FLASH RECAP:
The Raiders defense plays its finest game of the season to date in Oakland's decisive victory over New England before an announced crowd of 62,552 at Network Associates Coliseum on Nov. 17, 2002. Oakland (6-4) allows only 195 total yards, has four sacks and doesn't surrender an offensive touchdown.
Running back Zack Crockett rushes for two touchdowns and Rich Gannon one as the Raiders avenge their 2001 playoff loss to the Super Bowl XXXV champion Patriots. New England (5-5) scores touchdowns on a 48-yard interception return by linebacker Tedy Bruschi and an 86-yard kickoff return from Kevin Faulk. Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski and New England's Adam Vinatieri each kick two field goals.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
Raiders defense - Holds the New England offense to 195 total yards and only 48 yards rushing. With Oakland leading 24-13, the Raiders stop the Patriots on third-and-one and fourth-and-one early in the fourth quarter.
QB Rich Gannon - Not spectacular yet an efficient 26-of-38 passing performance for 297 yards and one touchdown rushing (a 2-yard run late in the second quarter). Gannon doesn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 20 games.
RB Zack Crockett - Contributes two 2-yard touchdown runs. The Raiders don't surrender the lead after Crockett's 2-yard scoring run on fourth-and-one early in the second quarter breaks a 3-3 deadlock.
RB Charlie Garner - Is the game's top rusher (57 yards on 15 carries) and receiver (seven catches for 65 yards). He has his best rushing performance since gaining 61 yards against St. Louis on Oct. 13.
DE Chris Cooper - His sack of Tom Brady late in the first half forces a fumble, which is recovered by Oakland teammate Trace Armstrong at the New England 9-yard line.
P Shane Lechler - Three punts inside the New England 15-yard line. He finishes with three punts for 113 yards (an average of 37.7 yards)
LB Tedy Bruschi - Returns a Rich Gannon interception 48 yards for a touchdown. He also contributes 10 total tackles (7 solo).
KR Kevin Faulk - Returns a Sebastian Janikowski kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown.
K Adam Vinatieri - Makes 36- and 31-yard field goals in the first half.
DT Richard Seymour - Has the Patriots' only sack of Rich Gannon and blocks a 49-yard field goal attempt by Sebastian Janikowski.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders control the football for nine minutes, 42 seconds to open the second half with 15-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. Zack Crockett scores his second of two touchdowns on a 2-yard run to give Oakland a commanding 24-6 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
GOAT:
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. His fumble late in the second quarter sets up Oakland's second touchdown. He also misfires on first-half passes to Deion Branch and David Patten, which would have been long gainers. Brady finishes the game 18-of-30 passing for 172 yards.
TURNING POINT:
Patriots QB Tom Brady loses a fumble after being sacked by Raiders DE Chris Cooper. Following Trace Armstrong's fumble recovery at the New England 9-yard line, the Raiders need only two plays to score a touchdown on Rich Gannon's 2-yard run with 52 seconds remaining in the first half as Oakland increases its lead to 17-6.
BY THE NUMBERS:
-
0: Offensive touchdowns by New England, which had scored 71 points the previous two games.
2: Touchdowns by Oakland's Zack Crockett, doubling his output in the season's first nine games.
197: Yards allowed by Oakland, which surrendered an average of 346.9 yards per game in the season's first nine games.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders TE Roland Williams
"This is a nice punch in the gut to give them a little something back."
"I'm a bottom-line guy, and we're an average team right now."
Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Patriots are 3-8 in Oakland, including 0-1 in the postseason.
The Patriots' Tom Brady (12) is sacked by Travian Smith of the Raiders.
By Boston Globe
