Raiders Routed the Titans in 2002 AFC Title Game
With the Las Vegas Raiders again on the outside and looking in at the National Football League playoffs, fans of Raider Nation can only reminisce about some of the Silver and Black’s memorable performances over the years during the post-season.
Another game to remember was the 2002 American Football Conference Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans at the Oakland Coliseum on January 19, 2003.
The Raiders bounced back from a 2-6 start that season by winning seven of their last eight regular season games to capture the AFC West title with an 11-5 record, and then defeated the New York Jets, 30-10, in an AFC Divisional playoff game at the Coliseum as quarterback Rich Gannon threw two touchdown passes. Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals of 29, 34 and 31 yards.
However, the Titans were favored the following week when they came to Oakland for the title game.
“This is a Championship Game, that’s your motivation right there,” Raiders guard Frank Middleton said leading up to the game. “It’s not about what happened the first time. It’s about winning our game and getting to San Diego. I think Tennessee is probably one of the hottest teams in the League right now.”
© Kirby Lee | 2013 Nov 24
The Raiders had beaten the Titans, 52-25, early in the season at the Coliseum before the Silver and Black slid into a four-game losing streak, while Tennessee won 10 of its last 11 regular season games to finish 13-3.
Then Tennessee defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 34-31, in an AFC Divisional playoff game at Adelphia Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
However, the second game of the season between the Raiders and Titans was much like the first, as Gannon passed for 286 yards and touchdowns to wide receiver Jerry Porter, running back Charlie Garner, and tight end Doug Jolley, in addition to running for a two-yard score in leading a 41-24 Oakland victory before 62,544 ecstatic fans.
“We fought all year long,” said Raiders Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who had his greatest seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. “When we lost four straight games, this team stuck together and now we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
Gannon, who was the NFL Most Valuable Player that season: “That might have been our best game of the season so far (against the Titans), and now we’re ready to go to the Super Bowl in San Diego and hopefully play even better.”
However, that game didn’t work out close to how the Raiders hoped it might, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers routed them, 48-21, in Super Bowl XXXVII before 67,603 spectators at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
However, that’s another story for another day.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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