NFL Football Recap
The Oakland Raiders finally had a chance to show what they're made of; what they can do. They had a great chance to become 2-1. All Sebastian Janikowski had to do was make a 32 yard field goal straight down the middle.
And then he missed.
Janikowski hooked the kick left, and Oakland fell 24-23 in Arizona. The Cardinals improved to 2-1 with another cheap win, and the Raiders dropped to 1-2. Oakland plays Houston next week, while Arizona travels to San Diego to face the 1-2 Chargers.
The game got dramatic early, with La-Rod Stephens Howling returning the kick. Stephens Howling read his blocks, broke a tackle and raced down the sideline, sending the stadium into cheers. Arizona led 7-0 early.
But that wouldn't last long, for Bruce Gradkowski led Oakland downfield. The Raiders were at the Arizona 22 yard line when Gradkowski found Zach Miller for 6 points. 3 field goals were made in the first, with Oakland making 2 for a 13-10 lead.
However, in the second, Beanie Wells got some playing time. He rushed for 17 yards on 5 carries on the Cardinals next touchdown drive. Time Hightower converted on 4th and 1, and Steve Breaston used a "screen" from Stephen Williams to get open for a touchdown.
Later in the quarter, Arizona recorded an interception. They got down to the Oakland 33 up 4, and a touchdown would have put them up by 11. But Quinten Groves prevented that, intercpeting a short pass. The Raiders were 69 yards away from the lead.
Then Darren McFadden came along. He ran for 33 yards down the sideline on one play, then caught a screen pass down to the 3 yard line, setting up his touchdown run with 10 seconds left in the half. Oakland used a possible 14 point swing to take a 20-17 halftime lead.
In the third, Bruce Gradkowski found Louis Murphy for a 70 yard gain down to the Arizona 13. However, a holding penalty and no yards ruined a chance of a 10 point lead, but Sebastian Janikowski could still make the field goal to put Oakland up 6. However, Janikowski, who was money from 54 yards out, hooked the kick. It was still a 3 point game.
With the momentum on their side, Arizona got going. Steve Breaston caught a 25 yard pass, then Tim Hightower ran 13 yards for a first down. On first down Derek Anderson found Larry Fitzgerald on a quick slant, and after 3 quarters the Cardinals were on top 24-20.
Oakland was forced to punt, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was fielding it. But Rodgers-Cromartie muffed it, and Oakland recovered at the Arizona 16. Then they got to the 1 yard line.
On first down, Michael Bush gained nothing, then a false start pushed them back 5 yards. 2 short incomplete passes to Darius Heyward-Bey made Oakland try a field goal. Janikowski improved to 3-4 on the day, nailing the kick.
Then a 3 and out by Arizona gave Oakland the ball, and a 25 yard pass to Louis Murphy got Oakland to the Cardinals 41. Oakland decided to go for the field goal, and Janikowski got a good part of the ball. It had the distance, but it hooked towards the last second. Arizona got the ball back, but they were forced to punt. Oakland started at their 20 yard line.
On 3rd and 9, Bruce Gradkowksi completed a pass to Zach Miller at the Oakland 36. However, 3 downs resulted in nothing, and it was down to one play; fourth down.
Gradkowski found Heyward-Bey on the left sideline, and he caught the pass for 12 yards. Then Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie commited pass interference, and suddenly Oakland was set up for the game-winner.
Janikowski's leg took a swing towards the right side of the ball, and since the ball was kicked left, it couldn't go through. Much to the delight of Cardinals fans, it sailed left, and Arizona had a huge victory in their hands.
Atlanta at New Orleans (short)
Another key missed kick cost the Saints a 3-0 start, and it ending their 5 game win streak dating back to last season. Garrett Hartley missed a 29 yarder wide left, and Atlanta took advantage of the error and won the game on Matt Bryant's 46 yard kick.
Early in the game, Lance Moore returned a punt 72 yards, and it set up a Drew Brees TD pass to Jeremy Shockey. But on the next drive, Matt Ryan found Tony Gonzalez on a slant route, and it was a TD. However, on the next drive, Lance Moore was picked up by a linebacker. Brees found Moore, and he scored. It was 14-7 after 1.
On the next drive, the Falcons took up 10:39 and scored a touchdown. The drive lasted 20 plays, with the key play being a 4th down pass to Roddy White from Matt Ryan.
However, neither offense got going, and all anyone could get until late in the third was a field goal by Atlanta. Then, Thomas DeCoud accidentally touched the ball on the ensuing punt, and the Saints recovered. Drew Brees found Lance Moore, who used a block to score and give New Orleans the lead with a quarter left.
But that wouldn't last long. Matt Ryan made a great throw to Roddy White, who caught the ball and scored. New Orleans needed a field goal.
But luckilly for the Saints, short passes by Drew Brees set up a field goal. It went into OT, where the same thing led to a 29 yard kick by Hartley. But this time, he hooked it left!
Jason Snelling then gained 24 yards to set up a Matt Bryant FG, but it was blocked. However, the Saints called timeout, and Bryant nailed the next kick, and the Falcons were 2-1. The Falcons play the 0-3 49ers at home, and the Saints host 0-3 Carolina.
