It’s Worse for Raiders

LaMont Jordan reminded the New York Jets at halftime just how devastating a loss would be.

“One team’s season is going to end today,” Jordan told them, “and it’s not going to be ours.”

Jordan took his words to heart, igniting a rally when he ran two yards for a touchdown with 14:20 left in regulation. The Jets ended up overcoming an 11-point deficit and defeating the Oakland Raiders, 27-24, in overtime Sunday. Chad Pennington’s three-yard scoring pass to Jerald Sowell with 1:09 left in regulation and his two-point conversion pass to Anthony Becht tied it, 24-24.

Doug Brien, making up for his botched field-goal attempt in overtime the previous week, kicked a 38-yard field goal in the extra period for the Jet victory. New York (3-6) had lost four of the last five times they had come west to play Oakland.

“This is special,” said Pennington, who completed 18 of 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. “The Raiders had a blueprint to beat us, and everyone counted us out. But we won!”

The loss sent the Raiders (2-7) off to their worst start since beginning 1-6-1 in 1964. It was Oakland’s fifth consecutive loss despite an admirable job by third-string quarterback Rick Mirer and an overpowering running attack that staked the Raiders to a 21-10 first-half lead even with the loss of running back Charlie Garner, who was sidelined on Oakland’s first series because a strained lower back.

The Raiders opened the game with 21 consecutive rushes before Mirer completed a 17-yard pass play to Jerry Rice almost 19 minutes in. Tyrone Wheatley carried 23 times for 75 yards, but the Raiders’ rush defense flopped in the end. After giving up only 12 yards to the Jets on the ground in the first half, New York ran for 143 after halftime.