Last Week: Cardinals 29, Raiders 23
The Raiders blew the biggest lead in franchise history in their home opener, squandering a 20-0 halftime advantage to lose in devastating fashion in overtime. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow fumbled twice in the span of three plays with the Raiders just yards away from a comfortable game-winning field goal attempt, and the second got scooped up by Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy and returned for a 59-yard walk-off touchdown. The Raiders’ offense could never get anything going after a stellar first half, gaining only four first downs after halftime. And the defense couldn’t bring down slippery mobile quarterback Kyler Murray, who led the Cardinals to a pair of late touchdowns and two-point conversions to force overtime in a game in which the visitors’ win probability dipped as low as 3.1%, according to ESPN analytics.
This Week: Raiders (0-2) at Titans (0-2)
When: Sunday, September 25, 10 a.m.
Where: Nissan Stadium
TV/Radio: Fox 5/920 AM & KOMP 92.3
Betting line: Raiders -1, over/under: 45.5
Matchup: The Las Vegas run defense has looked competent so far, but gets its biggest test yet in Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, the two-time NFL rushing champion. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound former Heisman Trophy winner is a load to bring down, especially for a Raiders front seven dealing with a couple of key injuries. Middle linebacker and team captain Denzel Perryman missed the Cardinals game with an ankle injury, and starting defensive tackle Bilal Nichols left the field with a hurt shoulder. The Raiders are also down cornerback Anthony Averett (thumb) and safety Tre’von Moehrig (hip). Averett will miss at least four games, but Moehrig is one to monitor going into the Titans game.
Raider to Watch: Wide receiver Mack Hollins
The veteran newcomer led the Raiders with five catches for 66 yards against the Cardinals. He keyed on a couple scoring drives in the first half before drawing a big pass interference penalty on a deep ball to set up a field goal in the second half. Teammates and coaches have raved about Hollins all offseason, and voted him a team captain, but it was hard to see him carving a consistent offensive niche on a team already loaded with so many talented skill-position players. But so far, he’s done so, and it will be interesting to see whether he can maintain his hot start.
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