Raider Rally a Familiar Breeze : Interconference: Hostetler returns to windy Giants Stadium and leads Oakland to a 17-13 victory.

The Oakland Raiders were thrilled to get out of Giants Stadium with a 17-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday.

“We wanted to get in here, win, and get out of here,” said defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, whose deflection on a fourth-down pass helped seal the victory. “The hotel had a blackout Saturday night, and you got to be cautious when that happens. Then the wind’s blowing like that. Any time you go into an opponent’s place, it’s tough.”

It was a place with which Jeff Hostetler is familiar. While Oakland’s defense was surrendering only 76 yards on the ground, Hostetler was leaving his former teammates blowing in the wind.

Despite facing gusting winds, Hostetler guided the Raiders on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Harvey Williams’ six-yard run with 6:52 remaining won it.

“From past experience, I knew it would be windy,” Hostetler said. “I knew I had to keep the ball down. That experience was real beneficial to me.”

Particularly on a 40-yard touchdown pass to Rocket Ismail in the second quarter--into the gusts.

“I wanted to prove I still had it here,” Hostetler said.

Said Ismail: “Into the wind, that definitely surprised me. There was a lot of juice on it and the wind helped me get to it.”

The Giants (3-7) took a 13-10 lead on Dave Brown’s 11-yard draw in the third quarter. But Oakland (8-2), operating against the wind, used the running of Williams and Napoleon Kaufman to get to New York’s six-yard line.

Then, with the wind, Hostetler’s pass into the corner of the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter was intercepted by Phillippi Sparks.

The Raiders came right back after forcing a punt, going 71 yards to Williams’ decisive run. Two plays earlier, Hostetler’s third-down scramble came up a yard short of a first down, but Sparks was whistled for a personal foul.

“I was down already and he hit my head,” said Hostetler, who was 13 for 19 for 152 yards. “There was nothing to that, but that is why they down the ball where you start your slide. It’s supposed to be dead, and anything after that is a flag.”

The conditions kept things close all day. The Raiders used more than six minutes on their first drive, with the wind, and Jeff Jaeger made a 30-yard field goal. Then the Giants kept the ball into the second period with runs and short passes before being forced to punt.

Ignoring the blustery wind, Hostetler stepped back and threw a long pass down the middle that appeared too long. But Ismail caught up to it for a 40-yard score.

Williams ran 21 times for 85 yards for Oakland, which next plays Dallas.

“We did not put a perfect game together,” Williams said. “But it’s coming, hopefully for next week.”

New York came back on Brown’s 34-yard completion to Herschel Walker, who put a superb stop-and-go move on Derrick Hoskins. But all the Giants got was Brad Daluiso’s 32-yard field goal.