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Kitna works magic in the end against Raiders
By Jeremy Kahn September 9, 2007 |
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OAKLAND-Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna predicted that the team would win 10 games during the 2007 season. Well, Kitna’s prediction is just nine wins away, as the Lions defeated the Oakland Raiders 36-21 before a sellout crowd of 61,547 at the Coliseum. Kitna went 27-for-36 for 289 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, as the Lions won their fourth season opener in the last five years. "I said during the off-season that how we handle adversity will be telling for this ballclub," said Kitna. "I think we're starting to turn the corner on that now. Guys are expecting to make plays now, and you saw the results." On the flip side of things, the Raiders have now lost five consecutive season openers, with their last opening game win coming during the 2002 season when they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 31-17. Things began the same way last season ended, as the Raiders fell behind 17-0, before Josh McCown hooked up with Ronald Curry for a four-yard touchdown with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter. Exactly three minutes later, the Raiders cut the Lions lead down to 17-14, as Lamont Jordan scored on a 12-yard run. After a Jason Hanson put the Lions up 20-14, the Raiders marched right down and finally took the lead at 21-20, when McCown threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Justin Griffith with 7:43 remaining in the game. On the Lions next possession, Kitna drove the Lions down the field and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Shawn McDonald to give the Lions a lead that they would never again relinquish. The Lions attempt at a two-point conversion fell short, and the Raiders got the ball back with a little over four minutes remaining in the game. McCown and the Raiders got the ball back after the Kitna to McDonald touchdown, but McCown threw a pass intended for Mike Williams that was intercepted by DeWayne White, who returned the ball to the Raiders 10-yard line for a 28-yard return. Just three plays after the White interception, the Lions tacked on three more points, when Jason Hanson hit his third field goal of the afternoon to put the Lions up by eight. On the Raiders first play from scrimmage after the Hanson field goal, McCown was sacked for a seven-loss and fumbled the ball; however the ball was recovered by Zach Miller, who attempted to run with the ball and fumbled and it was recovered by White, who made the key interception on the Raiders previous possession. Tatum Bell then put the game out of reach, as he scored on a 14-yard touchdown scamper thru the Raiders defense in into the end zone, where he was greeted rather rudely by the Black Hole Faithful. McCown was booed so bad in the third quarter that the crowd began to chant “Daunte, Daunte,” for Daunte Culpepper, after McCown threw a third-quarter interception into the hands of Travis Fisher. “Fans have the right to their opinions," said Coach Kiffin. "After the third touchdown in a row they weren't chanting for Daunte anymore." It was not all bad for McCown on the afternoon, as he went 30-for-40 with 313 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. "It just makes me sick," said McCown. "I dwell more on the negatives right now, the turnovers and the things like that. Those are the things that go over and over in my mind." Ronald Curry had a productive opening game, as he had 10 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown. Jordan led the Raiders in rushing, as he gained 70 yards on 15 carries and also had nine receptions for 89 yards. Calvin Johnson made a solid debut in the Honolulu Blue and Silver of the Lions, he caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Johnson was the second pick in the 2007 NFL Draft just one pick behind the Raiders first pick JaMarcus Russell, who is still not signed by the team. Sebastian Janikowski got off a to rough start, as he missed three field goals, including a block field goal by Shawn Rogers. Janikowski also a missed a 46-yard field goal and a 57-yarder just before the end of the half. If Janikowski would have hit the 57-yard field goal in the waning moments of the first half, it would have been the longest field goal in team history. NOTES: It was just the third time in Janikowski’s career that he missed three field goals in a game. Raiders center Jeremy Newberry, who was making his Raiders debut after playing his first nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers started the game at center; however he was forced from the game due to a left hamstring injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Jake Grove. The Raiders must regroup and get ready for the Denver Broncos, whom they will be facing next Sunday in Denver. |
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