FLASH RECAP:
Ryan Lindell's 38-yard field goal as time expires lifts Buffalo to a come-from-behind victory over Oakland before an announced crowd of 71,297 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sept. 21, 2008.
Quarterback Trent Edwards engineers three scoring drives for 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Bills twice overcome nine-point deficits. The former Stanford star is 14-of-19 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown on Buffalo's final three scoring drives in the final eight minutes.
Buffalo is off to its first 3-0 start since 1992.
For Oakland (1-2), JaMarcus Russell passes for 156 yards and a touchdown and Sebastian Janikowski kicks three field goals. Russell throws an 84-yard touchdown pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins, giving Oakland a 23-14 lead with 6:23 left.
Trailing 23-21 with 2:29 remaining, Buffalo drives 46 yards to set up Lindell's game-winner as the Bills end a four-game losing streak against the Raiders. Lindell atones for a missed 46-yard attempt in eraly in the third quarter.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Trent Edwards — Is 24-of-39 passing for 279 yards with a TD and INT. Edwards is 16-of-24 for 220 yards in the second half.
RB Marshawn Lynch — Has 83 rushing yards on 23 carries and two TDs. He gains 19 yards on four carries on Buffalo's game-winning drive.
Bills defense — The unit holds Oakland to 115 total yards in the second half, 84 of which comes on a TD pass from JaMarcus Russell to Johnnie Lee Higgins. Buffalo forces a 3-and-out punting situation on Oakland's final possession before the Bills drive for the winning score.
WR Johnnie Lee Higgins — Burns the Buffalo defense for an 84-yard touchdown reception on a post pattern on third-and-10, giving Oakland a 23-14 lead with 6:23 left. Higgins opens the game with a 69-yard kickoff return, setting up the first of three Sebastian Janikowski field goals.
K Sebastian Janikowski — Is 3-for-3 on field goal attempts for the second straight game. He makes kicks of 23, 35 and 32 yards during the first half against Buffalo.
QB JaMarcus Russell — Is 9-of-19 passing for 156 yards and a TD with no INTs. Russell's 1-yard sneak for a TD gives Oakland a 16-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
KEY STATS:
The Bills out-gain the Raiders 287 to 115 in total yards in the second half
The Raiders settle for three field goals on three first-half possessions inside the Buffalo 18-yard line.
Oakland is held to 98 rushing yards, a week after rushing for 300 yards in a win at Kansas City.
THEY SAID IT:
Bills WR Lee Evans
"You see three quarters of us not really doing anything and then coming through in the fourth quarters with those two drives. It's unbelievable."
"We've got to learn from it. We have to take this feeling, as much as you hate how it feels, remember it and learn from this. This hurts."
Raiders OLB Thomas Howard
“You had better believe it. I can sleep tonight now.”
Bills K Rian Lindell
BY THE NUMBERS:
2-12: Raiders' third-down efficiency for a paltry 17 percent.
17: Points surrendered by Oakland in the game's final eight minutes.
25:33: Raiders' time of possession compared to 34:27 for the Bills.
115: Oakland total yards in the second half compared to 287 for Buffalo.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders are 7-13 in road games against the Bills, including 0-2 in playoffs.
The Bills win a game on the final play of regulation for only the second time in franchise history. The other is when Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly scores on a 2-yard plunge in a 27-24 win over Miami in 1989.
Bills kicker Rian Lindell (9) is mobbed by
teammates after his game-winning field goal.