And then he missed.
Janikowski hooked the kick left, and Oakland fell 24-23 in Arizona. The Cardinals improved to 2-1 with another cheap win, and the Raiders dropped to 1-2. Oakland plays Houston next week, while Arizona travels to San Diego to face the 1-2 Chargers.
The game got dramatic early, with La-Rod Stephens Howling returning the kick. Stephens Howling read his blocks, broke a tackle and raced down the sideline, sending the stadium into cheers. Arizona led 7-0 early.
But that wouldn't last long, for Bruce Gradkowski led Oakland downfield. The Raiders were at the Arizona 22 yard line when Gradkowski found Zach Miller for 6 points. 3 field goals were made in the first, with Oakland making 2 for a 13-10 lead.
However, in the second, Beanie Wells got some playing time. He rushed for 17 yards on 5 carries on the Cardinals next touchdown drive. Time Hightower converted on 4th and 1, and Steve Breaston used a "screen" from Stephen Williams to get open for a touchdown.
Later in the quarter, Arizona recorded an interception. They got down to the Oakland 33 up 4, and a touchdown would have put them up by 11. But Quinten Groves prevented that, intercpeting a short pass. The Raiders were 69 yards away from the lead.
Then Darren McFadden came along. He ran for 33 yards down the sideline on one play, then caught a screen pass down to the 3 yard line, setting up his touchdown run with 10 seconds left in the half. Oakland used a possible 14 point swing to take a 20-17 halftime lead.
In the third, Bruce Gradkowski found Louis Murphy for a 70 yard gain down to the Arizona 13. However, a holding penalty and no yards ruined a chance of a 10 point lead, but Sebastian Janikowski could still make the field goal to put Oakland up 6. However, Janikowski, who was money from 54 yards out, hooked the kick. It was still a 3 point game.
With the momentum on their side, Arizona got going. Steve Breaston caught a 25 yard pass, then Tim Hightower ran 13 yards for a first down. On first down Derek Anderson found Larry Fitzgerald on a quick slant, and after 3 quarters the Cardinals were on top 24-20.
Oakland was forced to punt, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was fielding it. But Rodgers-Cromartie muffed it, and Oakland recovered at the Arizona 16. Then they got to the 1 yard line.
On first down, Michael Bush gained nothing, then a false start pushed them back 5 yards. 2 short incomplete passes to Darius Heyward-Bey made Oakland try a field goal. Janikowski improved to 3-4 on the day, nailing the kick.
Then a 3 and out by Arizona gave Oakland the ball, and a 25 yard pass to Louis Murphy got Oakland to the Cardinals 41. Oakland decided to go for the field goal, and Janikowski got a good part of the ball. It had the distance, but it hooked towards the last second. Arizona got the ball back, but they were forced to punt. Oakland started at their 20 yard line.
On 3rd and 9, Bruce Gradkowksi completed a pass to Zach Miller at the Oakland 36. However, 3 downs resulted in nothing, and it was down to one play; fourth down.
Gradkowski found Heyward-Bey on the left sideline, and he caught the pass for 12 yards. Then Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie commited pass interference, and suddenly Oakland was set up for the game-winner.
Janikowski's leg took a swing towards the right side of the ball, and since the ball was kicked left, it couldn't go through. Much to the delight of Cardinals fans, it sailed left, and Arizona had a huge victory in their hands.
Atlanta at New Orleans (short)
Another key missed kick cost the Saints a 3-0 start, and it ending their 5 game win streak dating back to last season. Garrett Hartley missed a 29 yarder wide left, and Atlanta took advantage of the error and won the game on Matt Bryant's 46 yard kick.
Early in the game, Lance Moore returned a punt 72 yards, and it set up a Drew Brees TD pass to Jeremy Shockey. But on the next drive, Matt Ryan found Tony Gonzalez on a slant route, and it was a TD. However, on the next drive, Lance Moore was picked up by a linebacker. Brees found Moore, and he scored. It was 14-7 after 1.
On the next drive, the Falcons took up 10:39 and scored a touchdown. The drive lasted 20 plays, with the key play being a 4th down pass to Roddy White from Matt Ryan.
However, neither offense got going, and all anyone could get until late in the third was a field goal by Atlanta. Then, Thomas DeCoud accidentally touched the ball on the ensuing punt, and the Saints recovered. Drew Brees found Lance Moore, who used a block to score and give New Orleans the lead with a quarter left.
But that wouldn't last long. Matt Ryan made a great throw to Roddy White, who caught the ball and scored. New Orleans needed a field goal.
But luckilly for the Saints, short passes by Drew Brees set up a field goal. It went into OT, where the same thing led to a 29 yard kick by Hartley. But this time, he hooked it left!
Jason Snelling then gained 24 yards to set up a Matt Bryant FG, but it was blocked. However, the Saints called timeout, and Bryant nailed the next kick, and the Falcons were 2-1. The Falcons play the 0-3 49ers at home, and the Saints host 0-3 Carolina.
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