Raiders Can’t Stop Run; Fall 13-9 to Titans

Posted by Matt Loede on October 28th, 2007 filed in Game Stories

The Raiders had a great shot to steal a game Sunday in Tennessee, but they forgot to do one very important thing - stop the run.  Overall the Titans rushed for 192 yards on 36 carries, putting up 5.6 yards per carry, as they topped the Raiders 13-9 at LP Field.  The Titans passing game, with a returning Vince Young, was not good, as he was just 6-for-14 for 42 yards with a total of 26 yards net passing if you take the sacks away.  Nonetheless, it was the Raiders the Titans were playing, and they were able to make mistakes and overcome them.

The Titans defense held the Raiders to 235 total yards on offense, and they got to Raiders QB Daunte Culpepper five times for minus 24 yards.  Oakland built a 9-3 led late in the third quarter on three Sebastian Janikowski field goals, but then allowed Chris Henry to run past them 24 yards for the only touchdown of the game.  The Raiders 7 second half possessions went punt, punt, punt, fumble, punt, interception, downs.

The Raiders, as usual, hung in there, but were unable to take advantage of an off day by Young and the Titans offense.  “That’s getting old,” first-year Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said of coming up just short. “No consolation.”  The Raiders host the Houston Texans in Oakland next Sunday at 4:05pm.