Flags Fly As Raiders Beat Giants
The Oakland Raiders interrupted a deluge of penalties just in time to put together a drive for the go-ahead score.
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Greg Davis kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:59 remaining, and the Raiders beat the New York Giants 20-17 Sunday, giving new Oakland coach Jon Gruden his first win in his home debut.
On consecutive plays, the Raiders' Eric Turner sacked Danny Kannell for an 11-yard loss and then intercepted his fourth-down pass to end the final possession for the Giants, who had penalty problems of their own.
Oakland got an 80-yard touchdown run from Napoleon Kaufman on the first play from scrimmage but played in fits and spurts after that, plagued by one penalty after another. Oakland was flagged 16 times for 113 yards while New York had 15 penalties for 90 yards.
The Raiders and Jeff George, who was 25-of-44 for 303 yards and a touchdown, finally overcame the slew of penalties with a mistake-free, 10-play, 43-yard drive that led to Davis' winning field goal.
The Raiders' penchant for penalties -- Oakland has long been one of the league's most penalized teams -- hit them hard, especially in the second half. The miscues cost them the lead at one point and nearly cost them the game.
Driving toward a go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter, the Raiers had a third-and-1 at the New York 18, but was driven back from there by guard Steve Wisniewiski's false start, followed by Jesse Armstead's 12-yard sack of George to drive them out of field-goal range.
The Raiders went in front 17-14 on George's 22-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown but penalties kept them from holding it.
Brad Daluiso's 43-yard field goal tied it at 17 with 50 seconds left in the third. It was set up by linebacker Marcus Buckley's recovery of Oakland fullback Jon Ritchie's fumble at the Oakland 15.
Oakland was in the hole because tackle Pat Harlow's holding penalty negated Ritchie's 25-yard reception two plays earlier.
Kannell's 20-yard touchdown pass to Chris Calloway came immediately after New York opted to take a 42-yard field goal by Daluiso off the board because linebacker James Folston was called for defensive holding on the play, an automatic first down.
Davis' 41-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter and Kaufman's 80-yard scoring run on the first play from scrimmage put Oakland up 10-7 at halftime.
George put the Raiders in position for the field goal with a 57-yard drive, including a 12-yard pass to Kaufman that advanced the ball to New York's 10 seconds left. The Raiders took one shot at the end zone, but George's pass fell incomplete and Davis came on for the field goal.
New York tied it on Kanell's first touchdown pass, a 10-yarder to Ike Hilliard to finish a 77-yard first-quarter march in a quick response to Kaufman's opening strike.
Kaufman, who finished with 139 yards on 20 carries, blew through a gaping hole on the first play from scrimmage and raced 80 yards untouched down the middle for the score.
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