Janikowski Misses Three Field Goals As Raiders Can't Top Cardinals

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Sebastian Janikowski pulled a 32-yard field goal wide left as time expired and Arizona escaped with a 24-23 victory over Oakland in a cross-conference matchup.

LaRod Stephens-Howling took the opening kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown for the Cardinals (2-1), who won their home-opener for the fourth time in five years.

Derek Anderson threw for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns -- to Steve Breaston in the second quarter and to Larry Fitzgerald for the go-ahead score in the third quarter -- but only completed 12-of-26 passes.

"This game probably had as many twists and turns as any I've been involved with. Needless to say, we're thrilled with the win," Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We still have work to do to fit our puzzle together."

Bruce Gradkowski was 17-of-34 for 255 yards, one score and a pick for the Raiders (1-2), who were coming off a two-point win at St. Louis last Sunday.

Darren McFadden racked up 105 yards and a TD run on 25 carries, while Louis Murphy led all receivers with 119 yards on five catches.

Down by one with 3:33 to play, Oakland was set up on its own 20 after a Cardinals punt. Gradkowski kept the drive alive by hitting Darrius Heyward-Bey for 12 yards on a 4th-and-10 from the Raiders' 36. A defensive pass interference call on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on first down put the ball on the Arizona 13, but two McFadden rushes pushed the line of scrimmage back one yard.

Janikowski appeared to have given the Raiders the win, but the ball curved outside the left upright at the last moment.

"I don't think the game was won or lost on the last play right there," Raiders head coach Tom Cable said. "We had a lot of opportunities in the second half to kind of put some exclamation points out there."

Stephens-Howling gave the home fans a charge by breaking away 102 yards for a touchdown to open the game, but Gradkowski connected with Zach Miller on a 22- yard touchdown pass to tie the game.

Oakland ended the first quarter ahead by 13-10, as Janikowski makes of 22 and 54 yards were sandwiched around a 42-yarder from Jay Feely.

Breaston's two-yard TD catch early in the second quarter staked the Cardinals to a 17-13 lead, but McFadden capped a quick Raiders drive late in the quarter with a two-yard run and 20-17 game.

Gradkowski hit Murphy for a 70-yard gain to the Arizona 13 late in the third, but Janikowski pulled a 41-yarder to the right. The Cards got the ball on their own 31 and forged ahead 24-20 on an eight-yard TD catch by Fitzgerald.

A muffed punt by a Cards special teamer was recovered by Oakland at the Arizona 16-yard line early in the fourth. A drive marred by three penalties netted only a 23-yard field goal from Janikowski for a 24-23 game with 7:59 to play.

Janikowski barely missed a 58-yard chance wide right on the Raiders' next possession.

Oakland outgained Arizona 364-227, racking up 20 first downs to 18 for the home team...The Raiders finished 4-for-15 on third downs and the Cardinals fared slightly better at 5-for-13...Gradkowski has seven touchdowns and two interceptions in five starts with the Raiders...Oakland also committed 11 penalties for 123 yards...Both clubs are in action next Sunday with the Cardinals heading to San Diego and the Raiders hosting Houston.

Preview The Pivotal Raiders-Cardinals Matchups

The Raiders and Cardinals seem to share the same glaring weakness and it's lack of pass protection by the offensive line. Who can exploit this weakness and maybe more importantly who can protect themselves from their lack of protection will decide who is victorious in this contest.

What Matchups Can Be Exploited

Cardinals Offensive Line vs. The Raiders Defensive Line

The Cardinals have to give Derek Anderson enough time to throw to his talented WRs. To do this they are going to have to get improved play from their Tackles.

Derek Anderson has been sacked four times and the Cards are fourth in the NFL with 13 QB hits allowed.

The Raiders Defensive Line has done a solid job of generating pressure on the QB. They will likely look to get pressure from their D-Lineman, which will allow them to keep extra men back to cover the Cardinals dangerous WRs.

Raiders Offensive Line vs. Cardinals Pass Rush

The Cardinals are the first 3-4 team the Raiders have faced and they can get pressure from different areas. Both of the Cardinals DE's, Cailis Campbell and Darnell Dockett, are able to put pressure on the QB as well as OLB's Clark Haggans and Joey Porter. The Cardinals are also not afraid to send in Adrian Wilson on Safety blitzes.

