The vibes around the Las Vegas Raiders should be much better heading into Week 7 after the team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. Prior to the game, it looked like things were going downhill.
Players and coaches were clearly getting frustrated. One rumor even started to circulate on social media that star defensive end Maxx Crosby had to hold a players-only meeting before the Titans game.
However, that rumor did not come from a reputable source. After the win, Crosby was asked about the rumor.
“That is complete BS,” Crosby told reporters, via Mike Dixon of Vegas Sports Today.
Players-only meetings are common in the NFL, especially for losing teams. The Raiders have definitely had their fair share of them over the years. That said, it’s usually a sign that the players don’t fully trust the coaching staff, which is never a good thing.
Head coach Pete Carroll is just six games into his tenure with the Raiders, so it’s not fair to undermine his authority so quickly. It’s possible that Crosby might have to hold a players-only meeting at some point, but he hasn’t felt the need to do that quite yet.
Raiders Defense Was Excellent vs. Titans
It has been an up-and-down year for the Raiders’ defense. They played really well in the first two games of the season, but struggled the last three weeks, especially in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, when they gave up 40 points.
The group was clearly ready to get back on track in Week 6. The Titans had to work for every yard, and the defense forced three turnovers. Considering the Raiders’ offense continued to struggle, this win was very much thanks to the defense.
Crosby had a strong game with 2.0 sacks, but he finally got some help. Jonah Laulu, Devin White and Leki Foto all had sacks. White was arguably the best player on the field for either team on Sunday, as he also had a forced fumble and an interception to go with nine tackles. If the defense is going to play like this and the offense can just get slightly better, the Raiders will be a tough team to beat going forward.
“The defense played really well from the beginning on, throughout. A lot of guys contributed,” Carroll said after the game.
Can Raiders Build off This Win?
It wasn’t a perfect game for the Raiders on Sunday. Though they got the win, the offense still played poorly. Geno Smith threw another interception, and the offensive line got worked for much of the game, giving up two sacks and only allowing the run game to average 2.1 yards per carry.
The Titans’ defense is a bit better than their stats, but it’s still not an elite group. The Raiders play a much better Kansas City Chiefs team in Week 7, which will be a far bigger test. A win against a hated rival in Week 7 would be a huge boost heading into the bye week. It won’t be easy, but the Raiders have a chance to make a statement.
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