Raider Win Breaks Ground

Randy Moss burned Dallas early, going 79 yards on a reception on Oakland’s second play. After that, his biggest contribution to the Raiders’ 19-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys Sunday at McAfee Coliseum came in the running game.

The talented receiver didn’t run a long reverse or throw a big downfield block, but his presence kept the Cowboy safeties away from the line.

Enter Lamont Jordan.

The Raiders’ other big acquisition on offense ran for a career-high 126 yards and a score, Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals and Oakland’s defense mounted a late goal-line stand to secure the team’s first victory of the season.

“I will forever look at it as teams saying we can’t run the ball,” said Jordan, whose team had been limited to 21 yards rushing last week against Philadelphia. “I encourage defenses to play that way.

“If you play two-deep defense against us with the way we’re capable of running the ball ... we are going to run the ball down your throat.”

The Cowboys (2-2) kept it interesting until the final two minutes. Trailing 19-13 after Janikowski’s 43-yard field goal with 4:29 left, Dallas drove inside the five, helped by a 57-yard pass from Drew Bledsoe to Terry Glenn.

But Oakland defensive end Tommy Kelly dropped Julius Jones for a two-yard loss on second down from the three, and Bledsoe followed with incompletions intended for Keyshawn Johnson and Glenn to turn it over with 1:45 left. Jason Witten was open in the end zone on the last play, but Bledsoe said he had chosen to go toward Glenn’s side and didn’t see Witten.

“It’s a three-step drop. He just has to make a decision to go the other way with the ball,” Witten said. “I’m not doubting his decision. He’s got Keyshawn and Terry over there. He’s got to make a quick decision. ... I was open. That’s for sure.”

Jordan then ran twice for a first down, and Oakland (1-3) ran out the clock. Moss finished with four receptions for 123 yards.