Challenge for Raiders, Titans is making least mistakes

That hasn’t been easy for either team this season.

The Raiders are tied for the league lead in penalties with 65 through six games and have lost two games by six or fewer points. The Titans have committed 55 penalties, but they also have 15 turnovers.

“The mistakes that you make cost you ballgames,” Titans quarterback Steve McNair said.

“At the same time, this team still has a lot of hope. We’re not going to get down on ourselves. … We have to realize for us to get back on track, we have to cut out the mistakes and the penalties.”

At least the Titans (2-5) will have McNair back Sunday. He missed last week’s 20-10 loss in Arizona because coach Jeff Fisher told him to stay in Nashville and rest his injured back.

The Raiders (2-4) may have to guard against overconfidence after playing their best game last week in a 38-17 victory over Buffalo. It was the first time this season they scored more than 20 points, and they had a season-high 162 yards rushing.

“We can’t feel good about ourselves,” Raiders quarterback Kerry Collins said. “We’re still 2-4. We have a lot of ground to make up. We haven’t been very good on the road.”

Oakland lost both its road games this season, and the Raiders play five of their next seven away from home. The Titans are the only opponent with a losing record they’ll face for a month.

“We need to keep this going,” Oakland left tackle Robert Gallery said. “We got a good one last week, but it’s another week — and another tough week — so we want to keep this rolling.”

The Raiders didn’t expect to be in this position after trading for receiver Randy Moss and signing 11 free agents, including running back LaMont Jordan. Now they’ve lost cornerback Charles Woodson (broken right leg), safety Derrick Gibson (dislocated left wrist) and left guard Langston Walker (stomach surgery).

“Fortunately, we have young players,” Oakland coach Norv Turner said. “Over the last couple years, we’ve drafted a number of guys in the secondary.”

Buffalo couldn’t make the Raiders pay when they went to top draft pick Fabian Washington and fellow rookie Stanford Routt in the secondary. The Titans will have trouble because of their own injuries.

Top receiver Drew Bennett will miss a second straight game with a dislocated left thumb, and Brandon Jones, the No. 1 rookie receiver in the NFL, is questionable with a sprained right knee.

The Titans will go with third-year wideout Tyrone Calico, who caught a season-high six passes last week, and rookies Roydell Williams and Courtney Roby.

Oakland has given up 228.2 yards passing even with Derrick Burgess’ seven sacks.

“It’s up to us to go out and take advantage of that,” McNair said.

But this won’t be a passing shootout like last December when these teams played in Oakland. McNair’s backup, Billy Volek, threw 60 times for 492 yards, while Collins threw for a season-high 371 yards and five touchdowns.

With new coordinator Norm Chow, the Titans haven’t thrown more than 31 passes in a game. Tennessee also will have running back Travis Henry back from a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, and will pair him with Chris Brown.

Oakland will try to stick with Jordan against a defense allowing 108 yards per game.

The Titans want to see if they can force Collins into some mistakes. He has been intercepted only once in 214 attempts, and Moss, limited to three catches last week with a sore groin and ribs, should be healthier. But Tennessee has 22 sacks without much blitzing thanks to Kyle Vanden Bosch and his 7 1/2 sacks.

“We see improvement from this team, and that’s the thing we’re striving for each day and each weekend,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

That, and a much-needed victory.