Green Bay Packers vs Oakland Raiders Match Player Stats On Dec 20, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 20, 2015

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, rookie cornerback Damarious Randall returned an interception 43 yards for a score, and the playoff-bound Green Bay Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders 30-20 Sunday at the O.co Coliseum.

The Packers (10-4) officially clinched a postseason spot midway through the first quarter when Carolina defeated the New York Giants with a last-second field goal. By defeating the Raiders, Green Bay maintained a one-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North.

The Packers reached the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

Green Bay defeated the Raiders (6-8) for the seventh straight time and eliminated Oakland from playoff contention on a rainy day by San Francisco Bay. For the 13th consecutive season, the Raiders will finish without a winning record.

Rodgers completed 22 of 39 passes and was intercepted once, late in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver James Jones, who played for Oakland last season, caught six passes for 82 yards and a score.

Packers outside linebacker Julius Peppers had 2 1/2 sacks, giving him 135 for his career.

Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper caught six passes for 120 yards and a career-high two touchdowns. Cooper became the first rookie in Raiders history with 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He also is the first Raider since Randy Moss in 2005 to crack the 1,000-yard receiving mark.

Oakland quarterback Derek Carr completed 23 of 47 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

The Packers extended their one-point halftime lead to 17-13 on kicker Mason Crosby's 24-yard field goal with 10:18 left in the third quarter, capping a 44-yard drive.

The Raiders answered with an eight-play, 81 touchdown drive, Carr hitting Cooper on a 26-yard touchdown pass that gave Oakland a 20-17 lead with 6:48 left in the third. Lined up right, Cooper got behind Randall, and Carr found him in the right front corner of the end zone.

Green Bay quickly got the lead back, marching 53 yards in three plays as Rodgers threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jones. Jones was wide open down the right sideline, and Rodgers capitalized on the Raiders' coverage breakdown, putting Green Bay ahead 24-20 with 5:46 remaining in the third quarter.

The Packers extended their lead to 27-20 when Crosby connected from 21 yards with 10:01 left to play, capping a 92-yard drive. Green Bay first-and-goal from the 1 but lost 2 yards in three plays and settled for a field goal.

The Packers forced a Raiders punt when they sacked Carr for a 14-yard loss on third-and -8 from the 28.

Rodgers went back to work with great field position at the Oakland 36. Crosby connected from 33 yards, increasing Green Bay's lead to 30-20 with 4:25 left.

The Packers capitalized on a pair of Carr interceptions to build a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Facing third-and-9 from the Raiders' 17, Carr tried to hit tight end Clive Walford over the middle, but safety Micah Hyde sliced in front to intercept. That set up fullback John Kuhn's 5-yard touchdown run with 5:08 left in the first quarter, giving Green Bay a 7-0 lead.

On Oakland's next possession, Carr threw high and wide to wide receiver Seth Roberts on first down. Carr's fastball went through Roberts' hands to Randall, who caught it and ran untouched 43 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 4:53 left in the quarter.

The Raiders cut Green Bay's lead to 14-6 with a pair of Sebastian Janikowski field goals. The Packers appeared ready to pad their lead late in the half, but Raiders defensive end Benson Mayowa stripped the ball from running back James Starks and recovered at the Oakland 21 with 1:22 left.

Carr marched the Raiders 79 yards in four plays for a touchdown, hitting Cooper with a 19-yard scoring pass in the back right corner of the end zone, cutting Green Bay's lead to 14-13 with 20 seconds remaining in the half.

NOTES: Raiders starting DE Mario Edwards Jr. left the game with a neck injury early in the first quarter and not return. ... Raiders WR Seth Roberts left the game with an abdominal injury in the second quarter and did not return. ... Packers backup LB Jayrone Elliott left the game with a quad injury in the first half and did not return. ... Packers starting LT David Bakhtiari left the game late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. ... Raiders rookie Jon Feliciano made his first NFL start, moving into the lineup at right guard. J'Marcus Webb moved from right guard to right tackle, replacing Austin Howard (knee), who was placed on injured reserve Saturday. ... Packers starting CB Sam Shields (concussion) was inactive. Rookie Damarious Randall replaced Shields in the starting lineup.