NASHVILLE — When the Las Vegas Raiders (0–3) took the field against the Tennessee Titans (1-2) on Sunday, it felt like the rare Week 3 "loser leaves town" game. Vegas experienced an unbelievable collapse against their previous opponent, while Tennessee got their first win despite significant issues of their own.

Victory soothes all in the interim.

"I'm excited for the players," said Titans coach Mike Vrabel. "I really am. I know they probably deserved one earlier in the season and we didn't end up with. You only get what you fight for in this league and I thought they fought for it today."

Tennessee needed all hands on deck to survive a late Las Vegas surge in the 24-22 victory.

A Derrick Henry decline is not the Titans main issue

Vrabel and Henry's teammates were certainly happy to see a return to form on Sunday.

The Titans opening drive culminated in six points for the third consecutive week. Henry was involved just as much in the passing game as he was Tennessee's rushing attack. On a 12-play, 75-yard series, Henry accounted for 19 on the ground and 26 through the air.

"Hard to win in this league," said Henry. "Happy that I was able to contribute to a great team win, and let this momentum carry forward."

In total, the Titans star back had 20 attempts for 85 rushing yards and five receptions for an additional 58.

Tennessee was in complete control of the first half, offensively, but things again frayed in the final two frames. Henry helped propel the offense to 24 points and 275 net yards of offense. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was well protected, and the passing game played the complimentary role to the Titans run-heavy attack that it was always designed to be.

What Vrabel and his staff will now have to figure out is why, for the third straight week, they cannot seem to generate that same second-half momentum. Tennessee was scoreless to finish against the Raiders. That means the total margin that teams are out-gunning them in the third and fourth quarters of contests to a shocking margin of 57-7.

Only the Eagles scored as many points in the first half of the other eight early slate games.

Tennessee's defense faces significant questions

Miscues by the Raiders who managed 12 points to bring the final score within a failed two-point conversion from overtime certainly had their part to play.

Corner Terrance Mitchell was signed to the Titans active roster from the New England Patriots practice squad on the Wednesday leading up to the game. Tennessee's coaching staff thought it better to give him the start at outside corner opposite Kristian Fulton while rookie Roger McCreary moved to the slot because of various injuries.

This left 2021 first-round pick Caleb Farley out in the cold and saw him take only a single defensive snap when Fulton had to come out for one play.

Mitchell allowed eight completions for 107 of Derek Carr's 303 passing yards, including a 48-yard catch by receiver Mack Hollins on a 4th-and-15 from the Las Vegas 27 with 2:13 to play in the game. It was biggest gain of the day by either team, and set up what very well could have been the equalizing score, where Mitchell was also the defender in coverage. A joint effort by linebacker Dylan Cole and safety Kevin Byard on the ensuing two-point attempt protected the lead and secured the win.

"Every week is a different week," Vrabel said of their decision at corner after the game. "We've got to find some guys that can go out there and cover, challenge and compete. We'll keep searching, and we've got some guys there that we'll give another look to this week."

The Titans currently are working with a diluted pass rush unit and have shown a proclivity for allowing explosive plays in the first month of the season. Both issues will need thorough examination in the week ahead as Tennessee prepares to take on its first divisional game against the Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1) to start October.

For now, take the win and (literally) run.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports. 

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