FLASH RECAP:
Steve McNair throws for two touchdowns and punter-turned-kicker Craig Hentrich kicks three field goals as Tennessee (1-0) holds off Oakland (0-1) before an announced crowd of 68,809 at The Coliseum in Nashville, Tenn. on Sept. 7, 2003. The Raiders self-destruct with 17 penalties for 173 yards. After the first quarter, Oakland has eight penalties for 76 yards - 8 yards more than its total offense for the period.
The Raiders have the football for only 25 minutes, 3 seconds and are an abysmal 1-of-12 in third-down efficiency. They surrender four sacks and rush for a mere 34 yards.
"This is a very difficult loss for us," Raiders coach Bill Callahan tells the media after Oakland's 2003 season opener. "The defense gave a good account of itself but offensively, we were never able to get anything in rhythm."
McNair's steady play (25-of-38 passing for 289 yards, 2 rushes for 19 yards) and Hentrich's superb kicking help the Titans avenge their 2002 AFC Championship Game loss at Oakland last January. After Joe Nedney kicks a 50-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 9-3 lead midway through the second quarter, the former Raider tears a ligament in his non-kicking leg on the ensuing kickoff. Enter Hentrich, the team's punter, who makes field goals of 49, 34 and 33 yards.
With his team trailing 22-13, Raiders QB Rich Gannon limps off the field midway through the fourth quarter after being sacked by Titans DE Jevon Kearse. Despite sustaining a sprained left knee, Gannon returns to engineer a 65-yard drive highlighted by a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown, reducing Oakland's deficit to 22-20 with 3:30 seconds remaining.
A 27-yard pass interference penalty on Raiders CB Charles Woodson helps set up Hentrich's 33-yard field goal for the final margin with 32 seconds remaining. "That ball was 10 yards out of bounds," Woodson said of McNair's incomplete pass intended for Tyrone Calico on second-and-19 from the Oakland 47-yard line. "If that guy can jump up and make that catch, I'll retire today."
The officials also negate an Oakland touchdown in the second quarter when S Rod Woodson strips the ball from tight end Erron Kinney and returns it 43 yards for an apparent score. The Titans retain possession when the officials rule the play dead after Kinney's 4-yard catch, although the TV replay shows Kinney doesn't goes down by contact.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
P Craig Hentrich - Is 3-for-3 on field goals of 49, 34 and 33 yards after kicker Joe Nedney suffers a season-ending knee injury. Hentrich hadn't made a field goal since 1995.
QB Steve McNair - Completes 25 of 38 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Air McNair is at his best at the end of the first half and late in the fourth quarter after Oakland touchdowns. On two drives, he hits a combined 5 passes for 72 yards and rushes 10 yards to help set up Craig Hentrich field goals.
WR Derrick Mason - His 3-yard touchdown catch midway through the fourth quarter is a gift from the officials, giving Tennessee a 22-13 lead. Mason makes the reception on third-and-goal after being shoved out of bounds by Oakland S Anthony Dorsett. The officials convene before signaling touchdown. Mason finishes the game with 10 catches for 99 yards.
Titans fans - The Raiders have six false starts during the first half. Titans coach Jeff Fisher tells the media after Tennessee's victory: "The beginning of the game would have been very different if we had not been at home. The fans made it very difficult to hear."
RB Charlie Garner - Has a team-high 8 catches for 112 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception late in the first half.
WR Tim Brown - Ends a 16-game (including postseason) scoring drought with a 25-yard fourth-quarter touchdown catch.
DT Dana Stubblefield - Ex-49er contributes 4 tackles and recovers a Tennessee fumble in his Oakland debut.
DT Rod Coleman - Has Oakland's only sack on Titans QB Steve McNair.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders and Titans combine for 284 penalty yards on 28 penalties. Oakland commits 17 penalties for 173 yards, and Tennessee has 11 infractions for 111 yards.
TURNING POINT:
After the Raiders take a 10-9 lead on Rich Gannon's 46-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Garner, the Titans move 41 yards in 5 plays to set up Craig Hentrich's 49-yard field goal as time expires in the first half. Steve McNair is 3-for-3 passing for 41 yards before Hentrich hits his first of three field goals.
BY THE NUMBERS:
-
3: False start penalties by OT Barry Sims on Oakland's opening possession.
13: First-half penalties by Oakland for 111 yards.
42: Rushing yards by Titans RB Eddie George, who averaged 116.0 rushing yards in four previous career games against the Raiders.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"Everybody needs to focus on themselves. If anyone on this team can look at the film and say 'I played all right,' we're in for a long season."
"Our players were prepared. They waited 7 1/2 months to do this."
Titans coach Jeff Fisher
DID YOU KNOW?:
With 17 penalties against the Titans, the Raiders fall three penalties short of tying the franchise record of 20 infractions against Denver in 1996. The club record for most penalty yards is 186 against San Diego in 1987. The NFL record for most penalties by a team in a game is 22 (shared by Brooklyn 1944, Chicago Bears 1944 and San Francisco 1998).
Titans WR Derrick Mason catches
a fourth-quartertouchdown pass against Raiders S Anthony Dorsett
By The Tennessean
