Week 5 Game Recap: Oakland Raiders 20, San Francisco 49ers 34

What you need to know

Oakland Raiders

QB Andrew Walter looked fine into the third quarter, but his day fell apart with three turnovers on consecutive possessions. Walter was replaced by backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo who lived up to Walter’s standard by throwing two interceptions of his own in limited playing time.

WR Randy Moss scored his one hundredth career receiving touchdown early in the second quarter to get the Raiders the lead, but he dropped an easy touchdown in the back of the end zone on the second Raiders’ drive. Earlier in the week his motivational level was questioned. Late in the game with San Francisco dominating on the scoreboard Moss gave only a half-hearted attempt at a lobbed pass in his direction that was intercepted.

RB Lamont Jordan ran well when he touched the ball, but an ineffective Oakland passing attack in the second half and game situation kept Jordan from getting touches. Also of note, backup RB Justin Fargas ran extremely well in limited time during the third quarter.

San Francisco 49ers

QB Alex Smith tripled his career high with three touchdown passes in the game. He was able to stand tall in the pocket without much of a pass rush from the Raiders. He was accurate delivering various types of throws (bullets and lobs) completing 15 of 19 passes.

RB Frank Gore continues to be the focal point of the 49ers’ offense. Gore logged 30 touches and 172 yards (5.73 yards per touch) on 60 San Francisco plays from scrimmage. Of note, Gore handled the ball on neither of the 49ers’ fourth and one plays, nor did he have any carries from inside the five yard line. Rookie RB Michael Robinson carried the ball on one of the fourth and one plays and all three 49ers’ running plays from inside the Oakland five yard line.

The 49ers’ defense intercepted their first passes of the season (four in total, three by CB Walt Harris) and rookie LB Manny Lawson was everywhere making plays. Lawson blocked a punt setting up the touchdown that got San Francisco the lead for good and later tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted.

What you ought to know

QB Andrew Walter, Pass: 14 - 23 - 164 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 11 - 0

Walter played well deep into the third quarter. He delivered the ball well throwing crisp passes. He connected with WR Randy Moss in the second quarter on a post for his first touchdown, but it would have been his second if Moss didn’t drop an even easier pass during the first quarter crossing the back of the end zone. Walter’s first interception was a poor deep pass into double coverage. His second was a horrendous throw directly into the chest of CB Walt Harris intended for WR Ronald Curry. Curry may have ran the wrong route on the play. On their next possession Walter threw a pass into the left flat intended for RB Lamont Jordan. The pass was low and behind Jordan and fell to the ground. Jordan watched as a defensive end picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone. The officials didn’t blow the play dead as the pass was backwards and recorded as a fumble by Walter. Backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo replaced Walter on their next possession.

QB Marques Tuiasosopo, Pass: 4 - 9 - 52 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 9 - 0

Tuiasosopo replaced starting QB Andrew Walter after three consecutive turnovers. Tuiasosopo had a pass tipped on his second play at the line of scrimmage resulting in his first interception. He rebounded by leading the Raiders on a quick touchdown drive. He dropped in a nice fade to TE Courtney Anderson in the back corner of the end zone. On the next Raider possession Tuiasosopo was scrambling to his right and tried to loft a jump ball for WR Randy Moss on the sideline. CB Walt Harris wanted it more and took it away from Moss for his third interception.

RB LaMont Jordan, Rush: 12 - 71 - 0, Rec: 3 - 10 - 0 (5 targets)

Jordan didn’t have much of a chance to get rolling on the ground early in the game. The Raiders scored on three of their four first half possessions, but didn’t lean on Jordan for production. He ran with good shoulder lean and popped a couple of solid gains, but penalties and an apparent need to try and get WR Randy Moss involved early kept the ball out of Jordan’s hands. Jordan was primed to get the ball as the third quarter started and the Raiders had the ball and the lead, but after a carry for no gain and a quick three and out it only got worse. Three consecutive turnovers swept the Raiders away like a wave and Jordan’s chances for touches went with it. The second turnover was partially Jordan’s fault. QB Andrew Walter threw a swing pass out to Jordan in the left flat. The pass was low and behind him and fell to the ground. Because the pass was backwards it was a fumble that the 49er defense picked it up and slowly waltzed into the end zone. Jordan stood nearly motionless watching instead of playing through to the whistle. Jordan received two meaningless carries at the end of the regulation that garnered 20 yards as time ran out.

RB Justin Fargas, Rush: 8 - 63 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Fargas entered the game midway through the third quarter stringing together seven, 19, six, and nine yard carries. He returned on the next series as well with three carries of eight, five, and six yards before giving way to starting RB Lamont Jordan. On one particular run Fargas was stacked up at the line of scrimmage but broke the tackle and fought forward for a first down. He also showed the speed to hit the hole quickly and turn the corner for big gains.

WR Randy Moss, Rec: 5 - 52 - 1 (8 targets)

Moss pulled in a short seven yard out on the first Oakland play from scrimmage. At the end of the drive Moss was targeted on a deep slant in the back of the end zone. The pass from QB Andrew Walter was a perfect strike hitting Moss in the hands, but he dropped the pass that should have been an easy touchdown. He made up for it by catching a 22 yard post in the end zone to get the Raiders the lead just before halftime. The pass actually went through his hands, but Moss cradled the ball between his knees and held on for the score. Moss disappeared as the Raiders’ offense imploded. His final target late in the game was a short lobbed pass from QB Marques Tuiasosopo. The pass was basically a jump ball that Moss didn’t make much of an effort to go up for as CB Walt Harris pulled in the interception.

