OAKLAND, Calif. — In a season marred by the firing of coach Lane Kiffin and blown fourth-quarter leads, an untimely timeout that helped the New York Jets send the game into overtime appeared to be just the latest heartbreak for the Oakland Raiders.
Instead, the defense throttled Brett Favre in overtime long enough for Sebastian Janikowski to bail out interim coach Tom Cable in his first home game by kicking a team-record 57-yard field goal with 2:30 remaining that gave the Raiders a 16-13 victory Sunday.
“We believe now, whereas before, we would get in the fourth quarter and it would kind of fall apart on us,” cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “I think we needed this to spark our success.”
Encouraged by scores of old Raiders on hand for a weekend tribute to the late Gene Upshaw, the Raiders (2-4) did not wilt after Cable’s timeout just before the snap negated a missed 52-yard field goal by Jay Feely in the final seconds of regulation.
On the second try, Feely split the uprights to send the game into overtime for the Jets (3-3). The Jets won the toss and had the momentum heading into the extra session, but Favre was only able to lead them to two first downs on their final three possessions.
It was all part of a rough day for Favre, who was continually forced to throw the ball underneath where the Raiders were able to make the tackles to keep the Jets offense in check. Only one of Favre’s first 17 completions went for more than 15 yards, and he failed to throw a touchdown for the first time in six games with New York.
“I came here to win games like that. So that’s what’s disappointing for me,” said Favre, who finished 21-for-38 for 197 yards and two interceptions.
The Raiders weren’t much better on their first two drives of overtime before JaMarcus Russell found his stroke and hit Javon Walker for 16 yards and Zach Miller for 27 to move the Raiders inside the 40. Janikowski then delivered on his promise, besting the team record he set earlier this year by 1 yard.
“As soon as I hit it, I started celebrating because I knew I hit it good,” said Janikowski. “Just seeing those guys in the locker room, just laughing and smiling feels good.”
