Oakland Raiders Week 3: Pressures, Hurries, Knockdowns
By Justin Smith
The PHK series continues, previewing the Week 3 matchup between the Oakland Raiders and the Tennessee Titans.
After a disappointing loss to the Atlanta Falcons in their home opener, the Raiders look to rebound on the road against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday.
This will be the Raiders second 1:00pm start in their first three games. The team put early start demons to bed in 2015 with two victories in such games, and they continued that trend with a thrilling one-point victory in the final minute in New Orleans to open the season.
They’re itching to get another on Sunday.
Oakland’s defense had better make some vast improvements for that to happen. The Titans have struggled offensively this season, but the Raiders defense has been historically bad through two games.
That’s not hyperbole — they are the only team since the merger to allow 1,000+ yards in the first two games of the year. There isn’t much more to say. They’ve played two excellent offenses, but it’s been just plain bad.
The offense, led by third-year quarterback and emerging star Derek Carr, has been superb. Carr is completing 70 percent of his passes, he’s spreading the ball around, and he’s getting it out quickly. The offensive line is giving him platinum-level “Carr Insurance.” They’re also opening gaping holes for the NFL’s #2 rushing attack.
The offense has been efficient, fun to watch, and the only hope the Raiders have had to be in either of the first two games. They are not the problem.
With that in mind, let’s get to our weekly pressures, hurries, and knockdowns and look at who is under the most pressure this weekend, some quick thoughts, and some ideas we had that have thus far proven false. Let’s discuss.