The Las Vegas Raiders needed a win against the Titans, and they got one. Coach Pete Carroll can finally kiss his team’s four-game losing streak goodbye, and good vibes can briefly permeate the organization and its fan base. The Raiders are back, baby.
Or, in a less rosy reality, the Raiders beat an awful team with an overwhelmed rookie quarterback. Las Vegas played it safe on offense to avoid another multi-interception outing from Geno Smith, and a looming trip to Kansas City in Week 7 could bring a harsh reality check.
The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in between.
The Raiders’ defense does its job—but against whom?
We know the Raiders’ defense isn’t the most talented unit in football. Its success often depends on the quality of its opponent—and it will rarely face a quarterback and offensive line as unprepared as Tennessee’s. Still, led by defensive end Maxx Crosby and linebacker Devin White, the group capitalized on every mistake and did its job on Sunday.
It was a promising effort, even if the context makes it difficult to gauge long-term growth.
A conservative offense raises more questions…
While the defense made the most of soft competition, the offense took the opposite approach—throttling down instead of pressing its advantage. Smith averaged just 3.2 air yards per attempt, according to the Associated Press, the third-lowest mark of his career. That’s a far cry from his aggressive Week 1 showing against New England.
Still, there’s an argument that a conservative plan could pay dividends down the line. Las Vegas leaned heavily on its ground game and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who posted a career-high 23 carries. That balance kept the Titans off rhythm and opened opportunities in play-action—the kind of formula the front office envisioned when it drafted Jeanty sixth overall.
Yet for this approach to work, Smith must still create explosive plays—something missing Sunday. Whether his reluctance to throw downfield was by design or due to a lack of confidence, it’s a trend that can’t continue.
Winning without progress?
The Raiders notched a much-needed win, but the franchise remains in roughly the same spot as before. Can Smith, who threw his 10th interception of the season in the victory, become the quarterback Las Vegas hoped he’d be when it extended his contract? Or is he sliding back toward the turnover-prone player of his early career?
Relying on Jeanty and eventually getting tight end Brock Bowers back could stabilize the offense, but the Raiders are still searching for an identity. Sunday’s game may have been a small step toward it—or just a temporary patch.
At least Las Vegas avoided the disaster of losing to Tennessee. A 17–0 lead, built on Jeanty’s fierce running and a rare efficient red-zone drive, was enough to preserve victory—and, perhaps, a few jobs. Titans coach Brian Callahan wasn’t as lucky, dismissed the following day.
The Raiders are aiming higher than “Let’s not get fired.” Their offense must start proving it can be more than just cautious and competent. If the present rebuild is going to stick, that statement will need to come sooner rather than later—and next week in Kansas City would be a perfect place to start.
Related: Is The Raiders’ Defensive Line Actually Elite?
*Top Photo: Getty Images