Oakland Raiders blown out in second half of loss to Tennessee Titans
By Brad Weiss
The Oakland Raiders played host to the Tennessee Titans in a must-win game in Week 14, and were absolutely blown out in the second half.
The Oakland Raiders knew they needed a win against the Tennessee Titans if they wanted to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they just could not take care of business on Sunday. Oakland once again failed to show up in the second half, as the Titans dominated after the teams returned to the field after half time.
The first half was an absolute shootout, as it was the Raiders defense that helped them get on the board early. A Maurice Hurst, yes you read that right, interception and rumble helped set the Silver and Black up for their first touchdown of the game.
DeAndre Washington, subbing in for the injured Josh Jacobs, looked like the rookie on his 14-yard touchdown run, rushing over and around Titans defenders. Washington’s second touchdown of the year gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead, but it did not last for long.
Tennessee drove the ball down the Raiders throat the next possession, and star running back Derrick Henry finished off the drive with his 12th touchdown of the season. The two teams would head into the second quarter with the score tied at 7, but the Titans would strike early in the second frame.
Ryan Tannehill hit A.J. Brown for his first of two first half touchdowns on a 91-yard score, giving the Titans their first lead of the game. Oakland tied the game up a few minutes later, as Derek Carr hit Rico Gafford for not only his first NFL catch, but a 49-yard score, as Gafford got wide open down the right sideline.
Brown’s second touchdown of the half gave the Titans a 21-14 lead, but the Raiders put together magnificent drive late in the second. Carr engineered a 14-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off by the sixth-year starter hitting rookie tight end Foster Moreau from one-yard out to tie the game.
With only 0:24 seconds left in the half, Tannehill drove his Titans back down the field, but a missed field goal by Ryan Succop sent the two teams into the locker room at the half tied at 21.
After that, it was all Tennessee, as Derrick Henry scored with 5:36 left in the third quarter. The Raiders have played terrible football in the third quarter all season long, and they just could not do anything on offense, or defense in the second half of this one.
Two fourth quarter touchdowns by Tennessee put the game out of reach, and for the Raiders, their playoff hopes may be out of reach heading into Week 15.