Post by TheShadow on Dec 14, 2003 21:03:50 GMT -5
www.theledger.com
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif.
Jerry Rice and the Oakland Raiders still have some life in them - at least
enough to trip up the Baltimore Ravens.
Rice caught his second touchdown pass of the season and the Raiders shut
down Jamal Lewis and the Ravens' offense in a 20-12 victory on Sunday,
snapping Baltimore's three-game winning streak.
Zack Crockett scored on a 1-yard plunge set up by Phillip Buchanon's
interception return on the Ravens' opening drive. Oakland (4-10) never lost
that lead while snapping its three-game losing streak, though neither team
was terribly impressive in a game dominated by defense, penalties and
mistakes.
The loss was damaging to the Ravens (8-6), who fell into a tie with
Cincinnati atop the AFC North after the Bengals' win over San Francisco.
Baltimore hasn't won on the road since Oct. 12, losing four straight.
Though Lewis gained 125 yards on 24 attempts, the NFL's leading rusher
couldn't get in the end zone or spark his teammates.
Rice caught a 21-yard slant from Rick Mirer 1:20 before halftime. It was
Rice's 194th career TD, 64 more than Cris Carter atop the NFL career list.
Rice has been angry and silent for most of the season as the Raiders
plummeted to the bottom of the league. He has 51 catches for 696 yards,
easily his least-productive campaign since 1997, when he was injured after
playing just two games with the 49ers.
After struggling on offense for most of the first three quarters, Baltimore
pulled within 17-12 on Anthony Wright's 13-yard pass to Todd Heap late in
the third period. The Ravens mounted another strong drive on their next
possession, but Lewis and Wright fumbled their exchange at the Oakland 27
with 10:54 to play.
The Raiders drove for Sebastian Janikowski's second field goal, and
Baltimore did nothing with its final two drives. With the ball at their 21
and 1:40 to play, the Ravens managed three incompletions, a sack and a
penalty.
Throwing sidearm and regularly missing open receivers, Mirer was 16-of-35
for 186 yards in the Ravens' first visit to the Coliseum since the 2000 AFC
championship game, won 16-3 by Baltimore on the way to its Super Bowl
victory.
Wright had led the Ravens' surge to the front of the playoff race, but he
was no better than Mirer, going 12-of-27 for 193 yards.
Buchanon made his sixth interception of the season on the Ravens' third play
of the game. He leaned over Frank Sanders to make the catch, somehow kept
his feet and returned it to the Baltimore 1, where Crockett scored two
seconds later.
After Baltimore kicked a field goal, Doug Gabriel returned the kickoff 71
yards. Oakland couldn't move the ball, but Janikowski kicked a field goal -
and the Raiders had a 10-3 lead with just 1 yard of offense.
Matt Stover's streak of 21 consecutive field goals for the Ravens ended when
his 50-yard attempt fell inches short of the crossbar in the final seconds
before halftime.
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif.
Jerry Rice and the Oakland Raiders still have some life in them - at least
enough to trip up the Baltimore Ravens.
Rice caught his second touchdown pass of the season and the Raiders shut
down Jamal Lewis and the Ravens' offense in a 20-12 victory on Sunday,
snapping Baltimore's three-game winning streak.
Zack Crockett scored on a 1-yard plunge set up by Phillip Buchanon's
interception return on the Ravens' opening drive. Oakland (4-10) never lost
that lead while snapping its three-game losing streak, though neither team
was terribly impressive in a game dominated by defense, penalties and
mistakes.
The loss was damaging to the Ravens (8-6), who fell into a tie with
Cincinnati atop the AFC North after the Bengals' win over San Francisco.
Baltimore hasn't won on the road since Oct. 12, losing four straight.
Though Lewis gained 125 yards on 24 attempts, the NFL's leading rusher
couldn't get in the end zone or spark his teammates.
Rice caught a 21-yard slant from Rick Mirer 1:20 before halftime. It was
Rice's 194th career TD, 64 more than Cris Carter atop the NFL career list.
Rice has been angry and silent for most of the season as the Raiders
plummeted to the bottom of the league. He has 51 catches for 696 yards,
easily his least-productive campaign since 1997, when he was injured after
playing just two games with the 49ers.
After struggling on offense for most of the first three quarters, Baltimore
pulled within 17-12 on Anthony Wright's 13-yard pass to Todd Heap late in
the third period. The Ravens mounted another strong drive on their next
possession, but Lewis and Wright fumbled their exchange at the Oakland 27
with 10:54 to play.
The Raiders drove for Sebastian Janikowski's second field goal, and
Baltimore did nothing with its final two drives. With the ball at their 21
and 1:40 to play, the Ravens managed three incompletions, a sack and a
penalty.
Throwing sidearm and regularly missing open receivers, Mirer was 16-of-35
for 186 yards in the Ravens' first visit to the Coliseum since the 2000 AFC
championship game, won 16-3 by Baltimore on the way to its Super Bowl
victory.
Wright had led the Ravens' surge to the front of the playoff race, but he
was no better than Mirer, going 12-of-27 for 193 yards.
Buchanon made his sixth interception of the season on the Ravens' third play
of the game. He leaned over Frank Sanders to make the catch, somehow kept
his feet and returned it to the Baltimore 1, where Crockett scored two
seconds later.
After Baltimore kicked a field goal, Doug Gabriel returned the kickoff 71
yards. Oakland couldn't move the ball, but Janikowski kicked a field goal -
and the Raiders had a 10-3 lead with just 1 yard of offense.
Matt Stover's streak of 21 consecutive field goals for the Ravens ended when
his 50-yard attempt fell inches short of the crossbar in the final seconds
before halftime.