Head coach Jack Del Rio shook things up this week, giving rookies Karl Joseph and Cory James their first career starts. The two rookies lived up to the faith their coach placed in them; going one and two in tackles on the day.
For Joseph — as the team’s 14 overall pick -- it was time. He finished as the Raiders’ leading tackler with 10 combined tackles (six solo).
Unlike Joseph, the team wasn’t dying to see sixth round pick Cory James get in the lineup, but second year linebacker Ben Heeney was not getting the job done, so a change was made. Making his first start at middle linebacker, James finished tied second on the team with six tackles, all solo.
Other superlatives:
- The Raiders started the season 2-0 on the road for the first time since their 2002 Super Bowl season.
- The defense forced three turnovers for the first time since Week 4 of the 2015 season.
- Latavius Murray’s touchdown run from 22 yards out to finish off the first drive gave Raiders five rushing touchdowns on the season — tied for most in the NFL. It was third consecutive game with a touchdown to start the season — the first time in four seasons with the Raiders he’s done that.
- Sebastian Janikowski became the NFL’s all-time leader in field goals of 50-or-more yards (53), passing Jason Hanson, when he made a 52-yarder in the second quarter to give the Raiders a 10-3 lead over the Titans.
- The field goal also put Janikowski at exactly 500 career field goal attempts in regular season and postseason combined.
- Amari Cooper had the game’s first catch. It went for 25 yards up the right sideline and helped set up the Raiders’ opening drive touchdown. That’s his sixth reception of 20-plus yards this season. He is second the NFL in that category.
- Michael Crabtree recorded his 20th consecutive game with at least three receptions, dating back to his final game as a member of the 49ers (12/28/2014).
- Crabtree led all receivers in the game with 102 yards on eight receptions (12.8 yard avg.), along with the longest reception of the game (31 yards).
- Seth Roberts hauled in a 19-yard score that gave the Raiders a 17-3 lead late in the first half. His two receiving touchdowns on the season leads all receivers for the team.
- On third-and-13 in the second quarter, LB Bruce Irvin tackled a scrambling Marcus Mariota and created his second forced fumble of the season.
- CB Sean Smith recorded his first interception as a Raider, giving the defense its third takeaway of the day.
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