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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
Maxx Crosby crashed through the Tennessee Titans offensive line and met the Titans’ bruising running back, Derrick Henry, in the backfield for a loss on the first play of the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Sunday.
It went all downhill in the first half for the Raiders after that.
The Titans moved the football with ease on their first three possessions to score touchdowns and built a 21-10 lead over Las Vegas.
The Raiders spent the rest of the game trying to catch up. It was another example of the Raiders not putting together a complete quality game of 60 minutes.
And thanks to a career game by Raiders receiver Mack Hollins (8 catches for 158 yards and 1 TD), the Raiders were just a two-point conversion away from tying the game in the final minute.
But a Derek Carr pass to Darren Waller was tipped and incomplete on the two-point attempt and the Raiders lost their third consecutive game to open the 2022 season, 24-22.
“Losing gets old, fast,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said after the game. “Nobody likes losing . . . We all feel shitty” after a loss.
The odds are mighty low for the Raiders to reach the postseason. Teams that start a season, 0-3, like Las Vegas have a 2.5 percent chance of making the playoffs. Teams that start a season, 1-2, like the Titans have a 25 percent chance at reaching the postseason.
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It was a rough first half for the Raiders.
The Titans padded the 21-10 lead with a 48-yard field goal and they enjoyed a 24-10 advantage at the half.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was sharp, completing 14 of 17 passes in the first half and a short touchdown toss.
Meanwhile, Henry slashed the Raiders run defense for 64 yards and he also scored a TD.
After the Titans marched 75 yards in 12 plays to score their first touchdown, the Raiders responded with a nice drive. But it stalled inside the ten-yard line. It was another red zone failure by the Raiders — a problem that plagued Las Vegas last season.
Ol’ reliable, placekicker Daniel Carlson booted his 29th consecutive made field goal, and the Raiders were on the board.
Carr completed a touchdown toss to wide receiver Davante Adams in the second quarter and played well in the first half.
In the third quarter, the Raiders chewed up nearly eight minutes on a drive that began the second half.
But it ended with another blown red zone chance to score a touchdown. Instead, the Raiders settled for another Carlson chip shot field goal.
The Raiders’ Duron Harmon intercepted Tannehill after the FG and Las Vegas looked to cut into the deficit. But a big pass play by Carr was called back because of an offensive holding penalty.
The Raiders ended up punting after the pick.
Then the Raiders had Tennessee backed up on its own three yard line, but the Titans converted the third and nine on a short Tannehill pass to squirm out of the horrible field position right before the end of the third quarter.
The Raiders never quit.
They rallied to come within two points of tying the game.
But the Raiders struggled in the red zone again. They scored two touchdowns on six trips inside the Tennessee 20-yard line. But they also settled for three field goals and a Carr-to-Waller attempt was picked off.
“Situational football, it hurt us in the red zone,” McDaniels said.
Las Vegas now has an 0-3 record and face long odds to make the postseason.