FLASH RECAP:
Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 31-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to give Oakland a pulsating 27-24 victory over Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 9, 2001. He also hits field goals of 43, 42 and 36 yards to help the Raiders win their third straight game over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Rich Gannon throws for 341 yards and two touchdowns while receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice combine for 16 receptions for 220 yards as Oakland wins its first road opener since 1987. Dick Vermeil becomes the first Chiefs coach to lose his home regular-season opener (Marv Levy was the last, losing to the Houston Oilers 20-17 in 1978).
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon -- Despite three turnovers, he rallies Oakland with 21 points in the second half. Completes 31 of 46 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Throws his first interception in 105 passes against the Chiefs.
PK Sebastian Janikowski -- His game-winning field goal hooks just inside the right upright. The Polish Cannon hits four of six kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. The second-year Raider has made six consecutive field goals at Arrowhead.
WR Tim Brown -- Makes eight catches for 133 yards and one touchdown. Burns Chiefs cornerbacker William Bartee on a 33-yard reception to set up Sebastian Janikowski's game-winning 31-yard field goal.
WR Jerry Rice -- Contributes eight receptions for 87 yards in his regular-season debut with the Raiders. Despite dropping the potential go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the 49ers' great sets up Sebastian Janikowski's game-tying 36-yard field goal with 7- and 15-yard catches.
KR David Dunn -- Returns a Todd Peterson kickoff 40 yards on Oakland's game-winning drive. Dunn averages 32.5 yards on four kickoff returns.
WR Marvin "Snoop" Minnis -- The rookie from Florida State sends the Arrowhead faithful into euphoria when he rallies the Chiefs with a spectacular 30-yard touchdown catch, deadlocking the score at 24-24. After eluding Oakland Pro Bowl CB Charles Woodson, Minnis dives into the end zone to catch a Trent Green pass. Woodson tells reporters after the game: "Our team is up by seven points and to give up a play like that just ripped my heart out."
QB Trent Green -- Kurt Warner's former backup is moderately successful in his Chiefs debut as he completes 16 of 37 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. On Kansas City's game-tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, Green breaks the grasp of Oakland pass rusher Josh Taves before rushing 13 yards on a fourth-and-10 to the Oakland 42.
CB Eric Warfield -- Returns a Rich Gannon pass 51 yards for a touchdown on game's fourth play.
TE Tony Gonzalez -- Isn't a factor in the outcome despite having a team-high five catches for 81 yards. The former Cal star passes Fred Arbanas for most receiving yards by a Kansas City tight end. Gonzalez has 3,122 receiving yards compared to 3,101 for Arbanas, who played with the Chiefs from 1962-70.
P Dan Stryzinski -- Sets a franhcise record with a 74-yard punt.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
Kansas City place-kicker Todd Peterson is wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt with the game tied at 17-17. After the Chiefs rally to tie with 1:21 remaining, David Dunn returns Peterson's short kickoff 40 yards to the Kansas City 49 to help set up Sebastian Janikowski's 31-yard field goal.
TURNING POINT:
Oakland erupts for 18 straight points in the second half to erase a 17-6 Kansas City advantage. Rich Gannon throws a 33-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown before Gannon runs for a 2-point conversion, reducing the Raiders' deficit to 17-14 with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. After Sebastian Janikowski's 36-yard field goal deadlocks the game at 17-17, Gannon completes a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jon Ritchie to give the Raiders a 24-17 lead with 3:19 left in regulation.
KEY DRIVE:
The Raiders move 36 yards in five plays for the winning points. David Dunn returns a Todd Peterson kickoff 40 yards to the Kansas City 49. On second-and-eight, Rich Gannon completes a 33-yard pass to Tim Brown. Three plays later, Sebastian Janikowski nails a 31-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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3: Consecutive Oakland victories at Arrowhead Stadium.
4: Field goals and touchbacks by Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski.
8: Defensive touchdowns scored by the Chiefs in the past 13 games against the Raiders.
10: Penalties on Oakland for 106 yards. Tim Brown (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Regan Upshaw (roughing the passer) each are flagged for 15-yard infractions.
16: Combined receptions by Oakland's Tim Brown and Jerry Rice.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"For this team to respond the way it did ... once we got down, we could have easily folded. But we kept fighting, kept clawing. And we found a way to win."
"The offense and defense were playing their hearts out. You never want to miss, but when you miss in that situation, that's pretty tough."
Chiefs PK Todd Peterson
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Chiefs-Raiders series is deadlocked at 40-40-2. The series started in 1960, when the former Dallas Texans (Chiefs) and Raiders were original members of the American Football League. The Texans franchise moved to Kansas City in 1963.
Shane Lechler (9) and Sebastian Janikowski celebrate Janikowski's game-winning field goal.
By Associated Press
