OAKLAND RAIDERS RAP
FLASH RECAP:
Rich Gannon throws for two touchdowns and Zack Crockett rushes for two others to help Oakland end New Orleans' six-game winning streak before an announced sellout crowd of 64,900 at the Louisiana Superdome on Nov. 19, 2000. The 9-2 Raiders clinch their first winning season since 1994. New Orleans QB Tony Blake is lost for the rest of the season after suffering a fractured dislocation of his right foot late in the first quarter.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon -- Passes for two touchdowns and has a game-high 55 yards rushing. In leading Oakland to touchdowns on successive fourth-quarter possessions, Gannon converts all seven third-down situations and completes 8 of 10 passes for 110 yards. He also scrambles 10 yards to convert a third down.
WR Tim Brown -- Catches four passes for 69 yards on Oakland's final two touchdown drives after being held without a reception for over 47 minutes. His 21-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter gives the Raiders a 24-13 lead. He has caught at least one passes in 119 straight games.
CB Charles Woodson -- Sets up Oakland's first touchdown by intercepting an Aaron Brooks pass. Woodson limits New Orleans WR Joe Horn to three catches for 33 yards. Horn had 15 catches the past two games.
ORG Mo Collins -- Plays a key role in holding New Orleans DT La'Roi Glover to only three tackles, including no sacks. Glover entered the game tied for the NFL lead with 13 sacks. The Saints sack Rich Gannon five times, but Glover has little or no impact.
P Shane Lechler -- Averages 54.8 yards on four attempts, including a 62-yarder.
QB Aaron Brooks -- Completes 14 of 22 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns after replacing starter Tony Blake, who suffers a fractured dislocation of his right foot on the Saints' second possession. Brooks hadn't played in any significant game action since leading Virginia in the 1998 Peach Bowl.
WR Willie Jackson -- Keeps the Saints competitive with 53- and 9-yard touchdown receptions from QB Aaron Brooks.
RB Chad Morton -- Rushes for a team-high 45 yards on five carries. Sets up the Saints' final touchdown with a 68-yard kickoff return.
DE Joe Johnson -- Has two sacks and eight total tackles.
TURNING POINT:
Napoleon Kaufman catches a shovel pass from Rich Gannon and runs 25 yards to the New Orleans 22 on third-and-10. Two plays later, Gannon throws a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown to boost Oakland's lead to 24-13 almost three minutes into the fourth quarter.
KEY DRIVE:
Oakland moves 73 yards on 11 plays, culminated by Rich Gannon's 21-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown for a 24-13 advantage with 12:05 remaining. The Raiders had gained a minus 11 yards on their previous three possessions after taking a 17-0 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2: Touchdown passes by New Orleans backup QB Aaron Brooks.
4: Catches by Oakland WR Tim Brown in the fourth quarter.
5: Sacks for New Orleans DE Joe Johnson the past two games, including two against Oakland.
55: Yards rushing by Oakland QB Rich Gannon.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders OG Steve Wisniewski
"Rich (Gannon) did a fantastic job in a real tough situation. He's the heart and soul of this team. As he goes, so goes the Raiders."
"We're the masters of adversity. We'll fight back. Our guys will fight no matter what the circumstances are."
Saints coach Jim Haslett
DID YOU KNOW?:
According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Saints defensive tackle Norman Hand was so upset after the loss to Oakland that he left the Superdome locker room immeadiately following the game. He went to his car in cleats, helmet, taped ankles and all.
Oakland's Andre Rison scores on a 34-yard touchdownreception by The Associated Press
