NASHVILLE, Tenn. —In the final minutes on Sunday at Nissan Stadium, it appeared the Titans got the game-winning stop they needed on defense.
A fourth down pass from Raiders quarterback Derek Carr fell to the ground in the end zone, and there was finally reason to celebrate.
Then everyone realized a flag was on the field -- Titans cornerback B.W. Webb had been called for defensive holding on the other side of the field, while defending receiver Amari Cooper.
"We were standing on the sideline, and that's when we all had to walk back out there,'' Webb said afterward. "We thought the game was over at that point."
The Raiders ended up scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Carr to receiver Seth Roberts two plays later, and they held on to win, 24-21.
Webb said he was "100 percent" not guilty.
"The ref didn't tell me anything. I had tight coverage on (the receiver),'' Webb said. "He just threw the flag. I don't know which part I could've held him...I don't know. I personally think it was a terrible call, but I really can't say much about it. I didn't grab him at all. I'm not sure what the refs saw.
"It was crazy, that play was kind of crazy."
The Titans didn't like the call, for a number of reasons.
"(The call) was holding on B.W. on the backside of really where the play was. (The play) was all left,'' Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey said. "They were throwing left all the way. Somehow a call came from the right of where B.W. was. Where it came from I have no idea. Do I agree with it? No I don't agree with it."
It was a frustrating ending for the Titans, who took a 21-17 lead with 4:41 left on a pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota to fullback Jalston Fowler.
The Tennessee Titans take on the Oakland Raiders Week 12 at Nissan Stadium. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
The Raiders got the ball at their own 10-yard line with 4:34 left. Completions to Cooper and Michael Crabtree set the drive in motion, and then Carr connected with Roberts for 31 yards.
Facing a first-and-10 at the Tennessee, the Raiders gained two yards on the first play. But back-to-back incompletions made it 4th-and-8 from the Tennessee 36.
Carr threw deep to receiver Andre Holmes, but safety Michael Griffin helped break it up.
But the controversial flag kept the drive alive.
"It was the last down, so I thought we had a turnover on downs, but then I saw the flag,'' Cooper said. "Penalties are a part of the game, so I was glad it was in our favor."
The Titans weren't nearly as nonchalant about it. The Raiders took the lead for good with 1:21 left in the game.
"They called a penalty that wasn't even close to the play,'' receiver Kendall Wright said. "I think they were just throwing it to be throwing it because we were getting held all day."
Added tight end Delanie Walker: "The ball wasn't even going to the receiver that got called, that changed the game right there. I felt that our defense stopped them, the referees put it in their hands and gave them an opportunity to get the ball back and of course they scored a touchdown after you put them half the distance to the goal."
Webb, who was promoted to the practice squad earlier this season, said he tried to play sound defense on the play in question.
Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard said the defense was upset it couldn't close the game out even after the call.
"It sucks. Any time you don't get the call your way you can always be upset about it,'' Woodyard said. "But we still had another chance to get off the field and we couldn't get off it."
