Stompin' Tom Connors
Footballguy
Yes, it's premature, but after seeing the first real NFL game go off last night, I can't contain my excitement any longer. The autumn wind is a Raider, my hale and hearty friends, ready to blow unmercifully through Nashville once again.So this is the official thread for all my brethern Raider faithful to gather and discuss the upcoming war with Titan boosters before, during, and after the game. Called it, stamped it, no erasies, blackjack, one-two-three-around-the-corner, kings and queens jacks and aces, black (and silver) magic stamps it closed. ( 
)There has been a bitter rivalry brewing between these two teams for a few years, now. Last year, the Raiders seemed to own the Titans, racking up 93 points over their two meetings, including a sound 41-24 thrashing in the AFC title game. With Kearse banged up, the Titans couldn't force pressure on Gannon, who shredded the Titans with middle and deep routes en route to a 4 TD game.It was a pretty sloppy game on the Tennessee side, marred by turnovers and the inability to get their potentially lethal offence clicking against some stout defensive play by the Raiders.The Titans must be chomping at the bit to exact some revenge as the Raiders look to reestablish their dominance. Should be an incredible game to watch.When the Raiders have the ball, it will be key to see how effective Gannon can be against a healthy Tennessee pass rush. If the Raiders O line keeps Freak & Co. off Gannon's back, he will still need to accurately thread the ball past some pretty hard-hitting corners in Rolle and Dyson. The strength of the Raider attack relies on keeping the pocket from collapsing (Stinchcomb will have his work cut out for him) and the playcalling fast and flexible, using weapons old (Rice and Porter) and new (Teyo). If the Titans can slow up the pace and knock Gannon off his game in front of a hometown crowd, it could go a long way to starting the season on the right foot.I imagine Garner will be up and running at full speed, but the Raiders will look to employ him as a receiver more than a runner. The Titan linbacking corps will have to do a good job sealing off screens and dumps, as well as receivers peeling off the line. They will have to rapidly adjust to backfield motion and the no-huddle offence, which the Raiders employ a lot of in their one-back set. With the Raiders having so many weapons to throw at you, the Titans will have to make sure to make the most of their speed off the line in blitz packages.When the Titans have the ball, the obvious player that needs to get going is Eddie George. Though McNair seemed to have faired very well even in losses against the Raiders (he racked up nearly 400 yards in their regular season loss last year), the Titans will need to establish the run in order to keep some very competent linebackers and safeties into the box. Though Woodson is incredibly solid at Cback, Terrence Shaw can sometimes be exploited, so the matchup between Shaw and Drew Bennett will be interesting.I think the Raiders can be very successful against the traditional run, but McNair can be a Raider killer if he sees a hole and takes off sprinting. The Raiders play with a lot of passion on D, so rocking them back on their heels early will aid the Titans go a long way in deflating the Raider D while getting ahead and staying ahead. Frank Wycheck, an incredible weapon when he's on, is listed with a concussion, so it will be interesting to see how the Titans can step up if Wycheck is not effective.This is no cakewalk for either team, and it should be an incredible cap-off to the first regular season Sunday.Let's have at it, ladies and gents, let the smack begin.Raiders 30, Titans 17
)There has been a bitter rivalry brewing between these two teams for a few years, now. Last year, the Raiders seemed to own the Titans, racking up 93 points over their two meetings, including a sound 41-24 thrashing in the AFC title game. With Kearse banged up, the Titans couldn't force pressure on Gannon, who shredded the Titans with middle and deep routes en route to a 4 TD game.It was a pretty sloppy game on the Tennessee side, marred by turnovers and the inability to get their potentially lethal offence clicking against some stout defensive play by the Raiders.The Titans must be chomping at the bit to exact some revenge as the Raiders look to reestablish their dominance. Should be an incredible game to watch.When the Raiders have the ball, it will be key to see how effective Gannon can be against a healthy Tennessee pass rush. If the Raiders O line keeps Freak & Co. off Gannon's back, he will still need to accurately thread the ball past some pretty hard-hitting corners in Rolle and Dyson. The strength of the Raider attack relies on keeping the pocket from collapsing (Stinchcomb will have his work cut out for him) and the playcalling fast and flexible, using weapons old (Rice and Porter) and new (Teyo). If the Titans can slow up the pace and knock Gannon off his game in front of a hometown crowd, it could go a long way to starting the season on the right foot.I imagine Garner will be up and running at full speed, but the Raiders will look to employ him as a receiver more than a runner. The Titan linbacking corps will have to do a good job sealing off screens and dumps, as well as receivers peeling off the line. They will have to rapidly adjust to backfield motion and the no-huddle offence, which the Raiders employ a lot of in their one-back set. With the Raiders having so many weapons to throw at you, the Titans will have to make sure to make the most of their speed off the line in blitz packages.When the Titans have the ball, the obvious player that needs to get going is Eddie George. Though McNair seemed to have faired very well even in losses against the Raiders (he racked up nearly 400 yards in their regular season loss last year), the Titans will need to establish the run in order to keep some very competent linebackers and safeties into the box. Though Woodson is incredibly solid at Cback, Terrence Shaw can sometimes be exploited, so the matchup between Shaw and Drew Bennett will be interesting.I think the Raiders can be very successful against the traditional run, but McNair can be a Raider killer if he sees a hole and takes off sprinting. The Raiders play with a lot of passion on D, so rocking them back on their heels early will aid the Titans go a long way in deflating the Raider D while getting ahead and staying ahead. Frank Wycheck, an incredible weapon when he's on, is listed with a concussion, so it will be interesting to see how the Titans can step up if Wycheck is not effective.This is no cakewalk for either team, and it should be an incredible cap-off to the first regular season Sunday.Let's have at it, ladies and gents, let the smack begin.Raiders 30, Titans 17
Titans 23 Raiders 17
Will it be their last Post-season game? 
Now do I think it will happen again.. Of course I see very little differences from last year to this year.. Thats why this thread was started.. All the core members are playing.. All the Titan crap out of their mouth is meaningless cause they have no leg to stand on. Now if some how you beat us on Sunday Night at least there is an argument. Though I can't see that hapening. The Raiders D will hound McNair just like last year. Pressure is the name of the game and the Raiders bring plenty of that..
