A clash between 1-4 teams was not what was envisioned, but that is exactly where the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves.
On Sunday, the Raiders square off against the Tennessee Titans at Allegiant Stadium in a battle that could decide whose postseason hopes are all but officially dashed.
Both teams come in to this matchup in very different moods. The Raiders hope to bring an end to a four-game losing streak, while the Titans are coming off an improbable victory over the Arizona Cardinals. With both teams already in precarious positions, they will be desperate to earn a win to keep themselves afloat.
Here are three things to pay attention to as the Raiders hope to keep their season hopes alive.
Keep it clean
As the Cardinals found out the hard way, even a team as moribund as the Titans were can find ways to win games if given the opportunity.
To prevent a similar fate from happening to them, limiting careless mistakes will be of the utmost importance for the Raiders. That will be a lot easier said than done, however, as quarterback Geno Smith leads the NFL with nine interceptions and the Titans defense has forced eight turnovers in five games. That combination does not bode particularly well for the Raiders, so Smith is going to need to play smart in order to keep his offense on the field.
No cracking under pressure
The Indianapolis Colts did not boast an impressive pass rush heading into last week, but they still beat the Raiders offensive line for four sacks.
They face a similarly lacking pass-rushing group in the Titans, but defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has the potential to wreck games. For a beleaguered unit that has only had one good game out of five, this is the time the Raiders offensive line needs to step up. A strong performance can turn the tide of their season, while another letdown will only amplify the questions surrounding them.
Practice what you preach
This week, Raiders fans saw what looked like a disconnect between head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly play out.
For the most part, the issue revolved around the play of the offense, with Carroll believing a renewed emphasis on the running game would go a long way towards helping Smith correct his course. No matchup would be better for that purpose than against the Titans, a team that boasts the third-worst run defense in the league with 146.8 rushing yards given up per game. For the record, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had the best game of his young career against one of the teams below the Titans in the Chicago Bears.
If there was ever a game to skew a bit more heavily towards the run, this is it for the Raiders.
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