FLASH RECAP:
The Raiders begin the Bill Callahan era with their fifth straight home victory over the hapless Seahawks before an announced crowd of 53,260 at Network Associates Coliseum on Sept. 8, 2002. Callahan, who replaced Jon Gruden as Raiders coach after the 2001 season, receives a game ball following Oakland's season-opening triumph. Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown tells the media afterward: "Now everybody can settle down a little bit because they know he can coach." Charlie Garner (above) rushes for 127 yards and Rich Gannon throws for two touchdowns to lead Oakland (1-0). The revamped Raiders defense, which has nine new starters, allows only 186 yards and stops the Seahawks (0-1) on 10 of 11 third down conversions. Oakland's Brown scores his 101st career touchdown (96th receiving) on an 8-yard pass from Gannon in the first quarter.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
RB Charlie Garner - Contributes 191 yards of total offense (127 yards rushing, 64 yards receiving on five catches) and two touchdowns. He scores on a 20-yard run and a 26-yard reception on consecutive Oakland possessions during the second quarter.
QB Rich Gannon - Completes 19 of 28 for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Gannon prevents a Seahawks touchdown when he runs down cornerback Shawn Springs, who retruns a fumble 71 yards to the Oakland 25. Springs tells the media after the game: "I might have expected one of their backs or even their receivers, but their quarterback? I'm sure (my teammates) are going to give me a hard time for a while."
DTs John Parella & Sam Adams - They are instrumental in the Seahawks averaging a mere 2.7 yards on 16 rushes. Seattle has only 43 yards rushing.
DT Rod Coleman - Contributes two of the Raiders' three sacks.
RB Tyrone Wheatley - Rushes for 65 yards on 18 carries and catches three passes for 18 yards.
MLB Isaiah Kacyvenski - Has a game-high 17 total tackles (12 solo) and forces a Terry Kirby fumble.
KR Maurice Morris - Returns a kickoff 66 yards to the Oakland 36 to set up Seattle's first touchdown. RB Shaun Alexander - Rushes for only 36 yards on 13 carries, but he has a a game-high six catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
KEY STAT:
The Raiders commit five penalties for 45 yards. They had a whopping 49 penalties for 345 during their four-game exhibition season.
TURNING POINT:
The Raiders score touchdowns on their first three drives of the second quarter for a 28-7 lead.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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5: Consecutive victories by the Raiders over the Seahawks in Oakland.
8: Consecutive pass completions by Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck to open the game.
36: Yards rushing by Shaun Alexander, who ran for a club-record 266 yards against the Raiders in the Seahawks' 34-27 win at Seattle on Nov. 11, 2001.
50.5: Average yards on two punts by Oakland's Kevin Stemke, filling in for injured Shane Lechler.
2010: The next time the Seahawks play a game in Oakland.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders OT Lincoln Kennedy
"This game was very important. You always want to win, but to start out at home against an opponent we're famniliar with, you definitely need to get a win. That was huge."
"I didn't expect them to come out and put a foot up our behind. They did what they wanted to do."
Seahawks CB Shawn Springs
DID YOU KNOW?:
Charlie Garner becomes the first Raider to exceed 100 rushing in a regular-season game since Tyrone Wheatley ran for 146 yards at Seattle on Dec. 16, 2000.
Oakland's Charlie Garner rushes against Seattle.
By Associated Press
