Kitna’s Kids Blessed By Generous Raiders Seahawks Halt Skid, Rally Behind Young Quarterback

The Oakland Raiders teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to sponsor a “Toys For Tots” program prior to the game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

Then the Raiders spent the next three hours giving the Seahawks an unwrapped present.

The Raiders handed the Seahawks a 22-21 victory that was graciously accepted.

Of course, the Seahawks were like kids Sunday in the Oakland Coliseum. Jon Kitna was making his NFL debut at quarterback. The oldest Seahawks offensive lineman was 27, and they were starting two inexperienced outside linebackers, James Logan and Michael Barber.

Occasional driving rainstorms only helped matters for the Seahawks.

“It’s fun any time you play in driving rain,” guard Pete Kendall said. “It brings out the little kid in you. We had nothing to win or lose except pride. But being out there in the rain made me feel like a little kid.”

And the come-from-behind victory allowed their “wet-behind-the-ears” quarterback to grow. Kitna, 25, brought the Seahawks back from a 21-3 deficit by putting together four consecutive second-half scoring drives, capped by Todd Peterson’s 49-yard game-winning field goal with 2:20 remaining.

The 18-point comeback equaled the second best in franchise history, topped only by a 20-point comeback in Denver two years ago. It enabled the Seahawks to sweep the two-game series with the Raiders and finish 4-4 in the AFC West. The Seahawks, now 7-8, close the season next Sunday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

“What it’s all about as far as I’m concerned is how our guys battled back and competed,” Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said. “We just kept battling and playing. We’ve got a bandaged-up defense.”

The two things the Seahawks had on their side Sunday was their kid quarterback, Kitna, and some seemingly stupid decisions by the Raiders.

First, Kitna. Despite throwing two interceptions in Seattle’s first five offensive possessions, Kitna settled down to complete 23 of 37 passes for 283 yards and one touchdown. To his offensive teammates, he made it fun.

“Jon was poised and confident in there,” said wide receiver Mike Pritchard, who caught five passes for 98 yards. “He was having fun. He was laughing and joking in there just like we knew he would. He was able to stay focused and was able to complete the passes. I know one time he got in a ref’s face. But definitely, the guy learned a lot today.”

All day, Kitna kept an undermanned, overworked, beaten up offensive line loose by barking out instruction. Protect this. Watch for that. Several times, Kitna told his blockers to keep the arms of defensive linemen out of his passing lanes.

“Anything else you want, Kit, while we’re at it,” Kendall yelled back to him once, suggesting that maybe they could bring him a drink or a sandwich while they were at it.

Said Kitna, “The linemen were teasing me all day because I would say plays really loud. I didn’t know that the guys behind me could hear what I was saying, so I tried to be a little louder. They were worried that I was saying things too loud that the Raiders would know the snap count.”

Face it, the Seahawks were like kids, a refreshing change from a group depressed by six weeks of costly special teams plays and a four-game losing streak.

“Jon was out there like a kid with a new toy,” center Kevin Mawae said. “That’s the way he was.”

Of course, the Seahawks’ Christmas would have been over early had the Raiders not been in a giving mode. In some cases, the Seahawks were a little too eager to accept the gifts. Two interceptions - including a Jay Bellamy pick that was returned for a touchdown - were erased because of defensive linemen jumping into the neutral zone.

George settled down to throw three first-half touchdown passes to give the Raiders a 21-3 lead.

The Raiders then forgot that most teams run the ball when they have the lead. Offensive coordinator Ray Perkins ordered only three second-half running plays.

“You’ve got to play 60 minutes and they didn’t play all 60,” said Seattle defensive tackle Sam Adams, who led a five-sack effort.

“We stopped the bleeding by the second half and then got rolling. Eventually, they laid down. They gave up,” Adams said.

Seahawks coaches were wise to let Kitna work play-action passes and let receivers run crossing routes. They worked the equivalent of a pick play near the goal line in which Pritchard and Joey Galloway each make a stutter step and then cross routes. Cornerback Albert Lewis was caught between bodies, freeing Galloway for an 8-yard touchdown that cut the Raiders lead to 21-9.

Kitna worked short, quick pass completions to set up a 27-yard field goal and a 9-yard touchdown run that put the Seahawks behind 21-19.

The turning point in the game followed when the Raiders drove to the Seahawks’ 26 with 10 minutes left.

After the Raiders failed on fourth-and-1, Kitna completed six of seven passes to set up Peterson’s game-winning 49-yard kick.

“I knew I was excited to play,” Kitna said. “I expected to be more nervous, but I think it turned more into excitement than nerves.”