OAKLAND -- Kicker Sebastian Janikowski rebounded from back pain
throughout the week and made it through Sunday's game against the
Houston Texans. But not without enduring the added pain of costing the
Raiders a shot at beating the Texans.
Janikowski missed three straight field goal attempts in a span that
covered the second and third quarters. All three came with the score
tied. All three came from the north end of the field.
"Sebastian said he was feeling very good," Raiders coach Art Shell said.
"He was feeling as good as he had in the past few weeks."
The three misses matched the total he misfired on in Oakland's first 11
games. His miss from 53 yards in the second quarter sailed wide left. He
then drilled the left upright on back-to-back drives, one from 37, the
other from 29.
Not to be outdone, Texans kicker Kris Brown missed wide right from 41
yards early in the fourth quarter at the same end of the field, with the
score tied. However, he converted three in a row later in the quarter,
all at that end of the field.
The Raiders were concerned enough about Janikowski's sore back that they
worked out free agents Paul Edinger and Kurt Smith late in the week.
They opted against signing either one once Janikowski showed he could
kick Friday and Saturday.
Shell said Janikowski's back isn't to blame for his poorest showing of
the season.
"It didn't act up," Shell said. "He never complained about his back
(Sunday)."
Moss booed
Raiders fans booed wide receiver Randy Moss when his name was announced
in pregame introductions. He had caught only four passes the previous
three games.
Moss bobbled quarterback Aaron Brooks' first pass his way in the first
quarter but held on and turned the play into a 21-yard catch-and-and
run. He finished with four catches for 44 yards and no touchdowns.
Moss showed his personal side by walking over to check on a downed
security guard behind the north end zone one play into the second
quarter. The unidentified woman left the field a short time later under
her own power.
Stat of the day
The Raiders held the Texans to minus-5 yards in net passing. Texans
quarterback David Carr completed 7 of 14 passes for 32 yards. His net
total dipped into the minus numbers based on his being sacked seven
times for 37 yards in losses.
The minus-5 total broke the Raiders' record of 7 yards net passing. That
came against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 10, 1967, in a game the Raiders
won 51-0.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Texans were the first team
since the Houston Oilers on Oct. 4, 1981, against Cincinnati to finish
with negative yards passing and win. The Oilers had negative-4 yards
passing in a 17-10 victory over the Bengals.
Extra points
Defensive end Lance Johnstone (toe, back) was among the eight players
the Raiders deactivated before the game. Kevin Huntley replaced
Johnstone as a pass-rushing specialist in his first action of the
season. He recovered a fumble in the second quarter. "I did all right,"
Huntley said of his two-tackle, one-half sack performance. "I still have
some growing to do." ... Shell challenged an officials ruling in the
first quarter and succeeded in having the call overturned. It marked the
first time this season that Shell won a coach's challenge. ... Raiders
center Jake Grove almost single-handedly ruined a promising drive in the
second quarter. He got penalized for holding and a chop block within a
three-play span after the Raiders reached the Texans 27. ... Raiders
defensive end Derrick Burgess recorded 11/2 sacks. That upped his
team-high total to 10. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp bumped his season
total to seven with a second-quarter sack. ... The Raiders failed to
score in the second half. Their second-half scoring total stands at 35
points through 12 games. ... Raiders running back Justin Fargas scored
his first touchdown of the season. It came on his 109th carry. He last
scored in 2004 for the only other TD of his four-year NFL career.
