TE Mychal Rivera makes a nice play in the first quarter. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
QB Matt McGloin came off the becn in relief of an injured Derek Carr and rallied the Oakland Raiders to a 27-26 victory over the Detroit Lions in 2014 Preseason Week 2 action.
The Raiders won the coin toss and elected to receive. After a touchboack, the Raiders opening drive fizzled in Detroit territory when WR James Jones couldn't handle a QB Matt Schaub pass and safety James Ihedigbo picked it off and returned it to the Raiders 36. QB Matthew Stafford connected with WR Golden Tate two plays later for a 28-yard scoring pass. K Nate Freese's extra point was no good and the Lions led 6-0 with 9:52 left in the 1st quarter.
The Raiders went three-and-out on their second drive and P Marquette King came on to punt. King's punt took a Detroit bounced and was downed at the Detroit 42.
The Lions scored again as Stafford hit WR Kris Durham for a 4-yard TD pass. Freese's extra point was good and the Lions led 13-0 with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
RB Latavius Murray fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and took a knee for a touchback. The Raiders went three-and-out and King came on to punt. WR Jeremy Ross called for and made the fair catch of a 53-yard punt at the Lions 14.
The Raiders held the Lions to a three-and-out and P Sam Martin came on to punt to WR Denarius Moore. Martin's punt was downed at the Oakland 40. The drive fizzled and K Sebastian Janikowski drilled a 55-yard field goal off the dirt. A 12-men on the field penalty against Detroit wiped out the field goal but gave the Raiders a first down at the Lions 32. The Raiders took advantage as RB Darren McFadden cashed in from a yard out to cap an 11-play, 60-yard drive. Janikowski's extra point was good and the Lions led 13-7 with 8:09 left in the first quarter.
"We have to give full credit to the offensive line. They were out there hitting guys and opening holes," McFadden said. "MJD and I were going out there and hitting them how we know how to run."
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff sailed out of the back of the end zone. The Lions took over at the 20 with Dan Orlovsky at quarterback. The Raiders held the Lions to a three-and-out and Martin came on to punt. Moore returned the punt 11 yards to the Oakland 43.
Rookie second round draft choice Derek Carr entered the game at quarterback with 7:02 left in the 2nd quarter. Janikowski capped the 9-play, 50-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal to cut the Lions lead to 13-10 with 3:04 left I n the second quarter.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff went for a touchback and the Lions started at the 20.
The Lions managed a 55-yard Freese field goal before halftime and took a 16-10 lead into the locker room.
"That's what happens in games, you get a change in momentum. Our guys continued to fight and we hung in there. We got a little bit of momentum and were able to score," Head Coach Dennis Allen said. "Defensively, we played a little bit better. I was disappointed that we let them get those three points there at the end. We've got a few things that we've got to get corrected. Overall, I saw some good things."
The Lions started at the 17 after a 21-yard kickoff return to the start the 3rd quarter. The Lions went 83 yards in 8 plays as RB George Wynn scored on a 1-yard TD run. The K Giorgio Tavecchio extra point was good and the Lions led 23-10 with 10:14 left in the 3rd quarter.
A holding penalty wiped out a 30-yard RB Kory Sheets kickoff return and the Raiders started at the 11. After a three-and-out, a penalty on the Lions during the return, Detroit started at the 26.
The Raiders defense stiffened near midfield and forced a punt. The Lions were unable to down the P Drew Butler punt at the 1-yard line and the Raiders started at the 20 after a touchback.
Carr led an 8-play, 80-yard scoring drive and capped it with a 3-yard TD pass to TE Jake Murphy. The PAT was good and the Lions lead was cut to 23-17 late in the 3rd quarter.
Kellen Moore entered the game at quarterback for Detroit and he was promptly sacked by rookie LB Khalil Mack. The sack set the tone for the series as the Raiders forced a three-and-out. Rookie CB TJ Carrie returned the punt 50 yards all the way to the Lions 23.
The Raiders were forced to settle for a 36-yard Janikowski field goal attempt. The kick was good and cut the Lions lead to 23-20 with 14:06 left in the game.
Tavecchio countered with a 25-yard field goal to put the Lions up 26-20 with 7:34 left in the game.
QB Matt McGloin leads the Raiders on the game-winning drive. Photo by Paul Staphorsius.
Sheets returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 21. Carr was shaken up during this possession and Matt McGloin entered the game at quarterback. Detroit got the ball back when TE Scott Simonson fumbled and Detroit recovered in their own end zone for a touchback.
The Raiders held the Lions to a three-and-out and Butler came on to punt. Carrie returned the punt 13 yards to the Oakland 32. McGloin worked some magic and propelled the Raiders 68 yards in 13 plays and hit WR Brice Butler from 19 yards out for the go-ahead score. The extra point was good and the Raiders took at 27-26 lead with six seconds left.
The Lions returned Janikowski's squib kick as time ran out and the Raiders won the game. The Raiders improve to 1-1 on the 2014 Preseason and head to Green Bay next week to face the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Raiders scratches: CBs DJ Hayden, Chimdi Chekwa, Neiko Thorpe, G Lucas Nix, DT Justin Ellis, TEs David Ausberry, Nick Kasa, safeties Brandian Ross and Usama Young.
Detroit's scratches: WR TJ Jones, WR Calvin Johnson, DE Ezekiel Ansah
