NASHVILLE, Tenn. --The Tennessee Titans (4-6) play their first of three consecutive road games this week, traveling to Oakland to face the Raiders (4-6) in a late afternoon matchup. Kickoff at O.co Coliseum (capacity 53,286) is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CST on Sunday, Nov. 24.
The Titans have not played at Oakland since the 2004 season and have not won at O.co Coliseum since 2001. They have taken the two most recent battles in Tennessee (2007 and 2010), although the Raiders hold a 27-19 overall series lead, including playoffs.
THE BROADCAST
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This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Marv Albert will handle play-by-play duties while Rich Gannon provides analysis.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
Additionally, WestwoodOne Sports will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Dave Sims (play-by-play) and Mark Malone (analyst) will have the call.
LAST WEEK VS. INDIANAPOLIS
The Titans hosted the Indianapolis Colts last week on Thursday Night Football and were unable to hold an early lead, eventually falling by a final score of 30-27.
Chris Johnson capped each of the team's first two possessions with touchdown runs (30 and seven yards) and finished the first half with 80 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Yet in the second half, he was limited by the Colts to four carries for six yards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick started at quarterback for the third time in 2013 and the first time since Jake Locker (seven quarterback starts in 2013) was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Fitzpatrick was an efficient 22-of-28 passing against the Colts for 222 yards and a touchdown, no interceptions and a passer rating of 111.6. His 78.6 percent completion rate established a new career high through nine NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Titans.
Fitzpatrick's two primary targets last week were tight end Delanie Walker and wide receiver Kendall Wright, who together accounted for 19 of his completions. Walker led the team with 10 receptions for 91 receiving yards, while Wright caught nine passes for 80 yards.
However, once the Titans established a 17-3 lead in the first half, the Colts stormed back to take the lead with 20 unanswered points. The Titans pulled to within three points with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but a failed onside kick attempt sealed the outcome in the Colts' favor.
THE RAIDERS
The Raiders are in their second year under head coach Dennis Allen. The NFL's youngest head coach was hired in 2012 after 10 years as an NFL assistant. In 2011, he was the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos as the team won the AFC West.
Last week, the Raiders traveled to Houston and defeated the Texans 28-23. Undrafted rookie Matt McGloin made his first career start at quarterback and completed 18 of 32 passes for 197 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory. McGloin, the same as Titans head coach Mike Munchak, is a native of Scranton, Pa., and a graduate of Penn State University.
McGloin was in the lineup in place of the injured Terrell Pryor, who has started eight games this season but was ruled out of the game at Houston due to a knee injury. The third-year veteran from Ohio State has passed for 1,559 yards and five touchdowns in 2013, while also rushing for 504 yards, the high mark this season among NFL quarterbacks.