Las Vegas, NV— For once, the Las Vegas Raiders’ defense stole the show.
After weeks of breakdowns and big plays allowed, the Raiders unleashed relentless pressure on the Tennessee Titans, overwhelming rookie quarterback Cam Ward and snapping a four-game losing streak with a 20–10 victory on Sunday.
Led by Devin White, Maxx Crosby, and Jonah Laulu, Las Vegas (2–4) looked nothing like the unit that surrendered 40-plus points twice in its previous three games. Instead, it bottled up Tennessee (1–5) from the opening snap, holding the Titans scoreless in the first half and allowing only 10 points total.
“We’ve been talking about wanting to play good football for a long time,” coach Pete Carroll said. “It finally came together today. It’s been so long since we’ve won that I can barely remember the feeling — but this one matters. These guys earned it.”
Defense Sets the Tone Early
Neither team found much offensive rhythm — they combined for just 451 total yards — but the Raiders didn’t need much from their offense.
Quarterback Geno Smith threw for 174 yards and a touchdown, and running back Ashton Jeanty added 75 yards and a score. That was enough thanks to a defense that suffocated the Titans’ attack from start to finish.
Las Vegas blanked Tennessee in the first half, the first time the Raiders have held an opponent scoreless in a half since Dec. 29 against New Orleans. The opening two quarters were a slog, with both teams averaging just 2.39 yards per play — the lowest mark for an NFL game since 2011.
The Titans’ struggles deepened when wide receiver Calvin Ridley exited in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, a week after posting 131 yards in Arizona.
White Leads a Defensive Masterclass
White turned back the clock to his Tampa Bay prime, stuffing the stat sheet with nine tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble. He became just the third Raider since 1999 — joining Khalil Mack and Trace Armstrong — to record that rare combination in a single game.
“I don’t know if anyone could’ve done more than Devin did today,” Carroll said. “That’s a monster stat line.”
Crosby added two sacks, extending his streak to nine consecutive games with a tackle for loss — the longest by a Raider since 2008. Laulu’s sack was his fourth in six games, a feat no Raiders defensive tackle had achieved since Bill Pickel in 1986.
Altogether, Las Vegas sacked Ward six times and pressured him on more than a third of his dropbacks, according to Next Gen Stats.
“They brought pressure in ways we didn’t see on film,” Titans coach Brian Callahan admitted. “They zero-blitzed us several times — that’s not something they’ve shown much before.”
Ward, the No. 1 overall draft pick, finished 26 of 38 for 222 yards and a touchdown to tight end David Martin-Robinson, the first of his career.
Around the Field
- Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons notched a sack for the third straight game.
- Carroll earned his 171st career win, tying Bill Parcells for 17th on the NFL’s all-time coaching victories list.
Aces Honored in Pregame Ceremony
Before kickoff, the Las Vegas Aces — fresh off winning their third WNBA championship in four years — were celebrated at Allegiant Stadium. The team received a video tribute, and players helped light the Al Davis Memorial Torch as fans roared their approval. Both the Aces and Raiders are owned by Mark Davis.
Injuries
- Titans: K Joey Slye (calf) was inactive, replaced by Matthew Wright. OLB Femi Oladejo left with a calf injury in the third quarter.
- Raiders: TE Brock Bowers (knee) missed his second straight game. RB Dylan Laube (hamstring) exited in the second half, while P AJ Cole (ankle) played through last week’s injury.
Up Next:
- Titans: Host the New England Patriots on Sunday.
- Raiders: Travel to face AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs next weekend.
