FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws for two second-half touchdowns and Oakland's defense forces four turnovers to lead the Raiders to a blowout victory over visiting New York in an American Conference divisional playoff game before an announced crowd of 62,207 at Network Associates Coliseum on Jan. 12, 2003.
The Raiders (12-5) score 20 unanswered points in the second half as Gannon throws touchdown passes to Jerry Porter (29 yards) and Jerry Rice (9 yards). Zack Crockett scores on a 1-yard run and Sebastien Janikowski kicks field goals of 29, 34 and 31 yards for Oakland.
Chad Pennington's 1-yard touchdown pass to Jerald Sowell lifts the Jets (10-8) into a 10-10 with 22 seconds left in the first half.
With a berth in the AFC Championship game at stake, the Raiders rise and the Jets fizzle in the second half. Pennington implodes with two interceptions and a lost fumble in the final two quarters of New York's season. Gannon, voted the league's 2002 MVP, engineers four scoring drives after halftime on 14-of-20 passing for 189 yards and the aforementioned two scores.
In the days leading up to the divisional playoff game, Jets and Raiders players voice inflammatory comments to the media. In particular, Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans criticizes Raiders guards Frank Middleton and Mo Collins for cheap-shot blocking tactics during Oakland's 26-20 win over New York on Dec. 2.
The Raiders also are irritated by the national media glorifying Jets quarterback Chad Pennington as the next Joe Montana after he leads New York to three straight victories and eight wins in their previous 10 games entering the AFC playoff semifinal.
The revved-up Jets offer one final taunt to the Raiders before kickoff when they initiate a midfield skirimsh following pregame introductions at the Coliseum.
After the Raiders eliminate the Jets for the second straight postseason, Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson tells the media: "Trash talk is not going to intimidate anyone on this team. I have no respect for someone who talks all week and then doesn't show up on Sunday."
Adds Raiders defensive tackle Rod Coleman: "Someone should tell them to keep their mouths shut next time."
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
WR Jerry Porter - Has a career-high 123 receiving yards on six catches. Races past Jets free safety Damien Robinson for a 29-yard touchdown catch and a 50-yard reception in the third quarter. Porter contributes 112 receiving yards on five catches in the final two quarters.
CB Tory James - Knocks down two passes in the end zone, intercepts Chad Pennington late in the third period to set up a go-ahead touchdown and forces a fumble.
CB Charles Woodson - In his first action since undergoing surgery Dec. 24 to insert a metal plate to protect a broken right fibula, he has two near-interceptions, defenses three passes and helps limit New York receiver Wayne Chrebet to one catch for seven yards.
RB Charlie Garner - Has 93 rushing yards on 21 carries and catches three passes for 26 yards.
DT Rod Coleman - Contributes 1.5 of the Raiders' four sacks on the Jets' Chad Pennington.
RB Curtis Martin - Has 74 of the Jets 120 rushing yards on 15 carries. He also makes three receptions for 31 yards.
DE John Abraham - Has eight total tackles and one of two sacks on Oakland's Rich Gannon.
KEY STAT:
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington throws his first interception in 169 passes. With two interceptions against Oakland, Pennington equals his interceptions the previous 10 games.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
The Jets' Chad Pennington, who has an abysmal 44.9 quarterback rating on 21 completions in 47 attempts for 183 yards and one touchdown.
He led the NFL with a 104.2 efficiency rating in the 2002 regular season. In the final two quarters of New York's season, Pennington completes only seven of 26 passes for 85 yards with two interceptions. His first of two lost fumbles sets up Oakland's first touchdown.
TURNING POINT:
Cornerback Tory James makes an over-the-shoulder interception of a Chad Pennington pass at the New York 45-yard line. After a 16-yard completion to Tim Brown, Rich Gannon throws a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Porter to give Oakland a 17-10 lead with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS:
1: Jets victories over the Raiders at Oakland's Network Associates Coliseum in 10 regular-season and postseason games. The Raiders hold an 8-1-1 advantage over the Jets at the Coliseum. The Titans/Jets were 3-3 in Oakland during the 1960s when the Raiders played at Frank Youell Field.
9: Combined receptions by New York wideouts Laveraneus Coles, Wayne Chrebet and Santana Moss. Coles contributed 23 catches for 392 yards the previous three games against Oakland.
10: Points by New York, which scored 134 points the previous three games.
189: Passing yards by Oakland's Rich Gannon on 14 completions (including two touchdowns) in the second half.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Tim Brown
"If the Jets were the best team in the league, I don't know what that makes us right now."
"Steve Young said (on ESPN-TV) the Jets were the hottest team and that they were the front-runner for the Super Bowl. Contrary to popular belief, we're a pretty good team."
Raiders WR Jerry Porter
"I was struggling all day long. There's an old saying that as the quarterback goes, so goes the offense and so goes the team. I didn't go today. I didn't give us a chance."
Jets QB Chad Pennington
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders' Jerry Rice scores his 21st career playoff touchdown early in the fourth quarter, tying the NFL record previously shared by Thurman Thomas and Emmitt Smith. With 47 receiving yards on four catches, Rice overtakes Thomas as the league career leader in postseason total yards. Rice has 2,133 yards, nine more than Thomas' previous record of 2,124.
The Raiders' Jerry Porter (84) beats Jets safety Damien Robinson (22) on a 29-yard touchdown reception.
By Associated Press
