Nick Shook’s takeaways:
- Raiders get right. There was no better time to meet the Titans than Week 6 for Las Vegas, a team that was reeling after four straight losses, including a 34-point drubbing last week. The Raiders took advantage of the opportunity, emerging from a first-quarter sleepwalk with plenty of energy in the middle quarters to claim a 17-0 lead with relative ease. Geno Smith finally looked more like himself for most of the day (albeit in a shortened, checkdown-reliant fashion), Ashton Jeanty found a bit of a rhythm on the ground and Las Vegas’ defense suffocated Tennessee’s offense for most of the afternoon, making for a joyous day inside Allegiant Stadium. It was sorely needed, especially when considering what awaits the Silver and Black: dates with Kansas City, Jacksonville and Denver in the next four weeks. It’s a daunting stretch ahead, but one that is more palatable after ending a four-game losing skid.
- Titans remain a sloppy team. The story of this loss can be told by Tennessee’s list of miscues. Three turnovers (one Cam Ward interception, two lost fumbles), seven penalties, 3 for 13 on third down and six sacks given up illustrate all that went wrong for the Titans. They are a squad that produces plenty of unmemorable moments and only seems to find a rhythm when they’re forced to operate at a faster tempo in the late stages of a game. Tennessee’s investment in the offensive line has not paid off, and without Calvin Ridley, Ward doesn’t have much to work with when throwing — that is, when he even has time to throw. I admit it’s a crazy thought, but perhaps this offensive might benefit from adopting an identity along the lines of the Chip Kelly-led Oregon Ducks, relying on up-tempo offense as the basis of their attack. At minimum, it might put opposing defenses on their heels instead of allowing them to pin their ears back as they often do against the Titans.
- Las Vegas has work to do up front. The Raiders are going home happy on Sunday evening, but they still need to clean up their blocking. It’s been a persistent theme this season, limiting Jeanty’s potential as a difference-making back, and crept up again Sunday. Consider: Jeanty was stuffed for a loss or no gain on four of his 10 attempts against light boxes, and Raiders rushers were stuffed 11 times on 29 total attempts, the most run stuffs by any team in a game this season, per Next Gen Stats. Tennessee’s defensive strength exists up front, but that rate of failure is unsustainable across a full season for any NFL team. Las Vegas overcame these struggles with a healthy dose of play action and creative design that leaked out tight end Michael Mayer into soft spots in zone coverage via block-and-release assignments, which Smith was happy to use to his benefit, including on his touchdown pass to Mayer. That’s merely a bandage for the greater issue, though.
Next Gen Stats Insight for Titans-Raiders (via NFL Pro): Geno Smith completed 17 of 23 passes for 174 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the Raiders’ Week 6 win, averaging 2.7 air yards per attempt, his fewest in a game since Week 9, 2022. He attempted only one pass beyond 10 air yards (16-yard completion), his fewest in a game since Week 6, 2016.
NFL Research: With one passing touchdown Sunday, Cam Ward has just three passing touchdowns in his first six career starts. The only No. 1 overall quarterbacks with fewer passing touchdowns through their first six career starts since 1970 are Terry Bradshaw (2), John Elway (1) and Alex Smith (0).
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