WR Darrius Heyward-Bey's 41-yard catch set up the Raiders first TD. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. RB Mike Godson returned K Jason Hanson's opening kickoff to the Oakland 21. The Raiders drove to the Lions 13 before K Sebastian Janikowski missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 8:36 left in the 1st quarter. The Lions offense took possession at the Detroit. 20.
Detroit struck first with a 41-yard field goal from Hanson, which gave the Lions a 3-0 lead with 1:51 left in the first quarter. The kick capped a 12-play, 57-yard drive.
RB Taiwan Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the Oakland 13. After picking up a first down, the Raiders were forced to punt. P Shane Lechler, making his first appearance of the 2012 preseason, hit a 41-yard punt, which was fair caught by WR Titus Young at the Lions 32.
The Lions drove to the Oakland 49 before the Raiders defense forced a P Ben Graham punt. After a false start call on Detroit, Raiders CB Bryan McCann fielded the 40-yard punt and was dropped immediately at the Oakland 14.
Thanks to a 41-yard bomb from QB Carson Palmer to WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, the Raiders found themselves in striking distance. Detroit stopped the Raiders on successive attempts from point blank range and appeared to stop McFadden on 4th and goal at the 1. Head Coach Dennis Allen challenged and won and the Raiders were awarded a touchdown. Janikowski's extra point was good and the Raiders took at 7-3 lead with 6:29 left in the 2nd quarter.
CB Justin Miller returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Raiders 21. Shaun Hill entered the game at quarterback for an injured Matthew Stafford. The Raiders defense stiffened and the Lions had to settle for a 30-yard Hanson field goal, which cut the Silver and Black's lead to 7-6 with 5:24 left in the 2nd quarter.
Jones returned the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 17. A few plays later, Palmer's screen pass for Jones was intercepted and returned to the Raiders 7. On 3rd and goal at the 8, Hill found WR Calvin Johnson at the 2. On 4th and goal, the Raiders held and the Raiders took over at their own 2 with 3:16 left in the 2nd quarter.
The Raiders were on the move when WR Eddie McGee, while trying to make a leaping catch, couldn't hang onto the ball and the pass was intercepted by LB Stephen Tulloch and Detroit took over at their own 37. The Raiders held the Lions to a three-and-out and took over at their own 28 after a punt and a McCann return.
Several plays later, including a gutsy dive out of bounds by Jones to stop the clock with 5 seconds left in the 2nd quarter, K Eddy Carmona came on a drilled a 56-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 10-6 lead at halftime.
WR Nate Hughes returned Carmona's 3rd quarter opening kickoff to the Detroit 28. Hill led a scoring drive and found TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 7-yard TD pass. The extra point was good and Detroit took a 13-10 lead with 9:33 left in the 3rd quarter.
After a short RB Mike Goodson kickoff return, Terelle Pryor entered the game at quarterback. The Raiders drive stalled after one first down and Lechler came on to punt. WR Patrick Edwards called for and made a fair catch at the Lions' 5.
After allowing one first down, the Raiders defense forced a Lions punt. A 59-yard Pryor scramble put the Raiders at the Lions 14. Two plays later, Pryor scampered into the end zone from 17 yards out. Carmona's PAT was good and the Raiders led 17-13 with 30 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
Carmona's ensuing kickoff flew out of the back of the end zone for a touchback and the Lions started at the 20. The Raiders aggressive defense forced a three-and-out. McCann called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 45.
Several plays later, Pryor went deep for 39 yards to rookie WR Juron Criner for the touchdown. Carmona's extra point was good and the Raiders led 24-13 with 11:44 left in the 4th quarter.
Kellen Moore entered the game at quarterback for Detroit after the ensuing kickoff return to the Detroit 23. A DT Jamie Cumbie sack brought the Lions drive to an abrupt end and the Raiders took over at their 9 after the punt was downed.
The Raiders went three and out and Lechler came out to punt. Edwards muffed the 48-yard punt but managed to recover at the Lions 38. After allowing one first down, the Raiders forced a punt. The punt took a Raiders bounce and was downed at the Oakland 24.
Pryor rolled to his right and hit Criner for a 76-yard TD pass. Carmona's extra point was good and the Raiders led 31-13 with 5:29 left in the 4th quarter.
The Lions added a late touchdown and Raiders QB Kyle Newhall-Caballero and RB Lonyae Miller closed the game out and preserved the victory.
The Raiders finish the 2012 Preseason next Thursday at Seattle.
