The Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders both sit at an unenviable 0-2. However, there is a key difference between them. The Raiders suffered close losses to the respectable Chargers and Cardinals, while the Titans suffered a close loss to the Giants and a blowout loss to the Bills. Perhaps that’s why the sportsbooks predict the Raiders will beat the Titans in Nashville. The current betting odds point to an average-scoring game between the teams and the player prop markets are bullish on Davante Adams.
The Raiders have plenty of issues of their own. Slot receiver Hunter Renfrow may miss Week 3 with a concussion. Offensive linemen Andre James and Jermaine Eluemunor have been dealing with injuries, as has linebacker Denzel Perryman. The Titans also have a number of key pieces on the injury report, including pass rusher Bud Dupree and offensive linemen Jamarco Jones and Taylor Lewan.
Raiders vs. Titans Week 3 NFL Betting Picks & Predictions
Raiders vs. Titans Betting Odds
Raiders Struggling in the Trenches
The Raiders are probably better than their 0-2 record suggests, but it's unclear by how much. Quarterback Derek Carr has gotten off to an underwhelming start this year -- he has completed 61.8% of his passes for 547 yards and four scores. Carr has thrown three picks and taken six sacks as well, and he has recorded just 6.22 net yards per attempt (NY/A).
Poor offensive line play has seriously hurt Las Vegas. The team hasn't invested much in the offensive line, and the few players they have invested in haven't worked out. The team's 2021 first-round pick, tackle Alex Leatherwood, now plays guard for the Chicago Bears. Their first-rounder from 2018, Kolton Miller, is a replacement-level tackle. Right tackle Eluemunor slides in below replacement level. The two are responsible for half the sacks given up this season and are a big part of why the Raiders rank 25th in adjusted sack rate -- and why running back Josh Jacobs has only been able to get 1.4 yards before contact. Raiders fans likely had higher hopes with Davante Adams joining the offense in the offseason, but the consequences of systemic underinvestment in the offensive line may undermine the gains made by acquiring him.
The Las Vegas defense has also underperformed. The Raiders brought in Chandler Jones to help Maxx Crosby in the pass rush, but the duo has combined for a single sack through two games. The Raiders are pressuring opposing signal-callers on only 18.5% of their dropbacks. Opposing rushers are getting 2.45 yards before contact as well. The secondary has intercepted one pass all year and gave up multiple big plays late to Kyler Murray. Opposing tight ends are also averaging 77.5 yards receiving and 0.5 touchdowns per game against the Raiders.
Titans Lack Explosiveness, Vulnerable to Big Plays
The Tennessee Titans have fallen off considerably since Mike Vrabel took over in 2018. Poor roster management is to blame. The Titans have lost a once formidable offensive line. They also traded away their best wide receiver, A.J. Brown, during the offseason. The results have been bad: through two games, quarterback Ryan Tannehill has completed 58.5% of his passes for two scores and 5.66 NY/A. Tannehill has taken three sacks and thrown two interceptions. Running back Derrick Henry averaged only 1.7 yards before contact against the Giants and totaled only 25 yards against the Bills.
The Titans relied on chunk plays last year, but they haven't shown explosiveness this season. Henry is yet to break a run for more than 20 yards. Replacing Brown with Treylon Burks could work long-term, but Burks has caught just one pass for more than 25 yards. Dontrell Hilliard, a backup running back who missed Week 2 with an injury, remains the team's third-ranked player in receiving yardage after Week 2. Burks, Hilliard and rookie slot receiver Kyle Phillips are all dealing with different ailments heading into Week 3.
In contrast, opposing offenses have burned the Titans with big plays. Giants running back Saquon Barkley tore off a huge 68-yard run and totaled 164 yards rushing against Tennessee in Week 1. All three of Buffalo's running backs logged a rush for at least 16 yards in Week 2, and wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Jake Kumerow and Isaiah McKenzie all caught passes that went for more than 25 yards.
Raiders vs. Titans Prediction
The Titans have been trying to get new tight end Austin Hooper involved in the offense. He recorded two targets in Week 1 and five in Week 2, although he only managed to reel in two of them. With leading receivers Burks and Phillips both nursing injuries, Hooper may need to step up on Sunday.
Mike Vrabel has often involved multiple tight ends in his offense. However, the Titans moved on from both MyCole Pruitt and Anthony Firkser in the offseason, leaving Hooper to compete with only Geoff Swaim and fourth-round rookie Chigoziem Okonkwo. Hooper leads the tight end room in route participation at 64.9%, well ahead of Swaim's 31.6% and Okonkwo's 8.1%. Look for Hooper to exploit a Raiders defense that has struggled against starting tight ends: Gerald Everett caught three of his four targets for 54 yards in Week 1, and Zach Ertz caught eight of his 11 targets for 75 scoreless yards in Week 2.
Raiders vs. Titans Prediction: Austin Hooper Over 20.5 Receiving Yards (-120) at DraftKings
Raiders vs. Titans OddsShopper Model Prediction
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