Raiders Win Grudge Match, 24-10 : No Hard Feelings After Long Has Way Against Patriots

The Raiders, who had an exhibition debacle at San Francisco and a must-win exhibition against the Dallas Cowboys, Friday night staged a grudge exhibition against the New England Patriots, the merry band that ousted them from the playoffs last season.

You think this was just a scrimmage for Howie Long?

The Boston native who was needled by Patriot General Manager Pat Sullivan during that playoff loss, seemed to be out to show Sullivan just what kind of an All-Pro he had insulted.

Long batted down Tony Eason’s first pass, then sprung Brad Van Pelt in for a sack by tying up two Patriot blockers, then swatted another Eason pass into the air. It was ruled a fumble, and recovered by Bill Pickel at the New England eight. And that was in the first two Patriot possessions.

In all, the Raiders sacked Eason 10 times, intercepted him once, blocked a New England punt, took a 24-3 lead and won, 24-10, before 44,352 in the Coliseum.

There was a Long-Steve Moore skirmish. Vann McElroy was ejected for going after Patriot receiver Derwin Williams, who had clipped him. Sean Jones was ejected for going after Patriot tight end Willie Scott.

Anger, comedy, this game had it all. Lester Hayes had the Raider interception, his third of pre-season. Hayes caught it on the sideline in front of the New England bench, was knocked out of bounds and celebrated by snagging a cup of water out of the New England tray. Patriot cornerback Ray Clayborn came over and knocked it out of his hands.

Marc Wilson went the first half for the Raiders. He hit his first three passes, but went 2 for 12 after that and finished 5 for 15. He left with a 17-3 lead, though.

Jim Plunkett entered the game in the third period, to cheers. He completed four of his six passes and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Dokie Williams.

The Raiders set what they would have liked to be the tone on the first possession. On their second play, Wilson hit Jesse Hester, who made a diving catch 39 yards downfield at the Patriot 28.

On the next play, Wilson zipped a pass to Todd Christensen for 10 yards and another first down. When the drive died, Chris Bahr kicked a 36-yard field goal and the Raiders led, 3-0.

After that, Long started in on the boys from his hometown. On the first New England possession, he batted down Eason’s first pass. On the second New England possession, he tied up the Patriot right guard and tackle, letting Van Pelt in for a sack.

On the next play, Long got to Eason one more. This time, he batted the Patriot quarterback’s arm as he was trying to pass. The ball flew up in the air and Pickel grabbed it. The play was ruled a sack for Long and a fumble recovery for Pickel.

The Raiders scored in three plays. With 3rd-and-goal at the one, Wilson rolled right and hit Christensen in the end zone. Bahr kicked the point and it was 10-0.

The Raiders then went 80 yards the next time they got the ball. The first 26 were courtesy of an official, who ruled that Clayborn had interfered with Hester while batting away a Wilson pass. A moment later, Wilson hit Hester for 13 yards.

The drive reached a 4th-and-1 at the Patriot 16. There Wilson handed to Marcus Allen who broke it around left end behind a block by fullback Frank Hawkins, who cut down the New England contain man. Allen beat the pursuit to the end zone and the Raiders were up, 16-0. Bahr’s extra point made it 17.

The Patriots finally got on the board midway through the second quarter when Ray Guy, back to punt, got a high snap and couldn’t get a kick off. he tried to run and was pulled down at the Raider 20.

Three plays later, the Patriots were at the Raider 16. So they sent in Tony Franklin and he kicked a 33-yard field goal.

Raider Notes

The Raiders are 2-1, the first time they’ve been over .500 in pre-season since they moved to Los Angeles. They’d gone 1-3 in each of the last three exhibitions seasons. . . . Are the Raiders trying to establish Jesse Hester? He caught two passes for 52 yards in the first half, plus getting a 26-yard interference ruling against the Patriot Pro Bowl cornerback, Ray Clayborn. . . . Marc Wilson didn’t throw a pass at Dokie Williams in the first half.