FLASH RECAP:
The suddenly pass-happy Raiders (2-0) hold off the Steelers before a deflated crowd of 62,260 fans at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sept. 15, 2002. Rich Gannon sets Raiders single-game records for pass attempts (64) and completions (43). On Oakland's three first-half scoring drives, Gannon is 21-of-28 passing for 186 yards and one touchdown as the Raiders build a 17-7 lead. The Raiders run 87 offensive plays (70 passing, 17 rushing) and control the football for an unheard of 39 minutes, 34 seconds.
Despite trailing by 10 points on two occasions, Pittsburgh narrows the deficit to 20-17 on Hines Ward's second touchdown of the game. Just when the Steelers and their fans envision a grand comeback, the Raiders' Terry Kirby (above) returns the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to open the fourth quarter. The mistake-prone Steelers (0-2) lose four fumbles, including three in the fourth quarter.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Rich Gannon - Completes 43 of 64 passes for 403 yards and one touchdown. On third downs, Gannon is 9-of-11 passing for 124 yards, seven first downs and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Porter.
WR Jerry Rice - Ten of his game-high 11 catches come in the first half.
CB Charles Woodson - Superb in pass coverage, forces a fumble and has an interception on the game's final play. His second-quarter pass interference penalty is highly controversial.
WR Jerry Porter - Scores his first NFL touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Rich Gannon late in the second quarter. Porter finishes with six catches for 62 yards.
RB/KR Terry Kirby - Returns a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, catches four passes for 41 yards and rushes seven times for 23 yards.
OLB Joey Porter - Has two interceptions, three sacks and 12 total tackles.
WR Hines Ward - Catches touchdown passes of 34 and 5 yards from Kordell Stewart.
OLB Clark Haggans - Contributes two of the Steelers' five sacks.
QB Kordell Stewart - Throws for 201 yards and two touchdowns, but his second-quarter fumble at the Oakland 3 kills a potential go-ahead drive.
WR/KR Antwaan Randle El - Returns three kickoffs for 77 yards, including a 31-yarder. He also catches a 17-yard pass on the Steelers' first touchdown drive.
KEY STAT:
Raiders safety Rod Woodson ties an NFL record with three fumble recoveries.
TURNING POINT:
After the Steelers narrow the deficit to 20-17 on a Hines Ward touchdown catch, the Raiders' Terry Kirby opens the fourth quarter by returning a Todd Peterson kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 27-17 advantage.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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7: Receptions by Oakland tight end Roland Williams, who sets career highs in catches and receiving yards (55) against Pittsburgh.
17: Pass attempts by the Raiders in their first 18 offensive plays. On Oakland's 19th play, Charlie Garner runs 36 yards for a touchdown, giving the Raiders a 10-7 advantage.
41: Rushing yards by the Steelers' Jerome Bettis on 10 carries. In the teams' previous meeting, The Bus rushed for 128 yards on 24 carries to help host Pittsburgh beat Oakland 21-20 on Dec. 2, 2000.
649: Net passing yards surrendered by the Steelers in their first two games of the 2002 regular season. Pittsburgh, which led the NFL in total defense last season, allowed 294 passing yards (280 net yards) against New England in their 2002 season opener. The Steelers allowed 369 net passing yards against the Raiders.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders WR Jerry Rice
"With their scheme, they bring so many guys from so many different places it's hard to run the ball. We knew we had to utilize the no-huddle and we had success with it."
"I did not think that they would come out just winging it. I thought that they would try to run the football. Right now we're not a good football team. It seems every time we make a play and get back in the game, we're shooting ourselves in the foot."
Steelers coach Bill Cowher
DID YOU KNOW?:
Rich Gannon sets an NFL record for most completions in a non-overtime game by connecting on 43 of 64 passes against Pittsburgh. The previous record was 42, set by two New York Jets quarterbacks: Richard Todd in 1980 and Vinny Testaverde in 1986.
Gannon's pass attempts and completions are personal highs. He threw 63 passes for the Minnesota Vikings in 1991, and completed 35 for the Raiders last season in a 23-17 loss to Denver. The pass attempts are a club record, breaking the mark of 59 set by Todd Marinovich in 1992, a 28-16 loss to Cleveland.
Oakland's Terry Kirby returns a kickoff
96 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh.
By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
