The 2001 Raiders finished the season with a 10-6 record and claimed a second-straight AFC Western Division title. The Raiders hosted the New York Jets in an AFC Wild Card game to open the post-season on January 12, 2002.
WR Jerry Rice caught 9 passes for 182 yards and 1 TD to lead the Raiders offensive attack.
WR Jerry Rice (80) gets loose for a 47-yard catch and run in an AFC Wild Card Playoff against the New York Jets after the 2001 season.
The Raiders won the coin toss and started the game with the ball. On their first possession, the Raiders Jerry Rice had a 26-yard reception, which set up a 41-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. The Jets then took the field with QB Vinny Testaverde trying to answer. With the Jets at the Raiders' 36-yard line William Thomas blew up a shovel pass play to Curtis Martin to force the Jets to attempt a John Hall field goal. The 45-yard field goal attempt was no good.
With 3:07 left in the quarter the Raiders took over. QB Rich Gannon connected with Rice for a 29-yard gain. Janikowski's 21-yard field goal gave the Raiders a 6-0 lead.
The Jets settled for a Hall 45-yard field goal to cut the Raiders lead to 6-3. The Silver and Black continued to control the game as the team moved the ball into field goal range again. Janikowski hit a 45-yard field goal to increase the Raiders lead to 9-3.
The Jets, trying to catch up, drove into Raiders territory and set Hall up for a 41-yard field goal. Raiders safety Anthony Dorsett came up huge and blocked the kick, which gave the Raiders the ball at their own 34-yard line. The Raiders moved down field with a Rice 14-yard reception, and a RB Charlie Garner 29-yard run. At the 2-yard line, on third and goal Gannon threw the first touchdown pass of the day to Tim Brown. Janikowski's extra point gave the Raiders a 16-3 lead.
Safety Anthony Dorsett (33) makes the stop on Jets RB Curtis Martin (28). AP Photo.
Starting the second half, the Jets received the ball and Laveranues Coles helped move the ball with a 22-yard reception. At the Raiders 17-yard line, Vinny Testaverde threw to a wide-open Wayne Chrebet to score the first Jets touchdown. Hall's extra point was good and the Jets closed the gap to 16-10.
Two possessions later, FB Richie Anderson was stripped by Raiders safety Johnnie Harris. DT Grady Jackson recovered for the Raiders. Towards the end of the quarter Gannon threw a 47-yard strike to Rice.
The fourth quarter started with the Raiders on the Jets 2-yard line, Zack Crockett crashed into the end zone for the Raiders second touchdown. Garner was able to make the 2-point conversation and the Raiders increased their lead to 24-10.
The Jets' Chrebet made a 20-yard reception to set up for the Jets' next score. Richie Anderson scored from 4 yards out. Hall came on and made the extra point to close the gap to 24-17. Rice hauled in a 20-yard reception for a touchdown as the scoring continued in the 4th quarter. Janikowski kicked the extra point giving the Raiders a 31-17 lead.
RB Charlie Garner's (25) 79-yard touchdown run iced a playoff victory against the New York Jets. AP Photo.
The Jets and Vinny Testaverde continued to fight back and got within 7 points with a 4-yard touchdown reception by Chrebet. Garner sealed the victory with a 79-yard TD scamper giving the Raiders a 38-24 lead.
The Jets got the ball and tried to score with time running out but were unsuccessful. With the win, the Raiders advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoffs and a match-up with the New England Patriots in Foxboro.
