FLASH RECAP:
Andrew Walter throws a 67-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Morant and Seabastian Janikowski kicks three field goals as Oakland defeats Minnesota before an announced crowd of 63,278 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. on Aug. 14, 2006.
Oakland's second straight 2006 exhibition victory is tainted by controversy. Raiders receiver Randy Moss, who played his first seven seasons in the NFL with the Vikings, stomps his feet in the end zone after Aaron Brooks throws an incomplete pass on third down on Oakland's first possession.
After Moss makes his only catch of the game — a 16-yard reception three plays into the second quarter — the nine-year veteran is pulled by Raiders coach Art Shell. When he reaches the sideline, Moss throws his helmet in frustration, remaining on the bench the rest of the game.
"I was just (ticked) off because I've never, in my career, been taken out of a game in preseason during a drive," Moss tells reporters after Oakland's win. "It's funny to me. But I don't call the shots. ... He made a decision, he's the head coach, I got to live with it."
Fourth-string quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan drives the Vikings to the Raiders' 22-yard line with 10 seconds left. First-year Minnesota coach Brad Childress elects to go for the win instead of a potential game-tying field goal. On third-and-10 with five seconds left, Sullivan's pass is intercepted by Oakland's Hiram Eugene in the end zone as time expires.
The Raiders are in regular-season form with nine penalties for 64 yards. A 19-yard pass interference penalty on CB Nnamdi Asomugha in the first quarter sets up the Vikings' only touchdown.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
DB Stanford Routt — Has four passes defensed, including breaking up a potential go-ahead TD pass to Chris Jones late in the third quarter.
WR Johnnie Morant — Has 108 receiving yards on five catches, including a TD.
QB Andrew Walter — His highlight-film 67-yard TD pass is proof why the Raiders passed on Matt Leinart in the 2006 NFL draft. Walter is 10-of-19 passing for 148 yards and a TD but throws two interceptions.
QB Brad Johnson is 5-for-6 passing for 32 yards and engineers a 56-yard TD drive late in the first quarter.
DE Ray Edwards — His fourth-quarter sack on Marques Tuiasosopo at the Vikings' 10-yard line on third-and-2 prevents the Raiders from scoring a game-clinching TD. On fourth down, Sebastian Janikowski kicks a 28-yard field goal to give Oakland a 16-13 lead.
RB Tony Richardson — Former Chief is up to his old tricks against the Raiders as he scores on a 3-yard run.
KEY STAT:
For the second straight game, the Raiders defense doesn't allow a touchdown after the first quarter.
BY THE NUMBERS:
0: Raiders first downs during the first quarter.
3: Sebastian Janikowski field goals. The Polish Cannon is 6-for-6 on field goal attempts during Oakland's first two 2006 exhibition games.
2: Pass completions in nine attempts by Raiders' projected starting QB Aaron Brooks in the first two games of the 2006 exhibition season.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders C Jake Grove
"We need to improve. Everybody knows that."
"It makes me feel good to know that I'm still loved here, no matter what the bad blood that kind of built when I left. I think that they, the people in the stands with the 84s on and whatnot, I think they understand now that I'm a Raider and there's no coming back, and I don't really want to come back."
Raiders WR Randy Moss
DID YOU KNOW?:
In seven seasons (1998 to 2004) with the Vikings, Raiders receiver Randy Moss averaged 82 catches, 1,306 receiving yards and 13 TDs. Last season, his first in Oakland, Moss had 60 catches for 1,005 yards and eight TDs.
The Raiders' Jarrod Cooper, left, and Tim Wusu, right, force
a fumble by the Vikings' Troy Williamson on the opening kickoff.
