FLASH RECAP:
Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 39-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to give Oakland a victory over Cincinnati before an announced crowd of 50,135 at Network Associates Coliseum on Sept. 15, 2003.
The Raiders (1-1) earn an ugly win despite being outgained in total yards, 237-416, and having the football for only 20 minutes, 36 seconds. QB Rich Gannon has one of his worst games in four plus seasons with the Raiders, throwing for only 103 yards on 13-of-28 passing. Gannon, who completes three straight passes for 39 yards to set up Janikowski's winning field goal, experiences back spasms for most of the game after absorbing a first-quarter hit by Bengals DE Duane Clemons.
"I was struggling physically," Gannon tells reporters after the game. "I had spasms in my back all day, but that's not the reason wec struggled. It just felt like we never got a rhythm going. It was a very frustrating day for me."
Just when the Bengals (0-2) appear to be driving for a go-ahead score, Raiders CB Phillip Buchanon intercepts a Jon Kitna pass and returns it 83 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 20-13 lead with 3:46 remaining. After Kitna throws an 8-yard touchdown pass to Peter Warrick with 1:18 left, the Raiders move 55 yards (aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty on Bengals CB Jeff Burris) before Janikowski kicks his third field goal of the game.
The Bengals fall to 0-9 (8 regular-season losses, 1 postseason loss) against the Raiders at Oakland.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
CB Phillip Buchanon - Is torched repeatedly by Bengals WR Chad Johnson, but delivers the game-turning play on an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown. His 37-yard punt return sets up a 26-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski in the third quarter.
K Sebastian Janikowski - Is 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including a 39-yarder with nine seconds remaining.
RB Charlie Garner - Rushes for 63 yards on 13 carries and catches five passes for 39 yards. His 24-yard catch to the Cincinnati 37 helps set up Sebastian Janikowski's game-winning kick.
Oakland 0-Line - The unit doesn't allow a sack and has no penalties. The Raiders also averaged 6.7 yards on 20 rushing plays.
P Shane Lechler - Averages a whopping 54.2 yards on six punts. He has a 61-yard punt in the first quarter.
WR Chad Johnson - Has 8 catches for 131 yards.
QB Jon Kitna - Is 25-of-41 passing for 303 yards and a TD, but he throws a killer interception to Phillip Buchanon.
WR Peter Warrick - Contributes 8 catches for 109 yards His 8-yard touchdown catch with 1:18 remaining lifts the Bengals into a 20-20 tie.
CB Tory James - Ex-Raider breaks up two passes and does a solid job in coverage before being sidelined in the fourth quarter because of leg cramps.
RB Cory Dillion - Seventy-one of his 84 rushing yards come in the first half before he's sidelined in the second quarter because of a hyperextended right knee. He returns in the second half to rush for 13 yards on 3 carries.
KEY STAT:
Raiders QB Rich Gannon has only 103 passing yards against the Bengals, his lowest total since throwing for 125 yards in Oakland's 18-17 loss at Miami on Sept. 23, 2001. Gannon had 79 yards on 7-of-14 passing against Kansas City in Oakland's 2002 regular-season finale on Dec. 28 in a rainstrom when the Raiders primarily ran the football.
TURNING POINT:
CB Phillip Buchanon returns a Jon Kitna interception 83 yards for a touchdown, giving Oakland a 17-10 lead with 3:46 remaining.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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0: Sacks allowed by Oakland's offensive line, which surrendered four sacks in a season-opening loss to Tennessee the week before.
2: Roughing-the-passer penalties on Raiders DT Rod Coleman in the first half, the first of which comes on the Bengals' second-quarter TD drive.
16: Combined receptions for Bengals WRs Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick for 240 yards.
82: Cincinnati offensive plays compared to only 48 for Oakland.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"This is like two weeks in a row. We need to pick it up. I'm more confused this week than last week. We're at home, we won the game, but we didn't play well. I have a problem with that."
"I think this is going to be the turning point in our season. If we turn this into a win next week, which we expect to do, everybody's going to look back on this and say this is how we're supposed to play."
Bengals DT John Thornton
DID YOU KNOW?:
Justin Fargas' 53-yard run in the first quarter is the longest by a Raider since Charlie Garner's 80-yarder against the Jets in the 2001 playoffs.
Bengals WR Peter Warrick, left, eludes Raiders SS Derrick Gibson.
By The Associated Press