This means the Raiders and their new starting QB, Bruce Gradkowski, will see how: Langston Walker handles the speedier outside rushers; how Jared Veldheer handles some of the blitzes and how Mario Henderson  can mess up this week.

The Matchups To Watch

Both teams will be able to go a long way to limiting their liabilities in pass protection, if the can get the run games going. The Cardinals have big play capability in the backfield. This was evident by Tim Hightower's 80-yard TD run in Week Two.

The Raiders while looking vastly improved in run defense, have still shown over the course of the pre-season and Week One, that they are susceptible to giving up long TD runs. If the Cardinals can get something going on the ground and break of a long run or two, it will take the attention of the Defensive Linemen off the passer. It will also put point on the board in a game where points may be at a premium.

The Raiders come in with the NFL's second leading rusher in Darren McFadden and they may also have the services of RB Michael Bush. Bush has been participating fully in practice this week and should be a game time decision.

The Cardinals were gashed in the run game in their blowout loss to the Falcons and they will need to fix those problems quickly, if they hope to slow down the suddenly imposing Oakland Raiders rushing attack.

Larry Fitzgerald vs. Nnamdi Asomugha

Any play that these two players go head-to-head, they deserve a TV camera to themselves. Considered by most to be in the top two of their respective positions, matchups don't get any better than this.

Larry Fitzgerald comes into the game second in the NFL with 24 passes thrown in his direction. Asomugha has not seen a pass come in his direction yet. Something has to give.

Bruce Gradkowski Gets The Starting Nod

Tom Cable has named Bruce Gradkowski the starter for Week Three. Tom Cable on his reasoning behind the switch:

We are going to start Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. The reasons are pretty simple. I think there are two of them. First and foremost is the energy and the level of intensity that was brought into the huddle when he came into the game. They way the guys responded around him. And obviously scoring points. If you look back to the preseason, even at that time in the two games he came in he scored points.

That’s what we’re about. If we can get this thing to where we can score 24 points a game, I think we’ll be very tough to beat.

Hue Jackson told the press is was his idea to insert Gradkowski last week, but ultimately it is Cable’s call. Cable then went on to say that it was his decision alone to make the switch and that he did not have to clear it with Al Davis.

In news regarding players that don’t play QB, Richard Seymour and Walter McFadden both returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday after missing time with hamstring issues.

Robert Gallery (hamstring), linebacker Travis Goethel (lower back) and wide receiver Chaz Schilens (knee), did not practice. They were also joined in not practicing by John Henderson. Henderson was wearing a protective boot on his foot, but said he was fine and would be ready to go on Sunday.

Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals: The Quest For 2-1

The Oakland Raiders travel to take on the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium for the Cardinals home opener. Kickoff is schedule for 1:15 PM (PDT).

The Cardinals started the season with a two game road trip. They return home after a 41-7 drubbing at the talons of the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals and the Raiders head into this game sporting 1-1 records with both victories coming at the expense of the St. Louis Rams.

The Cardinals once vaunted passing attack has struggled in the wake of Kurt Warner's retirement and Anquan Boldin's departure. They are now led by former Cleveland Browns QB, Derek Anderson. Anderson will bring a 66.8 QB rating into the game as he and the Cardinals hope to get their offense on track. Anderson has some weapons.

WR extraordinaire, Larry Fitzgerald, has been slowed at the start of the season as he recovers from a knee sprain, but is now nearing 100 percent. This sets up for one of the best matchups the NFL has to offer as he will go head-to-head with Raiders shutdown corner, Nnamdi Asomugha.

How much they line up directly across from each other remains to be seen, as the Raiders have shown reluctance to have Asomugha shadow one guy in favor of leaving him on his customary right side.

The Raiders come into the game with a fresh Quarterback controversy. Bruce Gradkowski led the Raiders to a comeback victory last week after taking over for Jason Campbell at halftime. Head Coach Tom Cable has yet to name a starter and said he will do so on Wednesday.  

Stay tuned over the course of the week for injury and roster news and a more in-depth look at some of the key matchups.