Second Half Is a World of Difference
Jon Kitna started the game with the wide-eyed look of a nervous rookie. He ended it with the composure of an old pro.
Kitna made a successful transition from the World League to NFL starting quarterback, completing 23 of 37 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown as the Seattle Seahawks rallied to defeat the Oakland Raiders, 22-21, on Sunday at a half-filled Oakland-Alameda Coliseum.
In the first half, Kitna battled his nerves and the Seahawks trailed, 21-3. In the second half, Kitna methodically picked apart the NFL’s worst defense.
“In the first quarter . . . his eyes were really big,” Seattle wide receiver Mike Pritchard said. “In the second half, you didn’t see those big eyes.”
Todd Peterson kicked a 49-yard field goal with 2:20 remaining for the go-ahead points and the Seahawks (7-8) then smothered a final Raider drive, sending Oakland (4-11) to its seventh loss in eight games.
“The coach [Dennis Erickson] yelled at me a couple of times and the looks he gave me, I was kind of puzzled,” Kitna said. “But he stayed with me. I think it turned into excitement more than nerves [in the second half].”
With Warren Moon sidelined because of bruised ribs and John Friesz out because of a broken right thumb, Kitna made his first start since leading the Barcelona Dragons to the World League championship in June.
Kitna had an eight-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway, Chris Warren had a nine-yard scoring run, and Peterson had two 27-yard field goals to help the Seahawks end a losing streak at four games.
Jeff George threw three touchdown passes for the Raiders, who have their most losses in a season since 1962. The loss was the latest indignity in a tumultuous week in which wide receiver Tim Brown threatened to call his own plays and the team bordered on anarchy.
More to Read
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.