The Oakland Raiders defeated the Tennessee Titans 40-35 in a wild contest at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland. Raiders QB Kerry Collins threw for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns, three of them to WR Jerry Porter. WR Doug Gabriel and TE Teyo Johnson also hauled in touchdown receptions. DE Grant Irons' forced intentional grounding in the end zone resulted in a safety and preserved the victory for the Silver and Black.
Tennessee won the toss and elected to receive. The Titans moved out to their own 45 before the Raiders defense forced a punt. P Craig Hentrich's 48-yard punt was downed at the Raiders 7-yard line with 12:03 left to play in the 1st quarter.
The Raiders moved deep into Titans territory thanks in part to a 36-yard pass play from QB Kerry Collins to WR Jerry Porter. Collins capped the 7-play, 93-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown strike to TE Teyo Johnson. K Sebastian Janikowski's extra point gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 9:12 left in the 1st quarter.
The Titans answered with an 81-yard scoring drive of the their own as QB Billy Volek connected with WR Drew Bennett for a 17-yard touchdown pass. K Gary Anderson's extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 3:08 left in the 1st quarter.
Collins started the Raiders next drive with a 24-yard strike to Johnson to the Titans 45. A few plays later, Oakland jumped ahead with a 32-yard catch and run by Porter. Porter's sixth receiving touchdown of the season put the Raiders up 14-7 with 1:04 left in the 1st quarter.
After coming up with a defensive stop and forcing the Titans to punt, the Raiders went three-and-out. P Shane Lechler punted the ball back to Tennessee. The Titans used a trick play, a lateral from WR Eddie Berlin to CB Michael Waddell, to return the 54-yard punt 20 yards out to their own 49. CB Phillip Buchanon intercepted Volek's deep pass intended for WR Derrick Mason at the Raiders 2-yard line. Tennessee challenged and won, and retained possession. Later in the drive, Volek lofted a pass into the end zone for Bennett, who laid out for a diving 23-yard touchdown reception. Anderson's extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 8:42 left in the 2nd quarter.
After RB J.R. Redmond returned the ensuing kickoff out to the Raiders 30, Oakland went three-and-out. Lechler came on and drilled a 55-yard punt, which was returned 5 yards to the Titans 20-yard line. Thanks to a holding penalty and excellent pass defense, the Raiders defense forced a three-and-out. Hentrich's punt was fair caught by WR Doug Gabriel at the Raiders 22.
The Raiders took a 21-14 lead as Porter hauled in an 18-yard touchdown reception from Collins with 1:55 left in the 2nd quarter. Porter's second touchdown reception of the day capped a 9-play, 78-yard drive. The Titans wasted no time in tying the game as Volek connected with TE Ben Troupe for a 7-yard TD toss with 1:29 left in the 2nd quarter.
Oakland was unable to generate any points on their next drive and was forced to punt the ball back to Tennessee. The Titans moved the ball to the Raiders 22-yard line before Anderson came on for a 42-yard field goal attempt with :08 left in the 1st half, which sailed wide right. Collins took a knee to end the first half.
The Raiders took the opening kickoff of the second half and moved out to their own 45 before the drive stalled. Berlin called for and made a fair catch on Lechler's 45-yard punt at the Titans 11-yard line.
After the Titans managed to pick up one first down, the Raiders defense clamped down and forced a punt. Hentrich's 34-yard punt bounced out of bounds at the Raiders 42 with 9:00 left in the 3rd quarter. The Raiders marched the field and took the lead when Collins hit Gabriel with a 45-yard touchdown pass. Janikowski's extra point put the Raiders ahead 28-21 with 7:28 left in the 3rd quarter.
On the Titans next possession, Raiders DT Tommy Kelly sacked Volek on a 3rd and 7 play forcing a fumble. DE Warren Sapp recovered for the Silver and Black at the Titans 21-yard line. Collins then found FB Chris Hetherington for a gain of 14, setting up 1st and goal at the 7. A swing pass to RB Amos Zereoue picked up 2 yards. On 3rd and 3, Collins hung in the pocket and delivered a perfect strike to Porter for the touchdown. Janikowski's extra point gave the Raiders a 35-21 lead with 4:30 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Titans moved into to Raiders territory and were driving until CB Denard Walker picked off a Volek pass on 4th and 3, and returned the interception 46 yards to the Titans 35-yard line. Tennessee got the ball right back when a Collins' pass was tipped at the line and intercepted at the 34. The Titans marched down the field. Volek connected with WR Derrick Mason for a 3-yard touchdown pass. Anderson's extra point cut the Raiders lead to 35-28 with 11:53 left in the game.
Collins went right back to work hitting FB Zack Crockett and Porter for consecutive first downs to the Titans 46. But a penalty and a sack backed the Raiders up and stalled the drive. Lechler came on and crushed a 52-yard punt which bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
Tennessee marched to the Raiders 18. On 4th and 1, the Titans attempted a fake field goal. Holder Craig Hentrich's pass was broken up in the end zone. The Raiders took over with 5:54 left to play in the game. WR Alvis Whitted hauled in a 57-yard strike from Collins despite double-coverage. The play set up a 42-yard Janikowski field goal attempt. The successful kick gave the Raiders a 38-28 lead with 3:39 left in the game. The Titans would not quit as Volek engineered another scoring drive, which he capped off himself with a 1-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak. Anderson's extra point cut the Raiders lead to 38-35 with 1:21 left to play.
TE Teyo Johnson recovered Hentrich's onside kick attempt at the Titans 49-yard line. Two straight Crockett runs, which netted four yards, forced Tennessee to call their final two timeouts. Crockett's 3-yard run left the Raiders with 4th and 3 at the Titans 42. The Raiders ran the clock down to :25 before taking a delay of game penalty. Lechler punted the ball away to the Titans, and safety Jarrod Cooper dropped Mason at the Tennessee 11-yard line. DE Grant Irons and DT Tommy Kelly caught Volek in the end zone. Volek tried to throw the ball away and was called for intentional grounding, which resulted in a safety. The Raiders took a 40-35 lead with :08 left in the game.
The Raiders improve to 5-9 on the season and head to Kansas City to face the Chiefs on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium.