The Arizona Cardinals defeated The Oakland Raiders 24-0 in 2008 Pre-Season Week 3 action at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland. Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell completed 14 of 28 pass attempts for 140 yards, and safeties Michael Huff and Rashad Baker, and CB Stanford Routt intercepted QB Matt Leinart passes. WR Javon Walker caught four passes for 60 yards.
Prior to the Raiders vs. Cardinals pre-season contest, The Oakland Raiders honored the late Gene Upshaw with a video tribute and a moment of silence. Upshaw passed away unexpectedly this past week. He played for the Raiders for 15 seasons and is the only person to have played in Super Bowls in three different decades. Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins fielded K Neil Rackers opening kickoff two yards deep in the end zone and took a knee for a touchback. The Raiders offense, led by starting QB JaMarcus Russell, started their first possession at their own 20-yard line. The Raiders drove to the Cardinals 38 before a sack moved the Raiders back to the 46. Russell found Higgins for a 10-yard gain, but the Silver and Black still faced 4th and 8. Russell’s 4th down pass for TE Zach Miller was deflected and fell incomplete.
Arizona’s offense, led by QB Matt Leinart, took the field for their first possession at their own 36 with 11:10 left in the first quarter. Two plays later, FS Michael Huff picked off a Leinart deep ball intended for WR Larry Fitzgerald. The Raiders took over at their own 11. The Cardinals scored two plays later when LB Gerald Hayes recovered a RB Darren McFadden fumble for a touchdown after McFadden caught a swing pass. Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin challenged the ruling of a completed pass. The call was overturned and the play was ruled an incomplete pass.
Two plays later, LB Karlos Dansby intercepted a Russell pass intended for WR Ronald Curry. After a personal foul on Arizona’s Darnell Dockett, the Cardinals took over at their own 46. Arizona drove to the Oakland 7 before settling for a Rackers’ 25-yard field goal attempt. The successful kick capped a 11-play, 47-yard drive and gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead with 4:09 left in the 1st quarter.
Arizona recovered an onsides kick attempt but were flagged for being offsides. Higgins returned the line-drive kickoff to the Raiders 32. The Raiders were unable to move the ball and P Glenn Pakulak came on to punt. WR Steve Breaston returned the 39-yard punt 12 yards to the Arizona 34.
The Raiders defense returned the favor with a three-and-out of their own. P Dirk Johnson’s punt was downed at the Oakland 32. Thanks in part to a holding penalty on the Raiders, Arizona held the Silver and Black to a three-and-out. Breaston fielded Pakulak’s 54-yard punt and was dropped immediately by RB Michael Bush at his own 18.
A few plays later, Leinart was flushed out of the pocket and threw the ball right to CB Stanford Routt who returned the interception to the Arizona 26. A few plays later, Russell connected with Miller in the end zone but the play was ruled an incomplete pass. Coach Kiffin challenged the ruling. The ruling was upheld and the Raiders were forced to settle for a K Aaron Elling 27-yard field goal attempt. An offsides call brought the offense back out to try on 4th and 4. Russell’s pass in the end zone for Curry fell incomplete and Arizona took over at their own 5.
Two plays later, safety Rashad Baker picked off a Leinart pass and returned the interception to the Arizona 19. The drive stalled at the 8 and Elling came on for a 27-yard attempt. The kick hit the right upright and Arizona took over at the 20 with Kurt Warner at quarterback. Several plays later, Warner was sacked by DE Kalimba Edwards and fumbled. Arizona recovered but faced 4th and 13. Higgins returned Johnson’s punt to the Oakland 19 where the Raiders took over with 1:20 left in the first half.
The Raiders were unable to mount a scoring drive and the half came to an end with Arizona ahead 3-0.
The Cardinals took a 17-0 lead in the third quarter as RB Tim Hightower scored from 13 yards out to cap a 5-play, 68-yard drive, and RB J.J. Arrington ran it in from 67 yards out.
The Raiders were unable to mount scoring drives on their first two possessions of the second half.
QB Brian St. Pierre capped a 10-play, 88-yard drive with an 18-yard TD pass to TE Leonard Pope. Rackers PAT gave the Cardinals a 24-0 lead with 14:56 left in the 4th quarter.
After RB Louis Rankin returned the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 22, Andrew Walter entered the game at quarterback. After a three-and-out, Pakulak came on to punt. The Cardinals drove to the Raiders 10 before failing to convert on 4th and 2. The Raiders took over with 4:03 left in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders went three-and-out and Pakulak came on to punt. After the boot, Arizona took over at their own 34 with 2:38 to play.
The Raiders fall to 1-2 and will travel to Seattle next week to face the Seahawks at Qwest Field in the final pre-season game of 2008.
SCORING:
Quarter One -
K Neil Rackers 25-yard field goal, 11 plays, 47 yards, 4:09 left 1st quarter.
Quarter Three -
Tim Hightower, 13 yd run (Neil Rackers kick is good), 12:02. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards in 2:58
J.J. Arrington, 67 yd run (Neil Rackers kick is good), 10:07. Drive: 2 plays, 71 yards in 0:33
Quarter Four -
QB Brian St. Pierre 18-yard TD pass to TE Leonard Pope (Neil Rackers kick is good), 10 plays, 88 yards, Cardinals lead 24-0 with 14:56 left 4th quarter.
