On a cold, wet day in Oakland, the Raiders lost to the Washington Redskins 34-13 in 2009 Regular Season Week 14 action at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The weather at kickoff was intermittent light rain and a temperature of 54°F.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. RB Gary Russell returned K Graham Gano's opening kickoff 11 yards to the Oakland 11, where the Raiders offense took the field with Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. The Raiders opening drive and P Shane Lechler's 68-yard punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback.
The Redskins offense took the field at their 20 with Jason Campbell at quarterback. DE/LB Trevor Scott's team-leading 6th sack of the season helped force a three-and-out and P Hunter Smith came on to punt the ball back to the Raiders. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned Smith's 56-yard punt 9 yards to the Oakland 39.
The Raiders drove to midfield but the drive stalled and Lechler came on to punt to WR Antwaan Randle El, who called for and made a fair catch at the Washington 24. The Raiders forced a three-and-out and Smith came on to punt. Higgins called for and made a fair catch at the Oakland 29.
K Sebastian Janikowski capped a 5-play, 56-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal and the Raiders took a 3-0 lead with 4:12 left in the first quarter. The key play on the drive came when RB Darren McFadden lined up at wide receiver and Gradkowski hit him on a slant and McFadden raced 48 yards.
WR Devin Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff to the Washington 23. Campbell completed a 7-play, 77-yard drive with a 6-yard TD pass to TE Fred Davis. Gano's extra point was good and Washington led 7-3 with 13 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Davis was called for excessive celebration and the Redskins had to kickoff from their own 15.
Gary Russell returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield. RB Justin Fargas capped an 8-play, 50-yard drive with a 1-yard TD plunge on 4th and goal at the 1-yard line. Janikowski's extra point was good and the Raiders took a 10-7 lead with 11:14 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Janikowski's ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback and the Redskins offense took the field at their 20. The Redskins answered the Raiders score when Gano connected on a 46-yard field goal to complete a 7-play, 52-yard drive and tie the game at 10-10 with 7:27 left in the second quarter.
Gary Russell fumbled the ball while returning the ensuing kickoff and the ball went out of bounds at the Oakland 12. The Redskins forced a three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt on 4th and 1. The punt flew, bounced and rolled 58 yards to the Redskins 21 where it was downed.
The Raiders returned the favor with a three-and-out of their own and Smith came on to punt. Higgins returned the 50-yard punt to the Raiders 40. A 27-yard pass to WR Louis Murphy on 3rd and 2 at the 50 was overturned by a replay review called for by the replay official.
After the punt and two major penalties on the Raiders, the Redskins took over at their 40. Campbell found Davis for a 17-yard score and Gano added the extra point to give the Redskins a 17-10 lead with 56 seconds left in the second quarter.
After Gary Russell's 24-yard return of the ensuing kickoff and a holding call on the Raiders, the Silver and Black took over at their 14. The Raiders drove just past midfield and Janikowski's 65-yard field goal attempt fell short. The Redskins took at 17-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Thomas returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Washington 30. Gradkowski was hurt late in the second quarter and JaMarcus Russell took over at quarterback to start the third quarter for the Raiders. Russell drove the Raiders into Redskins territory and Janikowski drilled a 54-yard field goal to cut Washington's lead to 17-13 with 8:49 left in the third quarter.
Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff to the Washington 25. The Raiders held the Redskins to a three-and-out and Smith came on to punt. Higgins returned the kick 18 yards to the Raiders 49. The Raiders were unable to mount a scoring drive and Lechler's 53-yard punt bounced through the end zone for a touchback.
RB Quinton Ganther cashed in from a yard out for the touchdown and Gano's extra point was good. The Redskins took a 24-13 lead with 11:22 left in the 4th quarter.
The ensuing kickoff bounced through the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders offense took the field at their 20. Russell tried to go over the middle for WR Chaz Schilens but his pass was intercepted by S LaRon Landry at the Oakland 41. Head Coach Tom Cable challenged the ruling on the field, but the ruling was upheld and Washington took over.
Washington took advantage of the turnover and Ganther scored from a yard out for the touchdown. The extra point was good and the Redskins took at 31-13 lead with 9:42 left in the 4th quarter.
The kickoff bounced through the end zone for a touchback. The Raiders were unable to move the ball and a sack pinned them deep. The punt was fumbled and TE Tony Stewart recovered at midfield.
The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and failed to convert a 4th and 15. Gano increased the Redskins lead to 34-13 with a successful 41-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the game.
The Raiders fall to 4-9 on the season and travel to Denver next week to face the Broncos at INVESCO Field.
