FLASH RECAP:
Baltimore's revved-up defense dominates Oakland's inept offense and Matt Stover kicks four field goals to lead the Ravens to a victory over the Raiders before an announced crowd of 70,744 at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 17, 2006.
For the second straight game, the Ravens (2-0) don't allow a touchdown and the Raiders (0-2) don't score a touchdown.
Oakland has six turnovers (three lost fumbles & three interceptions), six sacks, surrenders a safety and gains only 162 yards.
Sebastian Janikowski kicks field goals of 34 and 51 yards for the Raiders, who avoid starting a season with back-to-back shutout losses for the first time since 1961.
The Ravens build a 16-3 advantage in the first half on three Stover field goals and a Todd Heap touchdown catch. Janikowski's second field goal narrows the deficit to 21-6 early in the fourth quarter, but Mike Anderson caps the Baltimore blowout with a 34-yard TD run with two minutes remaining.
Oakland's Andrew Walter completes 10 of 27 passes for 162 yards after replacing an injured Aaron Brooks (strained pectoral muscle) late in the first quarter. Facing a relentless Ravens pass rush, Walter throws three interceptions, loses a fumble and is sacked by Adalius Thomas in the end zone for a safety.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
Ravens defense — The unit has six forced turnovers, six sacks, a safety and allows only 162 total yards.
LB Adalius Thomas — Has two sacks, an interception, a safety and seven solo tackles.
K Matt Stover — Accounts for 14 points on four field goals (25, 33, 37, 23 yards) and two PATs.
DT Warren Sapp — Has two sacks on the Ravens' Steve McNair.
QB Andrew Walter — Is 10-of-27 passing for 162 yards but he throws three interceptions and loses a fumble.
K Sebastian Janikowski — Has field goals of 34 and 51 yards, Oakland's first points of the 2006 season.
KEY STATS:
The Raiders don’t score a touchdown for the second straight game. It’s the first time since 1961, and the second time in franchise history, that Oakland opens a season without a touchdown in successive games. The Raiders started the 1961 season with consecutive shutout losses.
For the second straight game, the Raiders average 2.7 yards per play and fail to reach 165 total yards. Oakland has 162 total yards against the Ravens after having 129 total yards against the Chargers.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders RB Lamont Jordan
"We’ve got to win one-on-one battles. Too many guys are getting beat on one-on-one battles, and we’re not protecting our quarterback at all. Aaron Brooks got beat up last week (against the Chargers). He didn’t finish the game (against the Ravens). Andrew (Walter) comes in, he’s under pressure, and it’s the same old story."
"The No. 1 job is to protect the football. It’s unacceptable. I can’t do that. It kills drives and kills the team."
Raiders QB Andrew Walter
BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Raiders touchdowns in the first two games of the 2006 season.
3: Fumbled snaps by Raiders QBs Aaron Brooks (two) and Andrew Walter (one).
4-25: Oakland's road record the past 29 regular-season games.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders are winless in three regular-season games against the Ravens in Baltimore. Oakland also lost to the host Ravens in 1998 (13-10) and 1996 (19-14).
Baltimore opens a season with two wins for only the second time in franchise history. The Ravens started the 2000 season with two victories en route to a Super Bowl title.
Ravens MLB Ray Lewis (52) intercepts an
Andrew Walter pass intended for Randy Moss (18).
