FLASH RECAP:
Doug Gabriel and Justin Fargas (top) score second-half touchdowns to rally Oakland (2-1) past Arizona (0-3) before an announced crowd of 35,070 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Aug. 28, 2004.
With the Raiders trailing 13-3, Gabriel catches a 45-yard touchdown pass from Kerry Collins late in the third period. After Arizona coughs up a fumble, Fargas caps a 4-play, 27-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to lift Oakland into a 17-13 advantage.
Neil Rackers kicks three field goals and Josh Scobey scores on a 2-yard run for Arizona. Sebastian Janikowski has a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter for Oakland.
If you're keeping score, Collins seems to be gaining on Rich Gannon in their competition for the Raiders' starting quarterback position. Gannon completes 8 of 12 passes for 89 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the Cardinals. Collins hits 3 of 7 passes (there are two drops by Gabriel and TE Courtney Johnson) for 79 yards and throws a TD pass to Gabriel for the third straight game.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
WR Doug Gabriel - Contributes his third TD catch of the 2004 exhibition season on a 45-yard strike from Kerry Collins.
DT Grant Irons - Sets up Justin Fargas' game-winning TD by forcing a Josh McCown fumble on a sack.
Oakland LB Maugaula Tuitele recovers McCown's fumble at the Arizona 27.
RB Justin Fargas - His 1-yard TD run on third-and-goal gives Oakland its first lead.
QB Josh McCown - Rushes for 35 yards on 3 carries and completes 16 of 23 passes for 187 yards.
K Neil Rackers - Makes field goals of 26, 23 and 31 yards, but time expires as he lines up for a 53-yarder.
WR Nate Poole - His 56-yard reception to the Oakland 24 sets up Josh Scobey's 2-yard TD run in the third quarter.
KEY STAT:
The Cardinals produce only one touchdown and three field goals on four possessions inside the Raiders' 14-yard line.
BY THE NUMBERS:
4: Raiders touchdowns in eight possessions with Kerry Collins at quarterback during the 2004 exhibition season. Rich Gannon has led Oakland to three field goals and a TD in eight possessions.
14: Oakland consecutive second-half points. Touchdowns by Doug Gabriel and Justin Fargas turn a 10-point deficit into a 17-13 Raiders lead.
294: Passing yards by the Cardinals, who are missing their top three wide receivers - Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders QB Kerry Collins
"Preseason is so difficult, and I think Rich (Gannon) is having a heck of a camp. He's playing well in the games. It just seems like I have been able to have more big plays. But that's just more luck than anything."
"Our first team has moved the ball OK, but we have not been able to produce points. And that might be how we have to play. I don't know."
Cardinals coach Denny Green
DID YOU KNOW?:
The NFL's Nos. 1 and 2 career touchdown leaders - Oakland WR Jerry Rice and Arizona WR Emmitt Smith - are among the starters in the Raiders-Cardinals game. Rice has 205 career TDs followed by Smith's 166.
Justin Fargas is airborne for a TD against Arizona.
