Titans vs. Raiders 2013 game preview: Playoff hopes on the brink for both teams

Tennessee and Oakland are clinging to their wild card hopes and both need a win in Week 12.

by Jon Benne

Nov 24, 2013, 1:55 PM UTC

Andy Lyons

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Titans vs. Raiders 2013, Week 12: Ryan Fitzpatrick throws late touchdown to beat Oakland, 23-19

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The Oakland Raiders host the Tennessee Titans in Week 12. Neither team has much left to play for, but a win would keep their fading wild card chances afloat. Both teams are sitting at 4-6 and have uncertain quarterback situations.

Meet the Oakland Raiders

Matt McGloin overcame the odds and delivered a knockout blow to the Houston Texans. The Raiders are being coy about whether McGloin or Terrelle Pryor will start this week, but all indications say that McGloin will get another shot. Pryor has regressed sharply in the past month and is dealing with a knee injury. With the Broncos and Chiefs lapping the field in the AFC West, the Raiders essentially need to win out if they want a shot at a second wild card spot.

Meet the Tennessee Titans

The Titans are also 4-6 after losing five of their last six games. They gave a scare to the Indianapolis Colts last week, but eventually fell, 30-27.

Local Takes: Oakland Raiders

Levi Damien from Silver and Black Pride thinks sticking with Matt McGloin at quarterback might be the right idea:

Dennis Allen said on Monday that he was not naming a starter until he spoke to Pryor and the status of his injury, but also said he would be taking all things into consideration. Among those things to take into consideration was how well McGloin played in the team’s win over the Texans last Sunday in which he threw for three touchdown passes with no interceptions.

Local Takes: Tennessee Titans

Xanpham at Music City Miracles previewed this week’s game, and thinks it’s an interesting matchup:

I think this will be an interesting game, if only to see how the Titans respond to collapsing on national television. If they can contain the Raiders rushing attack, they have a real chance at walking away with a win. That said, the game will likely come down to who can adapt as the game unfolds, and at this point I have more faith in Dennis Allen and Co. to do just that than I do in Munchak. Beyond this, McGloin proved he can sling it when he torched the Texans last week, so I wouldn’t underestimate him. I think it’s a close one in the end, and a game that will likely be decided by one big turnover.