth sack in six games, the first by a Raiders defensive tackle since Bill Pickell in 1986.
The Raiders kept up constant pressure on Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, sacking him six times. According to Next Gen Stats, the Raiders forced 36.4% of their dropbacks, their best performance of the season. Tennessee coach Brian Callahan admitted the Raiders figured out his strategy and surprised him by using an unexpected zero blitz.
First Half Lead
The Raiders took control in the first half. This was the first time since the second half against New Orleans on December 29th that the Raiders held an opponent scoreless in a half. The two teams combined for an average of just 2.39 yards per play in the first half, their lowest total since 2011.
Offensive Game: Simple but Effective. Both the Raiders and Titans failed to deliver much on offense. The two teams combined for 451 yards, reflecting the defensive nature of this matchup. For the Raiders, Geno Smith passed for 174 yards and a touchdown, while Ashton Jeanty averaged 75 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.3 yards per play. Meanwhile, Titans quarterback Cam Ward, the top pick in this year’s NFL Draft, completed 26 of 38 passes for 222 yards. He also threw the first touchdown pass of his career, connecting with David Martin-Robinson.
Titans’ Troubles. It was a disappointing day for the Titans. Their star wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, had to leave the field in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Ridley had a stellar performance last week against Arizona, with 131 yards, but his absence was felt by the Titans this time around. Furthermore, the Titans lost their chance to win consecutive games for the first time since November 2022.
Coach and Players’ Enthusiasm. Raiders coach Pete Carroll called the victory a turning point for the team. He said, “We’ve wanted to play good football for a long time. This win means a lot to us. These guys have worked hard, and they deserve this joy.” Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu also praised the D-line’s cohesiveness, saying, “We motivate each other. Our mindset is to be the heartbeat of this team.”
Honoring the Aces. The Las Vegas Aces were honored before the match, having defeated Phoenix on Friday to win their third WNBA championship in four years. After a video tribute, the Aces lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch, which was greeted with thunderous applause from the audience.
Impact of Injuries
The Titans were hampered by injuries to several players. Joey Slye (calf) missed the game, while Femi Oladejo (calf) was injured in the third quarter. For the Raiders, tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was out for the second consecutive game, and running back Dylan Laube suffered a hamstring injury in the second half.
The Road Ahead
The Raiders (2-4) will now face AFC West rival Kansas City on Sunday, while the Titans (1-5) will host New England. This victory has given the Raiders renewed energy, and if their defensive form continues, they could make further comebacks later in the season
