The Titans travel to Sin City to take on the reeling Raiders, who have lost four straight games, including two blowout losses. Tennessee finally won its first game of the season Sunday in dramatic fashion after weeks of frustration. Can the home team find a way to stop its losing streak and bounce back from the blowout loss suffered on Sunday? How will the Titans continue their sudden good fortune?
Reeling Raiders Host Troublesome Titans In Must-Win Week Six
Raiders Offense vs. Titans Defense
Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly finally gets his chance to avenge the heroic and former Raider Marcus Mariota after the dastardly Tennessee Titans ruined Mariota’s career. The Raiders’ offense has been stymied due to Geno Smith’s propensity for turnovers. He’s thrown nine interceptions thus far in the 2025 season, which leads the league. If he can keep the turnovers at bay, he does have a decent skill position group to throw to. Can the offensive line keep him upright long enough to find holes in a Swiss cheese Tennessee defense?
OL vs. DL Matchups To Watch
Las Vegas’s offensive line is a piecemeal unit cobbled together as star left tackle Kolton Miller resides on injured reserve. Stone Forsythe is his replacement after signing with the Raiders deep into the training camp process. Three of the five starters are homegrown products like utility lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson, DJ Glaze, and Dylan Parham. JPJ has struggled this season after a standout rookie campaign earned him a slot on the All-Rookie team. Parham starts at left guard and is a serviceable veteran at times. Sophomore right tackle Glaze is slightly underperforming in 2025, scoring a 61.2 overall offense grade from PFF. A duo of rookies backs up Forsythe and Parham in Charles Grant and Caleb Rogers. Bengals veteran Alex Cappa backs up JPJ should he falter.
If there ever was a get-right game for the struggling Titans’ defensive front, it’s this one against a wounded and inconsistent Raiders OL. Unfortunately, EDGE Arden Key is out due to a quad injury and missed every practice this week. Jeffery Simmons slimmed down this season, and his form is currently on an All-Pro track. Tennessee’s EDGE group is a mishmash of overwhelmed rookies and mysterious veterans. Dre’Mont Jones is a burden on Dennard Wilson’s defense and on the Titans’ salary cap. Rookie Femi Oladejo seems like a long-term development project that hasn’t yet panned out.
Skill Position Battles
Much like their offensive line, the Raiders are wracked with injuries and inconsistencies among their skill position group. The biggest injury news is that emerging star tight end Brock Bowers will miss another week because of a knee issue. It appears that the other tight end, Michael Mayer, is on track to play on Sunday after practicing fully all week. Veteran Ian Thomas would draw the start alongside Mayer if they chose to do so. Of course, the Titans must scheme to stop rookie running back extraordinaire Ashton Jeanty. He’s come on hot lately after scuffling to start his debut campaign. As for receiver, the Raiders boast a lot of speed, particularly Dont’e Thornton, Jr, and Tre Tucker. Tennessee prides itself on sticky cornerback play, so they must press them at the line to have a chance. Jakobi Meyers is a steady veteran presence for the youngsters.
The Titans’ linebackers will need to make themselves known against the tight ends and Jeanty, particularly Cedric Gray and the more athletic James Williams, Sr. Cody Barton’s 2025 is quickly becoming a disappointment, given his contract. Still, he does have experience battling the Raiders. Rookie safety Kevin Winston, Jr made his debut last week in limited special teams duty but could see some defensive reps. If there is one hole that the Raiders can exploit, it’s Amani Hooker, who hasn’t lived up to his extension. Safety Xavier Woods could be an extension candidate based on his play. Cornerback is thin after rookie Marcus Harris was listed as out, so L’Jarius Sneed, Roger McCreary, and JAD must stay healthy.
Titans Offense vs. Raiders Defense
OL vs. DL Matchups To Watch
The key matchup to watch is on the perimeter, with right tackle JC Latham questionable to play after missing several weeks. If he cannot go or is limited in any way, it will be a disaster in the making for Tennessee with superstar EDGE Maxx Crosby eager to make Cam Ward’s Sunday miserable. The Titans’ offensive line played better as of late, taking its sweet time gelling together after being thrown together in the offseason.
Skill Position Battles
Vegas boasts notable names among its linebackers, including former Titan Jamal Adams, who has been converted to the position, and longtime veteran Devin White. Elandon Roberts is another veteran presence in the room. If Bo Hardegree possesses any wit, he would press White and Roberts into multiple pass coverage reps, as PFF grades them poorly in that area. Luckily for him, Tennessee has two running backs who are efficient in the pass game: Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard. Rookie tight end Gunnar Helm needs to be part of the game plan more, along with Chig Okonkwo. The Titans face another starting cornerback (Eric Stokes), who is listed as questionable, so it remains to be seen whether he is a full go. If not, it will be rookie Darien Porter getting the nod. The Raiders have a pair of young veteran safeties who haven’t lived up to the billing. Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn are players who can be exploited in the pass game.
Uniforms
Titans
BRITCHES REPORT
pic.twitter.com/h9BD016F7Y
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 8, 2025
Odds and Ends
The Raiders lead the all-time series by a margin of 30-22. Sunday marks the Titans’ first trip to Sin City, as Las Vegas previously visited Nashville in 2022. These two teams have met 14 times since the turn of the century, with each team earning a split down the middle. Tennessee is on a two-game winning streak against the Raiders, but Vegas/Oakland has won the past three of five contests. Interestingly, Tennessee hosted four of those five games. Notable alumni who donned the iconic silver and black, along with the two-tone blue, are Dave Pastorini, Mariota, Key, Dave Casper, Jared Cook, Billy Cannon, Jack Tatum, and Randy Moss.
Referee Referendum
Referee for Titans at Raiders — Carl Cheffers
https://t.co/TDHm3jFYbP #TENvsLV pic.twitter.com/GogvTvxgvF— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs
(@footballzebras) October 7, 2025
(All data is courtesy of footballzebras.com)
Cheffers is the most senior head referee in the NFL with 18 seasons at the helm. He has served as a league official for 26 seasons. However, the veteran official has one of the youngest crews in the league, with the most experienced official having 12 seasons. Another disadvantage for Cheffers is staff continuity, with only three members returning from the 2024 season. Five of the six on-field officials hold less than seven seasons on the job. Line Judge Quentin Givens is the staff’s rookie, coming from the Big 12. Field Judge Nate Jones is a former NFL player. Cheffers officiated one Titans game last season, the decisive blowout against the Lions.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The post Reeling Raiders Host Troublesome Titans In Must Win Week Six appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.