NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans couldn’t match the solid Raiders Sunday, and swallowed a disappointing 26-16 loss.

The run defense, supposed to be a strength, couldn’t stop Oakland late to help get the ball back, which just added to the sting.

Ultimately, however, the offense has got to put up more than 16 points against a high-quality opponent to win.

Some quick hits:

That start: Yes, if the Titans recover the onside kick it’s brilliant. But they didn’t. To me, that’s an over-anxious coach trying to do too much with one play. The Titans brought in a slew of great special teams cover guys. Kick it off and pin the Raiders deep, don’t provide a great offense with a short field. Or take a touchback and defend a 75-yard field instead of a 50-yard one.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at paulkuharsky.com. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and one of the longest-tenured Titans beat reporters in the franchise's history.

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