Wide receiver Seth Roberts capped his best game as a pro with 6 catches for 113 yards, including the game-winner, a 12-yard strike from QB Derek Carr with 1:21 left in the game as the Raiders came back in the puring rain to defeat the Tennessee Titans 24-21 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and deferred their choice to the start of the second half. The Titans elected to receive the opening kickoff. K Sebastian Janikowski's line-drive kickoff bounced through the end zone for a touchback and the Titans started at the 20 with Marcus Mariota at quarterback. The Raiders forced a three and out and P Brett Kern came on to punt. WR Jeremy Ross returned Kern's punt down the left sideline 20 yards to the Oakland 38.
Quarterback Derek Carr was hit as he threw on the second play of the game and was shaken up. Matt McGloin came on in relief. McGloin's 3rd and 3 pass for TE Clive Walford was broken up and P Marquette King came on. CB Neiko Thorpe downed the punt at the Titans 8-yard line.
CB TJ Carrie broke up Mariota's 3rd and 2 pass for WR Kendall Wright and Kern came on to punt after a second-straight three-and-out. Ross returned the punt 13 yards to the Oakland 39. Carr returned to the line-up. The Raiders managed one first down before the Titans forced a punt. WR Harry Douglas called for and made a fair catch at the Titans 12.
Mariota capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to TE Craig Stevens. K Ryan Succop's PAT was blocked and the Titans led 6-0 with 5:53 left in the 1st quarter. DL Denico Autry returned it for a safety but the Raiders were called for illegal forward pass and the penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff.
Ross returned Succop's kickoff 25 yards to the Oakland 23. Carr capped a 7-play, 77-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Michael Crabtree. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 7-6 with 1:34 left in the 1st quarter.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff flew out of the back of the end zone for a touchback and the Titans started at the 20. The Raiders held the Titans to a three-and-out and Kern came on to punt. Kern's punt was downed at the Oakland 39 as the first quarter came to an end.
The Raiders faced 4th and 2 at the 36 and decided to go for it. A low shotgun snap ruined the play and Carr was forced to throw the ball away. The Titans took over on downs. A rougher the punter call kept the Titans drive alive. That drive eventually ended thanks to DE Khalil Mack's sixth sack of the season. Kern came on to punt. Ross called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 8. A holding call during the punt backed the Raiders up to the 4-yard line.
The Raiders drove deep into Titans territory as time ran down in the 2nd quarter. On 3rd and goal at the 7, Carr was forced to scramble and the Raiders settled for a field goal attempt. Janikowski's 24-yard field goal capped a 16-play, 90-yard drive and put the Raiders up 10-6 with 1:01 left in the 1st quarter.
WR Tre McBride returned the ensuing kickoff to the Titans 26. The Titans failed to convert 4th and 2 at the Raiders 44 and the Raiders took over on downs with :10 left in the half. On 2nd and 1 at the Tennessee 47 with :02 left, a crazy lateral play brought the half to a close.
Ross returned the opening kickoff of the 3rd quarter to the Oakland 31. Carr capped the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to WR Seth Roberts who caught the pass short of the goal line and broke a tackle before diving into the end zone. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 17-6 with 10:45 left in the 3rd quarter.
Mariota capped the next drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Douglas despite interference from CB Neiko Thorpe. The two-point conversion was good and the Raiders lead was cut to 17-14 with 6:22 left in the 3rd quarter.
Ross fumbled during the ensuing kickoff return and the Titans recovered at the Oakland 18. The Raiders got the ball back when CB David Amerson picked off a Mariota pass at the Oakland 21.
The Raiders managed one first down before the Titans forced a punt. Douglas was dropped at the Tennessee 12. The Raiders held the Titans to a three-and-out and Kern came on to punt. Ross returned the punt 9 yards to the Oakland 36. The Raiders went 3-and-out and King came on to punt. King's boot was downed at the Titans 26.
The Raiders forced another three-and-out and Kern came on to punt. Ross returned the punt and a holding penalty backed the Raiders up to the 23. The Raiders were moving the ball on the ground but the Titans recovered a fumbled snap and took over at the Oakland 42. The Titans took the lead on 1-yard TD pass. The PAT was good and the score read 21-17 with 4:41 to play.
Ross returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 32. A penalty backed the Raiders up to the 10. The Raiders drove to the Titans 36 before facing 4th and 8 with 2:00 left. Carr's deep pass for Andre Holmes fell incomplete but a defensive holding call kep the Raiders drive alive. Carr found Roberts for a 12-yard TD pass to give the Raiders the lead. The PAT was good and the Raiders led 24-21 with 1:21 left to play.
McBride thought about running the kickoff out but thought better of it and took a knee for a touchback. The Titans started at the 20 needing a field goal to tie. Safety Nate Allen preserved the Raiders victory with an interception of a Mariota pass with :43 seconds left. The Raiders took over at the 37. Carr kneeled down and ran out the clock.
The Raiders improve to 5-6 on the season and head home to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
