Oakland, CA – Sebastian Janikowski's 40-yard field goal in overtime capped an impressive comeback as the Oakland Raiders rallied for a 26-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacksonville began the extra session with the ball, but a fumble by Cecil Shorts on a catch on third down was recovered by Oakland at the Jaguars 21- yard line. After Carson Palmer took a knee to line the ball up, Janikowski calmly hit the ball down the middle for the win.
"An ugly win is better than a pretty loss," Palmer said. "We did not play up to our standards...but it's good to get out of here with a win."
Palmer went 26-for-46 with 298 yards, one touchdown, one rushing touchdown and one interception for the Raiders (2-4), who snapped a two-game losing streak. Janikowski connected on four field goals and two extra points in the win.
Jacksonville suffered early injuries to starting running back Maurice Jones- Drew (left foot) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (left shoulder). Both players went to the locker room, but were on the sideline for the second half. Jones- Drew was on crutches with tape around his ankle.
That left Chad Henne under center and he went just 9-for-20 with 71 yards while backup running back Rashad Jennings had 21 carries for 44 yards and a score for the Jaguars (1-5), who have lost three straight.
"We had plenty of opportunities," Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey said. "We have to learn how to finish."
Oakland opened the second half with a quick three-and-out and the Jaguars got a 28-yard punt return from Michael Spurlock to get the ball to the Oakland 39. Jennings gained 15 yards on three runs, but the drive stalled from there and a 40-yard field goal from Josh Scobee gave the team a 20-6 lead just over four minutes into the third.
The Raiders answered on their next touch to make it a one-score game. Facing a 2nd-and-7, Palmer went deep and got a 33-yard defensive pass interference call to move the ball to the Jacksonville 23. Five plays later, Palmer hit Denarius Moore over the middle and he stretched into the end zone on an 8-yard score to make it a 20-13 game with 6:01 to play in the third.
On the second play of the fourth with Oakland holding the ball, Palmer was sacked by Terrance Knighton and lost the ball, with C.J. Mosley recovering at the Oakland 24.
The team lost three yards during the drive, but a 45-yard field goal from Scobee made it a 23-13 game with 12:40 to play.
Oakland followed with a long drive during which it used no huddle to get three more points on the board as Janikowski's 31-yard field goal with 6:52 to play capped a 12-play, 79-yard drive.
Jacksonville's offense continued to sputter as another three-and-out saw the Raiders get the ball back near midfield. At the Jacksonville 25 facing a 4th- and-10, Oakland went for it and a deep pass to the right side of the end zone got a pass interference call and a 1st-and-goal at the 1. Palmer punched it in himself to tie the game with 3:34 to play.
The Raiders had the final possession of regulation and tried a 64-yard field goal from Janikowski on the final play. It was down the center, but fell short and the game went to overtime.
Oakland put points on the board on its second touch of the game. Starting at its 28, the team quickly faced a 3rd-and-6, but Palmer and Darrius Heyward-Bey got together on a 59-yard strike for a 1st-and-goal at the 9. The drive stalled, though, and a 21-yard field goal from Janikowski made it a 3-0 game with 6:13 to play in the first quarter.
Jacksonville answered quickly to take the lead. On the sixth play of the drive, Gabbert went deep and he hit a wide open Shorts in front of the goal line and he went in on a 42-yard score for a 7-3 lead with 3:24 to play in the first.
Following a three-and-out from Oakland, Jacksonville got the ball back at its own 11 and went to work. Successive defensive penalties gave Jacksonville an easy 10 yards and a first down. The team had to punt from midfield, but Phillip Adams muffed the catch and Jacksonville recovered at the Oakland 16. Three plays later, Jennings punched the ball in from five yards out for a 14-3 lead with 11:34 to play in the second quarter.
After an exchange of punts, Palmer was picked off when he whipped the ball sidearm while under pressure and Derek Cox came up with the ball after a deflection. That led to a 50-yard field goal from Scobee for a 17-3 lead with 5:57 to play in the half.
Jacksonville used some chicanery to get the ball back quickly as the team went for an onside kick and recovered it, but were unable to get a first down and turned the ball over after a 4th-and-1 pass fell incomplete.
Oakland followed with an 11-play drive that went 39 yards with Janikowski hitting the ball between the uprights from 33 yards out to make it a 17-6 game going into the break.
Game Notes
Darren McFadden had 19 carries for 53 yards to lead the Oakland ground game ... Jennings added seven catches for 58 yards while Shorts had four for 79 yards ... Heyward-Bey finished the game with four catches for 85 yards ... Jacksonville managed just 44 yards in the second half and overtime and had just 209 in the game ... Oakland plays in Kansas City next week ... Jacksonville travels to Green Bay for a game next Sunday ... Oakland snapped a four-game losing streak to the Jaguars.
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