OAKLAND RAIDERS RAP
FLASH RECAP:
Oakland clinches its first playoff berth since 1993 with a dominanting performance against New York (9-5) before a howling sellout crowd of 62,632 fans at Network Associates Coliseum on Dec. 10, 2000. The Oakland defense has four interceptions (two each by CB Eric Allen and OLB William Thomas), five sacks and surrenders only 10 yards rushing. The Raiders (11-3) break open the ESPN nationally televised game with three consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter for a 21-0 advantage. Allen returns his first interception 50 yards for a score, Rich Gannon throws a 7-yard TD pass to Andre Rison and Tyrone Wheatley has a 1-yard scoring run. New York star Curtis Martin is held to 11 yards rushing on 17 carries. He had 203 yards on the ground the previous week in the Jets' victory over Indianapolis. The Jets (9-5) average an embarrassing 0.5 yards rushing on 20 carries against the Raiders.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
CB Eric Allen -- Returns a Vinny Testaverde interception 50 yards for a touchdown to break a scoreless duel 2:29 into the second quarter. It's the second straight game he returns an interception for a score (Allen had a 27-yard TD return against Pittsburgh on Dec. 3.) Allen also intercepts a Ray Lucas pass in the fourth quarter.
OLB William Thomas -- Two interceptions and eight solo tackles.
Raiders defensive line -- The unit has five sacks and allows only 10 yards rushing.
P Shane Lechler -- Averages 44.4 yards on seven punts. Four of those kicks land inside the New York 12.
WR Tim Brown -- With three catches for 31 yards against New York, he becomes only 10th player in NFL history to reach 12,000 yards receiving. Brown puts an exclamation point on the Raiders' biggest victory since 1993 with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Rich Gannon on the second play of the fourth quarter.
CB Charles Woodson -- Shadows New York WR Wayne Chrebet from the outset. Chrebet finishes with three catches for 44 yards, but his 5-yard touchdown reception late in the game doesn't come against Woodson.
FB Richie Anderson -- Contributes a game-high eight receptions for 103 yards. Unfortunately for the Jets, Anderson is unable to hold a second-quarter pass that ends up in the hands of Oakland CB Eric Allen, who returns it 50 yards for a touchdown.
WR Wayne Chrebet-- Catches a 5-yard touchdown pass from Chad Pennington with 24 seconds left as the Jets avoid their first regular-season shutout loss in 78 games.
CB Aaron Glenn -- Stops a promising Oakland drive with an interception at the New York six. Glenn returns the interception 34 yards after Rich Gannon's pass deflects off the hands of Oakland TE Rickey Dudley.
GOAT OF THE GAME:
New York offensive line surrenders five sacks after allowing a league-low 13 sacks in the season's first 13 games.
TURNING POINT:
Eric Allen returns a Vinny Testaverde pass 50 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 7-0 lead 2:29 into the second quarter.
KEY DRIVE:
Oakland moves 47 yards in eight plays to build a 14-0 advantage midway through the second quarter. On second-and-goal, WR Andre Rison catches a 7-yard touchdown pass from QB Rich Gannon.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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1: Gatorade drenchings for Oakland coach Jon Gruden.
2: Interceptions each by Oakland CB Eric Allen and OLB William Thomas.
8: Combined punts by the Jets and Raiders (four each) in the first quarter.
10: Yards rushing for New York.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders RB Randy Jordan
"That was destiny to get it done in front of our home crowd. The sellout crowd came to make noise, we came to establish ourselves as a legitimate playoff contender."
"They started making plays and we didn't. We couldn't get back on track. The tide turned, and we couldn't overcome the wave."
Jets LB Mo Lewis
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Jets are 0-8-1 in their last nine games against the Raiders in Oakland.
Oakland DE Roderick Coleman celebrates one of his two sacks against New York by The Associated Press
