Playing in front of a sold-out crowd and in a playoff atmosphere at
McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, the Raiders defense turned in a remarkable
performance and along with K Sebastian Janikowski, provided all the
points the Silver and Black would need in a stunning 20-13 upset of the
defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. CB Nnamdi Asomugha's
third interception of the season resulted in his first career touchdown,
and CB Chris Carr's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown sparked
the Raiders victory. DE Derrick Burgess chalked up 2.5 sacks and LB Kirk
Morrison picked off a pass and logged nine solo tackles.
The Raiders struck first when CB Nnamdi Asomugha picked off a QB Ben
Roethlisberger pass which was tipped by rookie LB Thomas Howard.
Asomugha returned his third interception of the season 24 yards for his
first career touchdown to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 6:12 left in
the first quarter.
The Steelers got on the board when K Jeff Reed came on and connected on
a 29-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 47-yard drive and cut the Raiders
lead to 7-3 with 10:18 left in the second quarter.
Reed's second field goal of the day, a 39-yarder, trimmed the Raiders
lead to 7-6 with 5:17 left in the second quarter. Reed's successful kick
capped off a 6-play, 22-yard drive.
The Raiders answered when K Sebastian Janikowski capped off an 11-play,
50-yard drive, which took 5:13 off the clock. Janikowski's 19-yard chip
shot gave the Raiders a 10-6 lead with :04 left in the second quarter.
The Steelers used a 20-yard kickoff return and back-to-back
unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the Steelers to move into scoring
range. Janikowski's 41-yard field goal capped a 6-play, 41-yard drive,
and gave the Raiders a 13-6 lead with 12:23 left in the third quarter.
Neither team could score the rest of the way in a hard-fought, defensive
battle in the third quarter. Pittsburgh mounted a drive to start the
fourth quarter, but second-year CB Chris Carr intercepted a
Roethlisberger pass at Oakland's goal line and raced 100 yards down the
sideline for the Raiders second defensive touchdown of the game.
Janikowski's extra point gave the Raiders a 20-6 lead with 9:32 left in
the fourth quarter.
The Steelers came right back as RB Willie Parker took a screen pass and
raced 25 yards for a touchdown. Reed's extra point cut the Raiders lead
to 20-13 with 7:18 left in the game.
After Steelers LB Joey Porter intercepted a QB Andrew Walter pass,
Pittsburgh drove to the Raiders five-yard line. Thanks to two stops by
LB Robert Thomas (one at the line of scrimmage and one in the
backfield), a false start on Pittsburgh, a sure tackle by Asomugha on WR
Hines Ward at the five-yard line, and LB Kirk Morrison's pass break up
in the end zone, the Raiders defense held. Oakland's offense took over
at the five with 1:46 left in the game.
After the Steelers held the Raiders to a three-and-out and Lechler
punted the ball away, Pittsburgh took over at their own 39 with :36 left
to play. DT Warren Sapp's sack brought up 4th and 19. Roethlisberger's
desperation heave was caught by Nate Washington but he was tackled at
the 4-yard line as time expired.
The Raiders improve to 2-5 on the season and travel to Seattle next week
to take on the Seahawks at Qwest Field on ESPN't Monday Night Football.
