OAKLAND, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2006) -- A trip to Oakland was just what the Kansas City Chiefs needed to snap their three-game losing streak and keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
The Chiefs (8-7) need to beat Jacksonville next week and get plenty of help from other teams to make the playoffs because their 4-7 conference record has put them behind most of the other contenders in the tiebreakers.
"We're not out of the playoffs. We need help," said Jarrad Page, who had two interceptions. "All we can do is win. That's all we can control. We have to win another game at Arrowhead against Jacksonville and hope things go our way after that."
For now, they'll just have to take solace in ending their skid and handing another loss to their longtime rivals, who have never been this low in Al Davis' more than four decades with the franchise.
The Raiders (2-13) have lost eight straight overall and matched the franchise record for losses in a season set when they went 1-13 in 1962 -- the season before Davis arrived to coach and eventually own the team.
"Lamar Hunt loved to win these games," Johnson said of the Chiefs' late owner. "It's a big rivalry. We always want to beat this team. We never want to give them one win because then they'll be talking about it the rest of their lives."
The frustration of a lost season finally appeared to boil over when defensive leader Warren Sapp threw a tantrum on the sideline late in the first half as Oakland's offense once again struggled.
The Raiders could only manage three field goals by Sebastian Janikowski and were held without an offensive touchdown for the seventh time this season. Oakland was outscored 76-12 in its four prime-time games, failing to score a touchdown in any of them.
"Again, we just can't do the things that we do, turn the ball over and expect to win," coach Art Shell said. "We moved the ball but still couldn't get it into the end zone, and that hurts."
Johnson complained after last week's 20-9 loss to San Diego that Kansas City's offense was too predictable. Even though the Raiders knew Johnson would be the Chiefs' workhorse, he was still able to put together another big game against Oakland. He had 31 carries and scored on a 1-yard run in the final minute of the first half to make it 17-6.
Johnson has 398 yards rushing in three starts against the Raiders, and his 10 touchdowns in six games are his most against any opponent.
Oakland turned the ball over five times, including four by Andrew Walter, who started at quarterback in place of the injured Aaron Brooks. The Raiders also were without receivers Randy Moss and Jerry Porter, and starting running back LaMont Jordan.
Walter was 27 for 37 for 226 yards, but lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions. That gives him 22 turnovers on the season, despite starting only eight games.
It was Walter's second fumble in the first half that set Sapp off. He had been pacing the sideline and yelling in frustration during the drive. He flung his poncho to the ground after the fumble that Jared Allen forced and recovered.
After Johnson scored with 40 seconds remaining, Sapp slammed his helmet to the turf when he returned to the sideline.
Sapp fumed the rest of the half and threw a towel again before heading to the locker room after Walter's desperation heave was intercepted in the end zone by Jarrad Page. Page added an interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter to preserve a 20-9 lead.
The Raiders' offense actually showed some life on the opening drive as Justin Fargas carried six times for 40 yards to set up Janikowski's 25-yard field goal. They had turned the ball over on their opening drive the previous three games.
Notes:
Johnson broke Christian Okoye's club record of 370 carries in a season. Johnson's 31 carries gave him 383. ... Janikowski's three field goals broke a tie with Jeff Jaeger and moved him within one of tying George Blanda for the second most in Raiders history with 156.