FLASH RECAP:
Kerry Collins, playing for an injured Rich Gannon, throws for 228 yards and one touchdown to lead Oakland to a dominating victory over Tampa Bay before an announced crowd of 60,874 at Network Associates Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2004.
Gannon sustains a fractured vertebra in his neck after absorbing a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks at the Tampa Bay 5-yard line in the first quarter. Gannon, who suffers the injury after rushing for two yards on third-and-goal, is expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks.
The nationally televised game on ESPN marks the return of former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and 16-year Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown.
After Brown scores on a 16-yard catch for Tampa Bay (0-3) with 10 minutes, 45 seconds left, the former Raiders great receives a standing ovation from the Coliseum crowd. He becomes the fourth player in league history with 100 career TD catches.
"I knew it would be tough to clap for me," Brown tells reporters after Oakland's victory. "At the same time, I've had a great relationship with Raider fans. If I could have written a better script, the only thing that could have been better is if it had been the winning touchdown. These people have always supported me."
The Raiders (2-1) build a 23-6 lead early in the second half when CB Phillip Buchanon returns a Brad Johnson pass 32 yards for a touchdown. Tyrone Wheatley's 2-yard TD run late in the third quarter increases Oakland's advantage to 30-6.
The Raiders beat the Bucs for the fifth tine in six regular-season meetings, but Tampa Bay won the biggest game - a 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII on Jan. 26, 2003.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Kerry Collins - Completes 16 of 27 passes for 228 yards and 1 TD for a sinilating 183.6 quarterback rating.
CB Phillip Buchanon - Returns a Brad Johnson interception 32 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to boost Oakland's lead to 23-6.
RB Tyrone Wheatley - Has 102 rushing yards on 18 carries. His 60-yard run in the first quarter is his longest rush from scrimmage since a career-high 80-yarder against Seattle on Oct. 22, 2002.
LOT Barry Sims - Literally smothers Bucs DE Simeon Rice, who is credited with one solo tackle. In Super Bowl XXXVII, Rice had two sacks after blowing past Sims.
WR Tim Brown - His 16-yard score early in the fourth quarter is the 100th TD reception of his NFL career. The 17-year veteran also extends his league-high streak of a catch in 176 games.
OLB Derrick Brooks - Has 10 solo tackles, including a riveting hit that sidelines Raiders QB Rich Gannon.
QB Brad Johnson - Throws for 309 yards and two TDs, but he's ineffective for the game's first three quarters.
WR Bill Schroeder - Contributes 4 catches for 126 yards.
GOAT:
Bucs coach Jon Gruden. After being booed during the pre-game warmups, Gruden watches his team flounder from the Tampa Bay sideline. The former Raiders coach has a three-game losing streak for the first time in his NFL coaching career. Gruden is out-coached by Raiders' counterpart Norv Turner, as the Bucs fall behind 30-6 before scoring two fourth-quarter TDs.
KEY STAT:
Raiders CB Phillip Buchanon returns an interception for a touchdown for the fifth time in his 24-game NFL career. Buchanon also has scored on a punt return and a kickoff (off a reverse).
BY THE NUMBERS:
7: Touchdowns (4 interception returns, 3 punt returns) by Oakland's Phillip Buchanon in 25 NFL career games.
11: Raiders receivers who catch passes from QBs Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins.
173: Oakland rushing yards after gaining only 134 yards on the ground in the season's first two games.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders DT Warren Sapp
"It was a big buildup, big game and the right outcome. Oh, I got just a little bragging rights, too."
"It was a great feeling for me. It is one of the more exciting times in my career to go back where I came from."
Bucs coach Jon Gruden
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Bucs' Tim Brown joins former Raiders teammate Jerry Rice (194), Cris Carter (130) and Steve Largent (100) as the only players in NFL history with 100 career TD catches.
Raiders QB Rich Gannon (12) is
drilled by Bucs OLB Derrick Brooks.
