FLASH RECAP:
Interceptions by William Thomas and Darrell Russell stop San Diego scoring threats in the second half as Oakland holds on for victory before an announced crowd of 67,349 at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 15, 2001. The Raiders (10-3) become the first team to win back-to-back AFC West titles since the Denver Broncos in 1986-87. Rich Gannon throws a 40-yard pass to Jerry Rice in the third quarter for the game's only touchdown.
Trailing 10-6, San Diego (5-9) drives to the Oakland 2-yard line after Rodney Harrison intercepts Gannon near midfield. On second-and-goal, Doug Flutie's pass intended for Curtis Conway is intercepted by Thomas at the Oakland 3 with 5:53 remaining. Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 31-yard field goal to increase the Raiders' lead to 13-6 before the Chargers have one final thrust. San Diego advances to the Oakland 23, but Flutie throws incomplete to Jeff Graham over the middle on fourth down with 21 seconds left.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
Raiders defense -- After being maligned for five weeks by media and fans, the unit rebounds with its strongest performance of the season. The Chargers' Doug Flutie throws three interceptions and is sacked four times. Oakland doesn't allow an offensive touchdown for the first time in 13 regular-season games and surrenders only 68 yards rushing. The Raiders allowed an average of 194.6 yards rushing the previous five games.
OLB William Thomas -- Has two interceptions, two passes defensed and six solo tackles. Thomas prevents two touchdowns -- with his second interception and by tackling San Diego's Curtis Conway, who is stopped at the Oakland 24 after a 34-yard catch.
WR Jerry Rice -- The future Hall of Famer streaks by Chargers free safety Rogers Beckett for a ridiculously easy 40-yard touchdown reception. Rice finishes with six catches for 93 yards.
DT Darrell Russell -- Intercepts Doug Flutie at the Oakland 11-yard line on the first possession of the second half. Russell also shares a sack with Tony Bryant.
CB Charles Woodson -- Contributes four solo tackles and a pass defensed. Woodson sets up an Oakland field goal on a 30-yard return after he takes a lateral from William Thomas, who stops a San Diego drive with an interception.
WR Curtis Conway -- Has six catches for 99 yards. He almost turns a 34-yard catch into a 58-yard touchdown reception with 35 seconds left.
DE Marcellus Wiley -- Has two sacks, five solo tackles and a forced fumble.
SS Rodney Harrison -- Contributes an interception and five solo tackles.
MLB Junior Seau -- Makes eight solo tackles.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
San Diego quarterback Doug Flutie. Even after throwing three interceptions, Flutie has a chance to be the hero -- but he overthrows Jeff Graham open in the end zone with 27 seconds left. Flutie fails to engineer a touchdown in four possessions inside the Oakland 24. In two games against the Raiders this season, Flutie throws four interceptions and no touchdown passes.
TURNING POINT:
With San Diego two yards away from scoring a go-ahead touchdown, the Chargers' Doug Flutie is intercepted by Raiders linebacker William Thomas at the Oakland 3. Thomas returns his second interception of the game 11 yards before he laterals the ball to cornerback Charles Woodson, who runs for another 30 yards with 5:53 remaining in regulation.
KEY DRIVE:
After Darrell Russell intercepts Doug Flutie, the Raiders move 88 yards in 10 plays for the game's only touchdown. Zack Crockett and Terry Kirby run for first downs sandwiched between a 15-yard pass from Rich Gannon to Jerry Rice. On third-and-five, Gannon hits a wide open Rice on a crossing pattern for a 40-yard touchdown to break a 3-3 tie with 5:53 left in the third period.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2: Back-to-back AFC West titles for the Raiders for the first time since 1982-83 when the franchise was based in Los Angeles.
2: Lost fumbles by the Raiders' Charlie Garner and Tim Brown.
7: Field goals by Sebastian Janikowski in Oakland's past two games at San Diego.
13: Interceptions by the Chargers' Doug Flutie the past seven games.
68: Yards rushing allowed by the Raiders defense. It's the fewest rushing yards surrendered by Oakland in a game since it allowed 78 rushing yards against Philadelphia on Oct. 28.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders MLB Greg Biekert
"You don't want to go into the playoffs hurting on defense. You want to go in on a roll, and hopefully we started that roll today."
"That's a game we should have won. We had some great opportunities. I throw three interceptions, and the last one killed us."
Chargers QB Doug Flutie
DID YOU KNOW?:
With a 9-yard catch in the fourth quarter, the Raiders' Tim Brown joins Jerry Rice as the only two players in NFL history to reach 1,000 receiving yards nine straight seasons. Rice holds the league record of 11 straight seasons with 1,000 yards 1986-96. With five catches for 47 yards against San Diego, Brown has 1,047 receiving yards in 2001.
Rich Gannon (12)
passes to Charlie Garner (25) as San Diego's Junior Seau (55) tries for a sack.
By Associated Press
