FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Curry and Sebastian Janikowski kicks field goals of 21 and 33 yards as Oakland wins its seventh straight home opener before an announced crowd of 53,610 at Network Associates Coliseum on Sept. 19, 2004.
The Raiders' Jerry Rice (photo) doesn't have a reception, ending his NFL record streak of 274 games with a catch.
The Raiders (1-1) sack Bills QB Drew Bledsoe seven times and allow only 35 passing yards in the first half. Bledsoe throws a 5-yard touchdown pass to Eric Moulds with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining. Buffalo (0-2), despite limiting Oakland to 70 yards total offense in the second half, suffers its second straight 13-10 loss.
After being taken out of the game with 2:37 left, Rice reportedly watches one play, removes his helmet and slams it to the turf. Following the Raiders' victory, he tells reporters:
"I expect to catch footballs. I never thought it would come to an end like this. But, you know, it's OK. It's all right. It happens. Life goes on. I'll just start another one and get another 200."
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
Raiders defense - Limits the Bills to 243 total yards, surrenders only one touchdown and has seven sacks.
OLB DeLawrence Grant - Has two of Oakland's seven sacks on Bills QB Drew Bledsoe.
CBs Charles Woodson and Phillip Buchanon - The duo limits Bills WRs Eric Moulds (2 for 41) and Josh Reed (2 for 29) to 4 catches for 70 yards.
WR Ronald Curry - Contributes a game-high 5 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
MLB London Fletcher - Has 10 total tackles (8 solo).
WR Eric Moulds - Catches a 5-yard touchdown pass with 1:20 remaining.
P Brian Moorman - Throws a 24-yard pass to Kevin Thomas out of punt formation to the Oakland 49. Nice defense, Raiders punt coverage team.
RB Travis Henry - Rushes for a game-high 67 yards on 21 carries, but he goes nowhere on fourth-and-goal from the Oakland 1 in the fourth quarter.
GOAT:
Buffalo offensive line. The Bills surrender seven sacks and can't convert a fourth-and-goal from the Raiders' 1 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
KEY STAT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice doesn't make a catch, ending his league record streak of 274 games with a reception. The last time Rice failed to have a reception was Dec. 1, 1985 against Washington as a member of the 49ers.
BY THE NUMBERS:
2: Buffalo holding penalties that wipe out a kick return to the Oakland 11-yard line and a punt return to the 11 during the second half. The two infractions cost the Bills 144 yards in field position.
2: Consecutive penalties for 43 yards on Raiders CB Charles Woodson. Woodson commits a 28-yard pass interference penalty against Eric Moulds and then is assessed a 15-yard facemask infraction on Travis Henry. The penalties help set up Rian Lindell's 32-yard field goal.
7: Raiders victories in their past seven home openers. They're 9-1 in home openers since returning to Oakland in 1995.
31: Drew Bledsoe passing yards in the first half.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Ronald Curry
"It's been a long time since I had the ball in my hands where I can do something. That's one of the things I can bring to the table. I'm pretty good with the ball in my hands."
"We're just killing ourselves. They didn't really beat us. We beat us. Same as last week (a 13-10 Jacksonville win). It's depressing. It's frustrating."
Bills DT Pat Williams
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders have hosted the Bills at four venues - Kezar Stadium (1960) and Candlestick Park (1961) in San Francisco; Frank Youell Field (1962-65) in Oakland; Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1987, 1991-92) and Oakland Coliseum (1966-69, 1972, 1977, 2004).
Raiders WR Jerry Rice reacts on the sideline during the game's final minutes.
