CASPER
New member
OAKLAND, Calif. – As the Oakland Raiders poured out onto the field to celebrate Sebastian Janikowski's overtime kick, the 15 penalties, three turnovers and long stretches of offensive ineptitude were merely a footnote.
The Raiders won their biggest game in nearly eight years and are once again a contender in the AFC West.
Jason Campbell threw a 47-yard pass to rookie Jacoby Ford in overtime to set up Janikowski's winning 33-yard field goal that capped Oakland's 23-20 victory over the division-leading Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
"It wasn't the way we draw it up but it was the way it was supposed to be," coach Tom Cable said. "We hung in there, fought, hung in there, fought, got a chance, made a couple of plays, made two kicks and now we're all happy. It's a great job by our team of really pulling together."
Campbell and Ford hooked up on a 29-yard pass in the closing seconds of regulation to set up Janikowski's tying 41-yard field goal. The Raiders (5-4) then won it in overtime for their most significant victory since winning the 2002 AFC championship. Oakland hasn't had a winning record at any time since being 2-1 in 2004 and not this late since '02.
By winning their third straight game for the first time since that season, Oakland heads into its bye week just a half-game behind Kansas City (5-3).
"This win was probably the win that does wonders for our season," Campbell said.
The Chiefs won the overtime toss but were unable to generate a first down. Campbell then hit Ford on a diving catch on the first play for Oakland. Ford, a fourth-round pick, caught six passes for 148 yards and returned the opening kick of the second half for a touchdown.
"It's something I've been wanting to do ever since I was little," Ford said. "I went out there, and it was a dream come true to be out there having fun making plays with those guys."