Oakland Raiders Defense Can’t Pick Up Sebastian Janikowski, Titans Win Nail-Biter

November 24, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) kicks a field goal out of the hold by punter Marquette King (7) against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Sebastian Janikowski was once a Pro Bowl kicker for the Oakland Raiders, but the 35-year-old is not having his most spectacular season.

In fact, he might be having his worst. Janikowski booted four field goals on Sunday at the Black Hole, but misfired on two others, and the Raider defense broke down late as the Tennessee Titans scored a touchdown with 15 seconds to go to beat Oakland 23-19. Janikowski has now made 15-of-22 on the season.

The loss puts a severe crimp in the Raiders’ playoff chances as they fall to 4-7. The Titans, with the win, improve to 5-6 and with tiebreakers hold the No. 6 position in the AFC playoff hunt.

The Titans engineered a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended with the game-winning touchdown when Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick found Kendall Wright for a 10-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left.

The Raiders had taken a 19-16 lead with 6:17 remaining on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Matt McGloin to Marcel Reese, but the offense was only able to muster one touchdown drive on the day.

Janikowski missed a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and settled for a 9-6 halftime lead.

Then, after Tennessee scored on a catch-and-run from Fitzpatrick to Justin Hunter that covered 54 yards—that included Hunter beating two defensive backs with a simple spin move—and took a 13-9 lead, Janikowski missed again, this time from, 48 yards away.

The Raiders opened the scoring with a 52-yard field goal by Janikowski four minutes into the game. Tennessee tied it up on a 33-yard field goal from Rob Bironas with 3:42 left in the first.

Bironas gave the Titans a 6-3 lead with a 22-yard field goal three minutes into the second quarter, but Oakland forged ahead on a 48-yarder by Janikowski with 6:30 remaining and a 24-yard field goal from Seabass with 52 seconds left in the first half.

The Raiders got to within one at 13-12 with 1:46 left in the third period on Janikowski’s fourth field goal of the day from 42 yards away and Tennessee extended the lead back to four at 16-12 when Bironas hit from 23 yards out midway through the fourth quarter.

In his second start, McGloin was 19-for-32 for 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Rashad Jennings ran for 73 yards on 15 carries and Rod Streater made five catches for 93 yards.

Fitzpatrick ended the day 30-of-42 for 320 yards and two scores for Tennessee, while Chris Johnson ran for 73 yards on 20 carries. Hunter had six receptions for 109 yards and Wright finished with 103 yards on six grabs.

The Titans ran 73 plays to just 55 for Oakland and held the ball for 35:48, outgaining the Silver-and-Black 426-353.

The Raiders have a short week to recover from the loss as they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. Pacific.