FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws for four touchdowns to lead Oakland (7-2) to a victory over San Diego (5-5) before an announced crowd of 61,960 at Network Associates Coliseum on Nov. 18, 2001. Jerry Rice has three touchdown receptions and Tim Brown one as the Raiders win their 10th straight home game. For the Chargers, Curtis Conway scores on a 67-yard run and Ronney Jenkins returns a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. After LaDainian Tomlinson has a 1-yard scoring run for San Diego, Rice breaks a 24-24 tie on a 20-yard touchdown catch with 2:46 remaining.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon -- Completes 25 of 38 passes for four touchdowns. His 16-yard scramble to the San Diego 21 sets up a game-winning 20-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice.
WR Jerry Rice -- Has eight receptions for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Rice beats Chargers rookie cornerback Tay Cody for 12- and 20-yard scoring catches. It's Rice's first 100-yard receiving game since the 1999 regular-season final with the San Francisco 49ers. He last scored three touchdowns in a game on Dec. 18, 1995.
WR Tim Brown -- Contributes six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
OT Lincoln Kennedy -- Limits Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley to one tackle. Wiley had 15 sacks in his previous 13 games.
DT Darrell Russell -- Makes four solo tackles in his first start this season. Stops the dangerous LaDainian Tomlinson for a 2-yard loss on third-and-one near midfield to force a San Diego punt late in the first half.
KR Ronney Jenkins -- Returns third-quarter kickoffs 67 yards (to set up a Wade Richey field goal) and 93 yards (for a touchdown).
DE Raylee Johnson -- Blows past Oakland OT Matt Stinchcomb to sack QB Rich Gannon three times.
WR Curtis Conway -- Scores on a 67-yard reverse in the first quarter.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson -- Rushes for 68 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. The rookie also has three catches for 14 yards.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
San Diego quarterback Doug Flutie. Flutie completes 12 of 27 passes for 98 yards with one interception. He doesn't throw a completion to a wide receiver until the second play of the fourth quarter. Flutie loses a fumble at the San Diego 33 with 1:54 remaining and Oakland leading 31-24. After Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 25-yard field goal for a 34-24 Oakland lead, Flutie is intercepted by the Raiders' Tory James on the game's final play.
TURNING POINT:
Rich Gannon throws a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Rice to break a 24-24 tie with 2:46 remaining. Three plays later, Oakland linebacker William Thomas returns a Doug Flutie fumble 11 yards to the San Diego 16. After the drive stalls, Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 25-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 34-24 advantage.
KEY DRIVE:
The Raiders move 65 yards in seven plays for the game-winning touchdown. Rich Gannon hits three of four passes for 47 yards, including a 20-yard scoring toss to Jerry Rice. Gannon rushes 16 yards for a first down at the San Diego 21. Two plays later, Gannon throws his third touchdown pass of the game to Rice to give the Raiders a 30-24 lead with 2:46 left.
BY THE NUMBERS:
-
0: Catches by San Diego wide receivers in the first three quarters.
3: Touchdown receptions by Oakland's Jerry Rice.
4: Consecutive losses by the Chargers at Oakland.
10: Consecutive regular-season victories by the Raiders at Network Associates Coliseum.
250: Yards on six kickoff returns by the Chargers' Ronney Jenkins
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders coach Jon Gruden
"There were some inexcusable errors that occurred today. A few things really swayed the momentum radically, but the team showed resolve, and we were able to overcome it."
"This one bugs me because I felt I was ready to have a great game."
Chargers QB Doug Flutie
DID YOU KNOW?:
Oakland QB Rich Gannon throws 277 passes without an interception before being intercepted by San Diego CB Ryan McNeil in the third quarter. Gannon's streak is the fourth longest in NFL history behind Bernie Kosar (Cleveland) at 308, Bart Starr (Green Bay) at 294 and Jeff George (Indianapolis and Atlanta) at 279.
Jerry Rice (80) celebrates after scoring his first of three touchdowns against San Diego.
By Associated Press