WR Ronald Curry, Rec: 4 - 94 - 0 (7 targets)

Curry caught his first target and in the flat and did a nice job of turning it up field breaking a tackle for a 20 yard gain. He did a nice job of securing his second reception with his hands on a deep 39 yard post just before halftime that helped set up the touchdown to WR Randy Moss. Curry was targeted on two fourth quarter interceptions.

WR Alvis Whitted, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (4 targets)

Two of Whitted’s targets were deep balls. His lone reception was short dump for six yards converting a third and four.

WR Jerry Porter

Porter continues to be benched for disciplinary reasons related to his attitude.

TE Courtney Anderson, Rec: 1 - 8 - 1 (2 targets)

Anderson wasn’t part of the Raiders’ game plan. His first target came late in the game from backup QB Marques Tuiasosopo when the game was well over. Anderson ran a fade deep into the left corner of the end zone. He went up high using his size well to pull in the touchdown.

PK Sebastian Janikowski 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

There was nothing of significance to report from the Raiders’ placekicking. However, P Shane Lechler had a punt blocked early in the third quarter setting up the 49ers’ touchdown that swung the momentum in the game.

OAK Rush Defense

RB Frank Gore gouged the Raiders time and time again. They were dominated at the point of attack on first and second downs consistently through the game. However, in short yardage situations they stiffened up and held. They were able to stop the 49ers on two first half fourth and one plays as well as a goal line stop in the second half.

OAK Pass Defense

The Oakland front seven didn’t come close to sacking QB Alex Smith. San Francisco’s ability to control the ball with their ground game kept the Raiders on their heels. Second year CB Stanford Routt did a great job of jumping a route in the first quarter picking off Smith on a short out.

QB Alex Smith, Pass: 15 - 19 - 165 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0

Smith played his best game as a pro making only one mistake. He threw the ball with great velocity and touch depending on the needed situation. He connected on a pair of touchdowns with WR Arnaz Battle on short bullet passes near the goal line. Each was fit in a small window with plenty of zip. Smith’s one mistake was a short out that was jumped by CB Stanford Routt. Smith stared down WR Antonio Bryant on the play making it easy for Routt to pick off the pass. His longest completion and third touchdown came on a well-designed screen play. Third down RB Maurice Hicks took a short pass up the right sideline for the score.

RB Frank Gore, Rush: 27 - 134 - 0, Rec: 3 - 38 - 0 (3 targets)

Gore ran through gapping holes all game long, but he also showed great determination and desire to pound for extra yards. He doesn’t shy away from contact. Gore had seven carries of at least six yards before halftime. This trend continued deep into the second half with five more carries of at least eight yards. However, the 49ers are staying true to their word and pulling Gore in short yardage situations. San Francisco went for it on two fourth and one plays. Gore got neither touch. They also drove deep inside Oakland territory on another possession. Inside the five yard line RB Michael Robinson replaced Gore and saw multiple carries.

RB Michael Robinson, Rush: 12 - 21 - 0

Robinson spelled starting RB Frank Gore sporadically through the game. He also saw multiple short yardage carries including three carries inside the Raiders five yard line. Robinson didn’t have much of a chance on his carries as he was hit in the backfield repeatedly.

RB Maurice Hicks, Rec: 1 - 33 - 1 (1 targets)

Hicks entered the game after RB Frank Gore left with a potential neck injury. On a third and long play QB Alex Smith hit Hicks on a screen play in the right flat. Hicks turned it up field quickly using his blocking well and dove over the goal line for the 33 yard score.

WR Arnaz Battle, Rec: 4 - 37 - 2 (4 targets)

Battle capped off the first 49ers’ scoring drive by catching a quick hitter from four yards away for a score. QB Alex Smith drilled the pass in low and Battle did a nice job of scooping the pass up not allowing it to hit the ground. Battle scored his second touchdown from seven yards out in somewhat similar fashion. He caught a low dart near the two yard line, but wheeled and dove towards the end zone stretching the ball across the goal line for the touchdown. It was debatable whether or not Battle had a knee on the ground on the play. Raider head coach Art Shell considered challenging the play, but threw the red flag too late to request the replay.

WR Antonio Bryant, Rec: 3 - 27 - 0 (6 targets)

Bryant continues to be QB Alex Smith’s favorite target, but had a hard time connecting today. Bryant pulled in two short passes early moving the sticks, but when Smith zeroed in on Bryant on the second 49er possession it allowed the cornerback to jump the route and intercept the pass. Bryant’s only other reception was short cross for a first down. His final target was a deep ball to the end zone. It was Smith’s only deep attempt in the game.

TE Eric Johnson, Rec: 3 - 23 - 0 (4 targets)

San Francisco ran a few plays specifically for Johnson rolling QB Alex Smith out to his side of the field. Johnson also had a target on the goal line at the start of the third quarter just before Battle’s second touchdown.

TE Vernon Davis

Did not play due to broken leg.

PK Joe Nedney 2 - 3 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points

Nedney missed from 49 yards with eight minutes left in the game.

SF Rush Defense

Turnovers and stalled drives from poor passes or drops hid the fact that the San Francisco run defense didn’t really keep RB Lamont Jordan in check. Jordan was averaging nearly five yards per carry before he was gifted 20 garbage time yards on the last two plays of the game.

SF Pass Defense

Even though DT Bryant Young recorded the only sack in the game, the 49er pass rush did harass Oakland quarterbacks enough to force five critical mistakes (one fumble and four interceptions). CB Walt Harris had a career day with three interceptions. One was a gift off of a tipped pass, but the other two were nice plays that he worked for.