(Sports Network) - Consider the Oakland Raiders the NFL's version of a mid-20s Star Wars fanatic still living at home. As in, they can't score.

After being stymied for nine points by a rejuvenated Titans defense, the Raiders - losers of three straight - now find themselves 2-5 and in last place in the AFC West.

"It's kind of like last year, to be honest," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. "We're playing close games that we can't win."

Oakland's inability to find the left column derives from having an offense that has seen its rushing attack stumble, its quarterback play arrive sporadically, and its front five regress since starting the season in stellar fashion. The Raiders have just two touchdowns in their past three games, and on Sunday they had two more offensive penalties than points.

"I need to get this fixed," said rookie head coach Lane Kiffin. "We need to play more disciplined. All that comes from me."

Kiffin may want to start the "re-disciplining" process by looking at his starting quarterback, Daunte Culpepper. Considering that many wondered whether the 30-year-old veteran could even play this season after missing a large portion of his offseason still recovering from his knee operations, Culpepper has been halfway decent since taking over for an injured Josh McCown in Week 3. The problem is, in a league dominated by star quarterbacks (think it's a coincidence that the five best QBs this season, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Brett Favre, and Ben Roethlisberger all play for the five best teams?), "halfway decent" is not halfway good enough.

Of course, Culpepper is not the only culprit for the offense's lassitude. And he knows it.

"The thing we've got to get in all our minds offensively is each guy has to do our own part," Culpepper said. "It's like a puzzle. Everybody fits in the puzzle, everybody does their part, including myself, and when we do that, we're pretty successful. When one person falls apart, or makes the wrong decision at the wrong time, bad things happen."

RUNNING BACK DYNAMICS SHIFTING IN OAKLAND

LaMont Jordan started the season like a man on fire. In September, the ex- Maryland Terp looked like the man Oakland thought they were getting when they stole him from the Jets three years ago. Jordan rushed for 70 yards in Week 1, 159 yards in Week 2, 121 yards in Week 3, and 74 yards in Week 4. The Raiders were 2-2 in those games.

Since then, however, Jordan has nursed a sore back - an injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Dolphins - and has rushed for just 87 yards on 41 carries over the last three games, all Raider losses. His 16 yards on 12 carries against Tennessee is the low-point thus far.

The ultra prideful Jordan is undoubtedly his own biggest critic. His second biggest critic will soon be Joe Raider Fan, who just saw Jordan's backup, Justin Fargas, affirm his standing over newcomer Dominic Rhodes by rushing for 81 yards on 12 carries. The Raiders intend to give the faster, more electrifying Fargas (and that's "faster, more electrifying" compared to wrecking ball Jordan) more touches in the coming weeks.

"That was the plan coming in - we were going to play Justin more," Kiffin said of Fargas's heavier workload in Week 8. "We like what Justin brings, and he hadn't had very many opportunities of late. We wanted to give him a shot, and he responded."

WHO'S HOT

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski has made eight straight field goals, including three from distances of 50, 43, and 54 yards against the Titans on Sunday.

WHO'S NOT

The Raider offensive line committed eight penalties against Tennessee. They also failed to protect Culpepper, who was sacked five times.

NEXT UP

Oakland returns home to face a Houston Texans squad that just got embarrassed 35-10 by the San Diego Chargers.

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Visit Andy Benoit at www.benoitmedia.com