OAKLAND RAIDERS RAP
FLASH RECAP:
Tyrone Wheatley rushes for two touchdowns and William Thomas returns one of his two interceptions 46 yards for another score as Oakland pounds Cleveland before an announced crowd of 45,702 at Network Associates Coliseum on Sept. 24, 2000. The Raiders start a season 3-1 for the first time since 1995.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
LB William Thomas -- The Eagle reject returns a Tim Couch interception 46 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 28-7 lead late in the first half. On the previous drive, Thomas returns his first interception 12 yards to the Cleveland 37 to set up Oakland's third touchdown.
RB Tyrone Wheatley -- Rushes for a season-high 63 yards on 21 carries. He scores Oakland's first two touchdowns on 2-yard runs.
QB Rich Gannon -- No touchdown passes, but he cooly rebounds from a disastrous performance against Denver the week before and avoids a turnover for the third time in four games this season.
TE Rickey Dudley -- The Invisible One lives. He contributes three catches for 44 yards. Dudley had five receptions in the season's first three games.
WR Darrin Chiaverini -- Catches a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tim Couch on Cleveland's game-opening drive.
RB Errict Rhett -- Rushes for 85 yards on 15 carries and also has two catches for 24 yards.
MLB Wali Rainer -- Somebody had to slow down Oakland RBs Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman, who combined for 100 yards rushing on 28 carries. Rainer has a game-high 12 total tackles.
PK Phil Dawson -- Misses a 42-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter, but he hits one from 30 yards in the third quarter. Dawson, who spent a brief time with the Raiders during their 1998 training camp before being cut, had to derive a moment of redemption by making a field goal in front of Al Davis.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
QB Tim Couch hits 4 of 6 attempts for 51 yards and a touchdown on Cleveland's game-opening drive. The rest of the game, he completes
12 of 23 passes for a mere 90 yards. He suffers interceptions on two of his final three passes in the first half.
TURNING POINT:
Oakland LB William Thomas intercepts Tim Couch on successive drives late in the first half. His first interception sets up a 37-yard touchdown drive. On Cleveland's next possession, Thomas returns his second interception 46 yards for a touchdown to give the Raiders a 28-7 lead.
KEY DRIVE:
The Raiders move 37 yards in eight plays for a touchdown (on Zack Crockett's 2-yard run) to take a 21-7 advantage with 4:26 left in the second quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS:
-
0: Catches by Oakland WR James Jett the past two games.
2: Interceptions by Oakland LB William Thomas.
14: Years since the Raiders last defeated Cleveland.
230: Yards allowed by Oakland defense.
THEY SAID IT:
Oakland LB William Thomas
"By far, I've got the best hands on the team."
"It's been a long time since I've been 3-1."
Oakland WR Tim Brown
DID YOU KNOW?:
Cleveland is 1-3 against the Raiders in Oakland. The Browns' only win was a 7-3 triumph in 1973.
Oakland's William Thomas returns an interception by The Associated Press
