The whole Las Vegas Raiders team has to perform for 60 minutes to get a win against the Tennessee Titans. There is no more being good in either the first or second half. It is time to put everything together. There are two players on offense that need to step up to help the Raiders secure the victory.
Can Dylan Parham sustain his play regardless of where he plays?
The rookie offensive lineman has been a hidden gem for the Raiders thus far. All the same, this week will be his biggest test. Whether Parham is lined up at guard or center, expect the Titans to test out the rookie with stellar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons is tied for eighth in sacks with two and is one of the true game-wreckers at his position.
Parham has to be competitive in his matchups against Simmons to give the Raiders some breathing room. If Simmons comes in and just dominates, the night could get ugly for the Raiders offense. Don’t expect a lot of one-on-one opportunities for Simmons, but when they are presented, Parham just has to do what he has done, which is be able to stand his ground. This will truly be one of the deciding matchups in this game; the Raiders’ interior O-line versus Simmons.
Raiders Blog: Davante Adams needs to get his double-digit targets again
Adams will always be an “x-factor” for the Raiders, as he is one of the best, if not the best, wide receivers in all of football. According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Adams had one of his worst games against the Cardinals as he posted12 yards receiving, his lowest total since 2017.
The Titans are young at defensive back, especially with starting cornerback Kristian Fulton being limited in practice after missing the game against the Bills. A young cornerback combined with a hungry Adams looking to bounce back will make for a notable matchup to follow on Sunday.
Fans can certainly expect Adams to outmaneuver any cornerback the Titans throw at him. Nonetheless, it’s up to Derek Carr and Josh McDaniels to get him involved. Do that early and often and you will see the results (see Week 1).
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*Top Photo: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sports Wire via Getty Images
