FOXBORO — In his Tennessee days, Mike Vrabel would walk into the first team meeting of every game week with a promise.

Do these three or four things, he’d tell his players, and victory will be waiting on the other side.

Sometimes, Vrabel’s keys were obvious.

Protect the ball. Protect the quarterback. Prevent explosive plays on defense.

Others were tailored to the Titans’ upcoming opponent, a particular matchup or scheme.

This week, Vrabel has already identified his keys for the Patriots; the battlegrounds he believes will swing Sunday’s season opener against the Raiders one way or another. Offered the chance to reveal them Wednesday, he declined.

“Yes, we have (decided),” Vrabel said, “and no, we won’t (share).”

Let’s take a stab, anyway.

The Raiders are a top-heavy team built to t

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