Raiders Open Season With 19-14 Loss To Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Chris Ivory took the ball, broke through a few tackle attempts and put the New York Jets in control.
Ivory had a 71-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, and the Jets' swarming defense mostly clamped down on Oakland rookie quarterback Derek Carr in a 19-14 season-opening victory Sunday.
With the game still in the balance, Ivory rushed up the middle and appeared stopped. But he slipped a few would-be tacklers and took off into the end zone. A pass on a 2-point conversion failed.
Carr, the Raiders' second-round draft pick, made it close with a 30-yard touchdown pass to James Jones, who made a leaping grab over Darrin Walls with 1:21 left.
The Raiders tried an onside kick, but Greg Salas recovered to seal it for the Jets.
Geno Smith was shaky early with an interception and lost fumble. But he threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Johnson as the Jets sent the Raiders to their 14th straight loss in the Eastern time zone. Smith finished 23 of 28 for 221 yards in his second straight opening-week start.
Ivory finished with 102 yards on 10 carries, while Johnson had 68 yards rushing in his Jets debut and caught five passes for 23 yards.
Carr held his own in the first half, but the Jets pressured him throughout the final two quarters. He finished 20 of 32 for 151 yards, with touchdowns to Jones and Rod Streater. Carr got the nod over veteran Matt Schaub and became Oakland's 18th starting quarterback since the start of the 2003 season.
Rex Ryan improved to 8-1 against rookie quarterbacks making their first appearance against his Jets defense.
With the Jets leading 10-7, the defense came out roaring to start the second half, holding the Raiders to minus-3 yards in the third quarter.
The Raiders flew to New Jersey on Thursday, a day earlier than usual, to prepare for their second straight opener in the Eastern time zone. It didn't help.
It's the third straight season Oakland lost its season opener under coach Dennis Allen.
Nick Folk gave the Jets an early 3-0 with a 45-yard field goal that bailed out tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, who was called for holding on Folk's 35-yard attempt that was good.
The Jets nearly had seven points on that opening drive, but Salas couldn't handle Smith's pass. New York was also called for three penalties, including Ferguson's hold.
The Jets' next possession started with another holding call on wide receiver Eric Decker. Then Smith threw his first interception to a diving Charles Woodson, who joined Darrell Green as the only players with a pick in at least 17 consecutive seasons.
Carr had a short field to work with and got his first NFL touchdown on a screen to Streater, who scored from 12 yards to give the Raiders a 7-3 lead.
Smith turned it over again on the next possession, killing a long, efficient drive, when he fumbled — with Michael Vick lined up at wide receiver — while trying to get into the end zone. Sio Moore plowed into Smith, knocking the ball loose, and TJ Carrie recovered.
Johnson, signed by the Jets as a free agent in April, got his first touchdown with his new team. He took a shovel pass and stretched into the end zone for a 5-yard score that put New York up 10-7 just 30 seconds before halftime.
The Jets nearly got a touchdown on some trickery when Vick lined up as a wide receiver, sprinted into the backfield and took a flip from Smith. Vick zipped a pass just wide of an open Decker as the ball went off his fingertips in the end zone.
It ended a sloppy first half for the Jets, who were called for eight penalties, including one that was declined. The Raiders had no first-half penalties.
Folk kicked a 42-yarder to make it 13-7 in the third quarter.
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