The Oakland Raiders had a more than a shaky start in their season opener against the Tennessee Titans with turnovers, penalties and ineffective play on both sides of the ball.  While Titan quarterback Vince Young had his own issues coughing up the ball in the first quarter, he was also able to move his team downfield with efficiency as well as showing off his ability to run the ball himself for significant yardage.  The glaring difference between the two teams was the protection given to each team’s respective quarterbacks.   Vince Young had time to thrown the ball while the Oakland offense did little to help Jason Campbell.  Campbell had very little time to throw the ball getting sacked, hurried and pummeled by the Tennessee defense.  While the Oakland offensive front line may be the biggest in the league, they very well might be one of the worst.   It was Tennessee penalties that earned the Raiders only score in the first quarter, a Janikowski field goal.  That 3-0 lead was short-lived as Vince Young connected with Nate Washington for 56 yards and the touchdown putting Tennessee into the lead 7-3.  That 3-play 74 yard drive was just the beginning of a very long first half for the Oakland Raiders.  Tennessee closed out the quarter with a 43 yard field goal and a 10-3 lead.

The Titans continued their onslaught in the second quarter when Javon Ringer pounded out 15 yards charging into the end zone for another Tennessee touchdown and a 17-3 lead.  The Raiders had been able to keep the lid on Chris Johnson in the opening quarter but it was just a matter of time.  Johnson got his legs going in the second quarter tearing up the Raider defense.  It was another 100 yard game for him, 112 yards to be exact, and it was only the first half.  His 76 yard romp late in the second quarter gave the Titans a 24-3 lead.  The only successful drive in the first half for Oakland came late in the second quarter but again the Raiders had to settle for yet another field goal, this one for 30 yards.

The Titans continued to pour in on in the second half.  Chris Johnson got it going early with his second touchdown of the day on a walk-in for a 31-6 lead.  A Jason Campbell interception late in the third quarter lead to yet another Titan touchdown when Vince Young found Bo Scaife in the end zone.  Looking at a 38-6 deficit this “comedy of errors” was anything but funny for the Oakland Raiders.  Janikowski had missed two field goals.  Their offense was totally disjointed while the defense was unable to stop the run.  Penalties were numerous most of them on the offense.  Confusion lining up was apparent as the Raiders looked poorly prepared for their season opener.   

As the fourth quarter got underway, this game was totally out of reach for the Raiders.   Oakland mounted what was probably their best drive of the game culminating with a Darren McFadden touchdown.  The 38-13 final was about as lop-sided as they come.  Oakland was totally dominated by Tennessee on both sides of the ball.

It was just another in a long string of losses in the season opener for the Oakland Raiders.   Losing a season opener doesn’t have a lot to do with how the season will progress and finish; it’s more about how Oakland lost this game.   Let’s take a look at the issues.  For most of the game the front line was ineffective providing little protection for Jason Campbell.  He was rushed, sacked and rendered helpless much of the time.  Offensive penalties were numerous, and confusion lining up was obvious.    Oakland could not contain the run nor put much pressure on Vince Young.     Then there were the penalties most of them on the offense.  How about those dropped passes that should have been completions? How do you fix that much once the season is underway?  It’s a tall order, a very tall order.

Next Sunday, the Raiders will host the St. Louis Rams in their home opener.  They have a lot of work to do that is a given, but how much can be accomplished in six short days?  In a new season that seemed to be just a bit brighter, it seems that a gloomy overcast has settled over the Silver and Black.  Everything that could go wrong did in this season opener.  For now, it’s just a wait and see for the Raider Nation.