FLASH RECAP:
Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 40-yard field goal as time expires to give Oakland an exhibition-season opening victory over San Francisco before an announced crowd of 63,854 at Candlestick Park on Aug. 14, 2004. Norv Turner gets a victory in his first game as Raiders' head coach.
Janikowski's fourth field goal of the game (he also makes kicks of 26, 46 & 21 yards) caps a wild second half after the 49ers rally to tie four times. Two former University of Washington quarterbacks - Oakland's Marques Tuiasosopo and San Francisco's Cody Pickett - combine for 280 passing yards and two TDs in the second half.
The fourth quarter features two dramatic kick returns for touchdowns on back-to-back plays. The 49ers' Arnaz Battle deadlocks the score at 27 on a 61-yard punt return before Carlos Francis promptly gives the lead back to the Raiders on an 87-yard kickoff return. Francis, a 2004 fourth-round draft choice, also catches a 36-yard TD pass from Tuiasosopo late in the third quarter.
Rich Gannon, playing in a game for the first time since injuring his shoulder last season, and backup Kerry Collins each demonstrate they are capable of leading the Raiders' offense. Gannon is 9-of-15 passing for 69 yards on Oakland's opening two drives. The 2002 NFL MVP makes three third-down completions on the game's first drive to set up a Janikowski field goal.
Collins, signed by the Raiders in May after being cut by the New York Giants, is 5-of-8 passing for 88 yards on two second-quarter drives. Collins throws a highlight-film 34-yard touchdown pass to Doug Gabriel on third-and-10 late in the first half to give Oakland a 13-10 lead.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
WR Carlos Francis - The 5-foot-10 rookie from Texas Tech scores on a 36-yard pass and returns a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, both in the second half.
K Sebastian Janikowski - Makes field goal attempts of 26, 46, 21 and 40 yards. His only miss is from 51 yards.
QB Kerry Collins - His bullet, 34-yard TD pass to Doug Gabriel was reminiscent of former strong-armed Raiders' QB Daryle "Mad Bomber" Lamonica and Jim Plunkett.
QB Marques Tuiasosopo - Completes 10 of 16 passes for 191 yards and one TD. On Oakland's final drive, Tuiasosopo has three completions for 43 yards and rushes twice for 13 yards to set up Sebastian Janikowski's game-winning field goal. quarter.
QB Cody Pickett - Completes 5 of 7 passes for 89 yards and one TD as he helps the 49ers overcome four second-half deficits.
WR Arnaz Battle - Breaks four tackles on a spectacular 61-yard punt return for a TD early in the fourth quarter.
TE Gabe Crecion - Contributes a game-high 76 receiving yards on 3 catches. His 21-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter overcomes a 27-20 Raiders lead.
KEY STAT:
With reserves playing, the teams combine for 30 points during the fourth quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Oakland sacks allowed on 39 passing attempts.
33: Combined penalties by the Raiders (21) and 49ers (12).
139.6: Kerry Collins' quarterback rating in his first game as a Raider.
215: Oakland penalty yards on 21 infractions.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Carlos Francis
"This was my first time out there, and it was a great feeling. I'm going to remember this for a long time."
"It felt like when we went to the Super Bowl (in the 2002 season) ... Then we got (Kerry Collins) dropping balls on people. Teams are going to be in trouble this year."
Raiders G Frank Middleton
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders beat the 49ers in an exhibition game at Candlestick Park for the first time since 1990 (a 23-13 Raiders victory). The 49ers had won their four previous home preseason meetings against the Raiders (2003, 2002, 1993 & 1992). The Raiders lead the Battle of the Bay series 17-15, but the 49ers have won six of the past eight games.
Doug Gabriel (85) scores against the 49ers.
