FLASH RECAP:
Oakland reaches a new low in a plummeting season with a dismal performance against the suddenly rejuvenated Lions before an announced crowd of 61,561 at Ford Field on Nov. 2, 2003.
The Raiders (2-6) flounder on offense against a patchwork Lions defense that is missing three starters - cornerbacks Dre' Bly (hamstring) and Jimmy Wyrick (chest) and end Robert Porcher (hip) - because of injury. Oakland coughs up four turnovers (three interceptions, one lost fumble), allows three sacks and scores only one touchdown as it suffers its fourth straight loss.
Jason Hanson kicks three field goals and Olandis Gary (2-yard run) and Cory Schlesinger (33-yard reception) contribute touchdowns as Detroit ends a six-game losing streak. Despite gaining only 229 total yards, the Lions (2-6) build leads of 10-0 and 17-3 against the lackadaisical Raiders.
Marques Tuiasosopo, starting in place of an injured Rich Gannon (torn labrum in his right shoulder), completes six of 11 passes for 65 yards before being sidelined in the second quarter because of partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Tuiasosopo has a rough beginning in his first NFL start. On Oakland's opening possession, Tuiasosopo throws an interception and then on its second possession he fumbles (which is recovered by teammate Barret Robbins) when the Raiders' backup quarterback sustains the aforementioned injury.
Charlie Garner scores on a 7-yard run late in the third quarter and Sebastien Janikowski kicks two field goals, including a career- and franchise-best 55-yarder, for Oakland.
Oakland, winless in five road games this season, is off to its worst start since 1964 when it opened with a 1-7-1 record.
"Who would have thought coming into this season we'd be 2-6 at this point," Raiders CB Charles Woodson tells reporters after the game. "It's tough right now. You can feel the mood kind of going downhill. ... There's something missing in our team right now."
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
Lions defense - The unit has three interceptions, a fumble recover and three sacks despite the absence of three injured starters.
K Jason Hanson - Hits field goals of 54, 42 and 39 yards.
CB Doug Evans - Forces a Jerry Rice fumble that leads to the Lions' first touchdown. Evans, who signed Friday after taking an overnight flight from Seattle, also contributes five solo tackles.
FB Cory Schlesinger - Burns Oakland CB Phillip Buchanon on a 33-yard touchdown catch early in the third quarter to boost Detroit's lead to 17-3.
DT Shaun Rogers - Has one of three Detroit sacks and five total (four solo) tackles.
QB Rick Mirer - Completes 15 of 28 passes for 125 yards with two interceptions after replacing an injured Marques Tuiasosopo. Mirer appears in his first regular-season game since Sept. 10, 2000 as a member of the 49ers against the Carolina Panthers. His longest completion against the Lions is 12 yards.
WR Jerry Rice - Has eight receptions for 71 yards, but his first-quarter fumble leads to a Detroit touchdown.
K Sebastien Janikowski - Hits field goals of 55 (a career best) and 24 yards.
S Rod Woodson - Intercepts a Joey Harrington pass in the second quarter. It's the first interception of the season for Woodson and 70th of his 17-year career.
P Shane Lechler - Averages 51.3 yards on four punts.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders average 9.0 yards per catch on 21 receptions against a Lions secondary that is missing starting CBs Dre' Bly and Jimmy Wyrick, who are sidelined because of injury.
TURNING POINT:
Trailing 20-10, the Raiders recover a fumble by punt returner Reggie Swinton at the Lions 9-yard line early in the fourth quarter. After two Rick Mirer incompletions, a false start penalty on left tackle Barry Sims and an 8-yard pass from Mirer to Tim Brown, Oakland must settle for Sebastian Janikowski's 24-yard field goal.
GOAT:
Raiders coach Bill Callahan. After their bye week, the Raiders are outplayed (again) by an inferior opponent. In his postgame press conference, Callahan says: "You've got to give the Lions a lot of credit. They're a hell of a ballclub." Detroit entered the game with a 1-6 record.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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4: Oakland touchdowns in the past four games, all losses.
6: Raiders losses so far this season, equaling their losses during their 13-6 2002 season.
17.8: Average points by the Raiders through eight games this season. They averaged 28.1 points per games last season.
229: Detroit total yards, the fewest yards allowed by Oakland this season. The Raiders enter the game ranked 29th in the league in total defense (358.6 yards per game).
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Porter
"We're in a funk right now. The coach (Bill Callahan) is always talking about the football gods. We must have done wrong by the football gods. Maybe we left camp too soon. I don't know what the hell to say."
"Our record isn't good and we're playing a lot of backups. They've got a lot of players and they were just in the Super Bowl. People are going to say it's embarrassing to lose to us until we start putting some wins together."
Lions K Jason Hanson
"I don't want to downgrade the Detroit Lions, but I don't feel like they're a good team. We could've beat these guys, but we didn't."
Raiders CB Charles Woodson
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Raiders are 0-5 in road games so far this season. The team was winless on the road in 1962 (0-7) and 1964 (0-5-2) in the now-defunct American Football League.
Detroit's Cory Schlesinger (33) beats Oakland's Phillip Buchanon on a 33-yard touchdown catch.
