OAKLAND (Dec. 22, 2002) -- One play against the Denver Broncos summed up all you need to know about how much quarterback Rich Gannon means to the Oakland Raiders and why the youthful 37-year-old is a favorite to earn NFL Most Valuable Player honors in 2002.
After grabbing a quick 7-0 lead, the Raiders moved the ball to Denver's three-yard line on their next possession. On third-and-goal and looking to break the game open in the first quarter, Gannon stuck a dagger in the hearts of his opponents when he dropped back to pass, stepped up into the pocket after getting pressure, ran to the left when he saw no open receivers, cut back to the right around a defender, and finally bolted up field for a touchdown.
Stunned by Gannon's slight of foot, the Broncos never were able to recover and eventually lost 28-16, handing the AFC West title to Oakland.
"Rich can be a slippery cat," said Raiders running back Tyrone Wheatley. "When you get as old as he is, you have to be slippery and find every way you can to not have to take all those hits -- just kidding."
Despite surpassing Warren Moon's NFL single-season record of 404 completions, Gannon had a rather ho-hum day. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown and had a passer rating of 101.0.
Remember, Gannon set an NFL record this season by passing for more than 300 yards in 10 games. He is the director of the league's top offense and could move past Dan Marino (5,084 passing yards in 1984) as the single-season record holder for passing yards by throwing for more than 475 next week against Kansas City.
"It's amazing the amount of knowledge that Rich has," said Raiders Pro Bowl tackle Lincoln Kennedy. "He does an incredible job of managing the offensive game plan. I don't get a vote for MVP, but we wouldn't be in this position if we didn't have him."
It doesn't hurt that Gannon -- MVP of the previous two Pro Bowls -- also is surrounded by tremendous talent. The Raiders have 11 players with Pro Bowl experience on the roster -- Gannon, defensive tackle Sam Adams, defensive end Trace Armstrong , wide receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, running back Charlie Garner , Kennedy, linebacker Bill Romanowski, defensive backs Rod Woodson and Charles Woodson, and punter Shane Lechler .
Rich Gannon broke the NFL single-season record of 404 completions.
And this group -- especially Romanowski, Armstrong, Garner, both Woodsons, and Kennedy -- played a pivotal role in dominating the Broncos.
With 4:32 remaining in the first half, Romanowski knocked Broncos quarterback Brian Griese out of the game with a debilitating sack. Romanowski also led the team with nine tackles. Armstrong intercepted a Griese pass, forced a fumble, and recorded three sacks.
Garner led the team with 8 receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 61 yards and increased his number of plays this season that have gone for 10 or more yards to 62.
Rod Woodson moved into a third-place tie with Lions Hall of Fame defensive back Dick (Night Train) Lane on the league's all-time interception list. Woodson's first-quarter interception also was his seventh of the season, which is the most by a Raiders defender in a season since Terry McDaniel had 7 in 1994.
Charles Woodson showed tremendous courage, playing the first half of the game with a broken right fibula before giving way to the pain and sitting out the second half. Kennedy dominated Pro Bowl defensive end Trevor Pryce, limiting him to five tackles and zero sacks.
"You talk about additions to our football team," says Gannon. "Romanowski is one guy in particular that I feel has really helped our team. The guy has been phenomenal. He brings so much to the table; not just his performance on the field, but his presence in the locker room."
One week after a demoralizing loss to the Miami Dolphins, in which Oakland seemed to sleep walk, the nasty, gritty, us-against-the-world attitude of the Silver and Black was back in full force. Numerous Broncos were left lying on the field from crushing Raiders tackles.
"I did get the sense that Romo (who played for the Broncos from 1996-2001) was a little fired up for this game," Gannon said with a wink.
With each hit came a raucous celebration, delighting the hordes of fans in the infamous Black Hole. Linebacker Travian Smith even did a type of break dance on the field after an impressive sack. Overall, the Raiders intercepted three passes and posted six sacks.
"It was a war out there," said Romanowski. "We took the field and said, 'This is going to be a 60-minute war.' We said that the team that wins in the trenches will win the game, and we won the battle in the trenches. You could see that by the number of bodies out there."
"We were trying to put our shots on them and it paid off today," said Raiders linebacker Eric Barton. "I think we had the most 'impact' hits -- as we call them -- that we've ever had since I've been here. Guys were flying around and knocking people down. It was great to be a part of."
The Broncos helped seal their own fate by not taking advantage of mismatches. Griese couldn't exploit a Raiders secondary ravaged by injuries. Running back Clinton Portis , who's been on a tear, rushed for only 52 yards on 12 carries.
Oakland even got breaks from the officials against Denver.
"I'm going to knock on wood and not talk about that," said cornerback Terrance Shaw. "You know our reputation with getting calls. It always seems like they never go our way."
If the Raiders play with the same passion and defeat division-rival Kansas City in the season finale, they will secure home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. It's an advantage that Oakland doesn't take lightly given what happened in New England last season.
"Just because we won the division doesn't mean we can relax," Kennedy said. "Home-field advantage will be a big boost for us. We don't want to see any snow for the rest of the year. And aside from that, the only thing that really matters is getting a ring."
