FLASH RECAP:
Oakland (4-11) suffers its worst regular-season loss in the Al Davis era as Jacksonville (11-4) clinches a playoff berth for the second time in three seasons.
David Garrard throws for two touchdowns and runs for another to lead the Jaguars (11-4) to a ridiculously easy blowout of the inept Raiders (4-11) before an announced crowd of 66,905 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Dec. 23, 2007.
The party is on for the red-hot Jaguars after Fred Taylor bolts for a 62-yard touchdown run on the game's first offensive play. Jacksonville builds a 28-3 advantage by halftime and cruises to its 11th victory the past 14 games.
The Raiders' JaMarcus Russell, the top overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, struggles in his most extensive action of his rookie season. The former Louisiana State star is 7-of-23 passing for 83 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions and a lost fumble for a dismal 17.4 efficiency rating.
The Raiders 38-point loss is their largest margin of defeat in a regular-season game since a 44-0 loss to San Diego in 1961, two years before managing general partner Davis joined the franchise as head coach/general manager in 1963.
The Raiders' previous worst loss in a regular-season game under Davis' watch was a 55-21 defeat to the Chargers in 1981.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB David Garrard — Is 11-of-18 passing for 199 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Garrard also has 19 rushing yards on four carries, including a 2-yard scoring run.
RB Fred Taylor — His 62-yard touchdown run on the game's first offensive play electrifies the already revved-up crowd. Taylor finishes with 111 rushing yards on seven carries, his fifth straight 100-yard rushing performance.
Jaguars defense — The unit has three interceptions and four sacks, allows the Raiders only 215 total yards and doesn't surrender a touchdown until the final 6 seconds.
RB Dominic Rhodes — Has a season-high 115 rushing yards on 27 carries in his first start of the season.
MLB Kirk Morrison — His second-quarter interception in the end zone temporarily slows Jacksonville's potent offense.
TE Zach Miller — His 2-yard with 6 seconds left accounts for the Raiders only touchdown. Miller finishes with three catches for 27 yards.
KEY STATS:
Jacksonville's four first-half touchdowns come on drives of one, seven, one and three plays.
The Raiders have 215 total yards, their second lowest output of the season. They had 193 total yards in a 17-6 loss to the Bears on Nov. 11.
TURNING POINT:
Fred Taylor bolts for a 62-yard touchdown run on the game's first offensive play, starting the Jaguars' rout.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha
"The whole game was out of control, from ... when (Taylor) took that run in. It wasn't embarrassing. It was mortifying if I can use that word. That's probably the most disappointing loss I've had, especially this late in the season when everybody's been preaching finish strong, we can spoil (things for) Jacksonville.
"Things didn't go the way we wanted to, but I learned things and that's what you want."
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell
"We won this game like we needed to. But I don't think anybody's overly excited. We're excited about making it, but you don't see anybody jumping for joy or any champagne being popped in here. It's just another game that we're guaranteed to play."
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor
BY THE NUMBERS:
2-17: Raiders' record in their past 19 road games.
5: Consecutive 100-yard rushing performances for the Jaguars' Fred Taylor, who finishes with 111 rushing yards against the Raiders.
9: Raiders first-half penalties, including four unsportsmanlike personal foul infractions during a bizarre sequence late in the second quarter.
215: Oakland total yards. The Raiders average an abysmal 3.3 yards per play on 65 plays compared to 7.8 yards on 56 plays for the Jaguars.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders' first-ever regular-season game in Jacksonville, Fla. is the franchise's most lopsided loss in a regular-season game since a 44-0 defeat to
San Diego on Sept. 17, 1961. The previous game, the Raiders suffered a franchise-worst 55-0 loss to the then Houston Oilers in their 1961 season opener.
The Jaguars have scored at least 24 points in nine consecutive games and gained at least 400 yards in five straight, both franchise records.
Jacksonville DE Bobby McCray, left, gets one of
the Jaguars' four sacks on Oakland QB JaMarcus Russell.
