| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- This was exactly how the Oakland Raiders
wanted to go to the playoffs.
"It makes a difference when you don't sneak in the door but you
kick the door down," receiver Tim Brown said after the Raiders
beat the New York Jets 31-7 Sunday night to clinch their first
playoff appearance since 1993.
|  | | The Raiders celebrate their first playoff berth in seven seasons. |
"Man, it's great," Brown said.
The Raiders (11-3), who last made the playoffs in Oakland in
1980, remained one game ahead of Denver in the AFC West after the
Broncos (10-4) beat the Seattle Seahawks earlier Sunday.
Oakland, which has lost only one game at home this season,
scored on Rich Gannon's passes to Brown and Andre Rison, Tyrone
Wheatley's 1-yard run and Eric Allen's interception return. Rookie
Sebastian Janikowski added a 32-yard field goal with 1:50 left in
the game.
The Jets (9-5), who would have clinched a playoff spot with a
victory, have to play the waiting game. They remain one game behind
Miami in the AFC East after the Dolphins (10-4) lost 16-13 to Tampa
Bay on Sunday.
Oakland coach Jon Gruden was hoarse, but it was worth it.
"I don't know how to describe it," Gruden said about his first
playoff berth as a head coach. "It's thrilling."
Vinny Testaverde, who didn't play in the second half because of
a groin injury, could not get the Jets going against the Raiders.
He finished 14-of-25 for 149 yards and was intercepted twice.
His backup, Ray Lucas, went 6-of-14 for 99 yards and two
interceptions before he was replaced by Chad Pennington, who threw
a 5-yard scoring pass to Wayne Chrebet with 24 seconds left in the
game.
Curtis Martin, who last week went over 1,000 yards rushing for
the sixth straight season, was held to 11 yards.
"The Raiders are very good," Testaverde said. "They seem to
be able to stop the run, the pass, create turnovers and get in
great position."
When Gannon hit Brown with a 4-yard scoring pass early in the
fourth quarter, Brown jumped to embrace fans beyond the end zone as
Gannon pumped his fist.
Gannon was 11-of-23 for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He was
intercepted once.
Both teams got off to slow starts.
The Jets finally got going just before the close of the first
quarter, when Testaverde completed four straight passes, including
a 34-yarder to Chrebet. Martin added a 19-yard run to the Oakland
20.
Oakland linebacker William Thomas picked off a pass meant for
Richie Anderson to kill the drive -- but the Raiders couldn't move
the ball.
Gannon was just 2-of-8 for 14 yards in the first quarter.
On the Jets' ensuing drive, Allen intercepted another pass from
Testaverde and ran it back 50 yards to put the Raiders up 7-0 to
start the second quarter.
Allen and Thomas each had two interceptions.
"We played a great game all the way around," said Thomas, who
has six interceptions this season. "(If) we play like this in the
playoffs, we're going to be in great shape."
About the only player unhappy with the Raiders' performance was
Gannon, who was concerned about the slow start.
"I felt in the passing game we were a little rough around the
edges," he said.
The passing game came together on Gannon's 7-yard pass to Rison
midway through the second quarter. Rison held the ball up for the
rowdy fans in the "Black Hole" in the Raiders' end zone.
Before halftime, Gannon hit speedy receiver James Jett with a
49-yard pass, and Wheatley polished off the drive with a 1-yard
dive.
Game notes
Defensive lineman Rick Lyle broke his leg in the game, Jets
coach Al Groh said. Further details about the injury were not
immediately available. ... Brown became the 10th NFL player to
reach 12,000 receiving yards with three catches for 31 yards Sunday
night. ... Gannon had needed 97 passing yards for his second
straight 3,000-yard season. ... Wheatley surpassed 3,000 career
rushing yards with 88 yards on 18 carries. ... The Raiders have
been intercepted just eight times. ... The Jets had only allowed 30
points in their last three games. ... Testaverde needs three
completions to move past Jim Everett to 13th on the career list. He
needs nine touchdowns to pass Steve Young for 16th. ... The Raiders
had five sacks Sunday night. Until then, the Jets had allowed just
13. ... When Martin gains 100 or more yards, the Jets are 13-4. ...
The Raiders have scored 30 or more points in eight games.
| |
ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
NY Jets Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jets head coach Al Groh talks about Sunday's disappointing loss to the Oakland Raiders.
wav: 187 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
 FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Curtis Martin Official Site
|
