LB Trevor Scott sacks and strips the ball from Cowboys QB Tony Romo. AP Photo.
On a 101°F day, The Oakland Raiders opened their 2010 preseason and their 51st season of professional play with a 17-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Raiders defense sacked Dallas quarterbacks five times in the first half.
The Raiders received the opening kickoff and went three-and-out. Jason Campbell got the start at quarterback. His third down pass to TE Zach Miller was short of the first down and Pro Bowl P Shane Lechler kicked the ball away to the Cowboys who began their first possession at their own 31 after a short Bryan McCann return.
Dallas took a 3-0 lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter when K David Buehler connected on a 42-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 45-yard drive. Rookie DE Lamarr Houston logged two sacks of Cowboys QB Tony Romo, while LB Trevor Scott's sack and forced fumble forced the field goal attempt.
The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and Dallas took possession at their 41 after 9-yard McCann return of a Lechler punt.
The Cowboys drove to the Raiders 43 before the Silver and Black forced a punt. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins called for and made a fair catch of the P Mat McBriar 33-yard punt at the Oakland 10.
The Raiders managed a first down before their next drive Stalled. After a 62-yard Lechler punt and a penalty on the Cowboys, Dallas took over at their own 10 with Jon Kitna at quarterback.
The Raiders held the Cowboys to a three-and-out thanks to a sack by DE Matt Shaughnessy and took over at their own 23 after a penalty wiped out a nice punt return by WR Johnnie Lee Higgins.
The Raiders drove to the Dallas 31 before failing to convert on 4th and 1. The Raiders defense then forced a punt thanks in part to Shaughnessy's second sack of the night. Kyle Boller entered the game at quarterback for the Raiders with 5:35 left in the second quarter.
The Raiders next possession was beset by penalties and P Swayze Waters punted the ball back to the Cowboys who took over at the Raiders 32 after a 28-yard punt return of a 52-yard punt.
The Cowboys failed to convert on 4th and 1 at the Raiders 13 and Oakland took over with 14 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. A couple of RB Rock Cartwright runs and an incomplete deep pass to Higgins ended the quarter and Dallas took a 3-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
K Sebastian Janikowski's kickoff was returned to the Dallas 22. Buehler capped a 9-play, 69-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 6-0 lead with 10:14 left in the 3rd quarter.
After the ensuing kickoff bounced through the end zone for a touchback, the Raiders took over at their own 20. The Raiders went three-and-out and Bryan McCann returned the 41-yard Waters punt to the Dallas 39. Stephen McGee took over at quarterback for Dallas.
The Cowboys were unable to mount a drive and the Raiders took over at their own 20 after a McBriar punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback. The Raiders drove to the Dallas 43 before the Cowboys forced a punt. Waters 43-yard kick bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
The Raiders defense held and forced a punt which WR Yamon Figurs returned 16 yards to the Oakland 46.
The Raiders drove into field goal range but Swayze Water missed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide left to start the fourth quarter.
A muffed punt gave Dallas the ball at the Raiders 11-yard line. Buehler gave Dallas a 9-0 lead with a 28-yard field goal.
Boller capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 3-yard TD pass to WR Nick Miller. Waters added the extra point and the Cowboys led 9-7 with 4:58 left to play. Waters was roughed on the extra point and the penalty was assessed on the kickoff, Waters was shaken up on the play.
The Cowboys recovered the bouncing Janikowski kickoff at their own 12. Janikowski capped a 7-play, 54-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 10-9 lead with 2:24 left to play.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff was returned to the 12 and a penalty backed the Cowboys to their own 6. Safety Jerome Boyd picked off a QB Matt Nichols pass and raced 48 yards for the score to salt away the win.
The Raiders return to their Napa Valley Training Complex as Training Camp 2010 continues. The Raiders travel to Chicago to face the Bears in Preseason Week 2 action next weekend.
Game Notes: The Raiders defense sacked Dallas quarterbacks five times in the first half and held the Cowboys to 31 yards rushing and 86 yards passing; Raiders Chief Executive Amy Trask toured Cowboys Stadium and found Raiders fans from Miami, Denver, Secaucus, N.J., Houston, Cincinnati, San Jose and Salinas, CA, Midland Odessa, TX, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and Harrison Arkansas, Hershey, PA, and of course, Dallas.
