OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jerry Rice probably didn't figure his team-first attitude would lead to the end of his NFL-record receptions streak.
But Ronald Curry's big day Sunday is a sign the Oakland Raiders will no longer rely as much on Rice in their talented receiving corps. Rice's NFL-record streak of 274 games with a catch ended, and Curry caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Rice is still a starter, but has said he's willing to accept a lesser role for the Raiders (1-1) if it helps the team rebound from last season's 4-12 debacle. He didn't get a pass thrown his way until 2½ minutes before halftime and that was the only one.
The last time Rice didn't catch a pass was Dec. 1, 1985, at Washington. Rice was substituted almost every other play during Oakland's second-to-last drive. He came out with 2:37 left during a Buffalo timeout and threw his helmet to the ground, causing it to bounce over a metal bench.
He appeared to yell in frustration and paced the sideline for several minutes.
Drew Bledsoe's first career game in Oakland wasn't much fun, either. Playing before the Raider Nation for the first time in his 12th season, Bledsoe was sacked seven times and struggled for the second straight week to take advantage of good field position.
Three of the sacks came in the first half, when Bledsoe's 31 yards were only seven more than those of punter Brian Moorman.
DeLawrence Grant had two sacks for the Raiders, who hosted the Bills in Oakland for the first time since 1977.
The Raiders staged a goal-line stand on the first play of the fourth quarter, stopping Travis Henry for no gain on fourth-and-1.
The Bills (0-2) finally got in the end zone with 1:20 left when Bledsoe hit Eric Moulds for a 5-yard TD after the ball was deflected by Ray Buchanan. Jerry Porter recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Curry caught a 43-yard TD pass from Rich Gannon in the second period, then Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals of 21 and 33 yards. Buchanan intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards early in the third to lead to Janikowski's first field goal.
Gannon completed 10 of his first 12 passes and played a clean game after fumbling three times and throwing two interceptions in last week's 24-21 loss at Pittsburgh. He finished 19-for-27 for 209 yards.
The Bills managed only a 32-yard field goal by Rian Lindell after getting 48 yards of help from Raiders penalties on one drive. Charles Woodson was flagged for a 28-yard pass interference against Moulds and then again for a 15-yard face mask on Henry on the next play. Oakland's Travian Smith committed was offside moments later.
Phillip Buchanon, who calls himself ''Showtime,'' got bailed out twice on punt return mistakes. The Bills punted on their first possession and he let the ball bounce and a Buffalo player illegally downed it deep in Raiders territory. So Buffalo set up to punt again from the 27, but faked and Moorman threw a 24-yard completion to Kevin Thomas.
On the next Buffalo series, Buchanon slipped and Moorman's 63-yard punt rolled to the 2. But Gannon completed a 41-yard play-action pass to Porter for a first down.
But Ronald Curry's big day Sunday is a sign the Oakland Raiders will no longer rely as much on Rice in their talented receiving corps. Rice's NFL-record streak of 274 games with a catch ended, and Curry caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 13-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Rice is still a starter, but has said he's willing to accept a lesser role for the Raiders (1-1) if it helps the team rebound from last season's 4-12 debacle. He didn't get a pass thrown his way until 2½ minutes before halftime and that was the only one.
The last time Rice didn't catch a pass was Dec. 1, 1985, at Washington. Rice was substituted almost every other play during Oakland's second-to-last drive. He came out with 2:37 left during a Buffalo timeout and threw his helmet to the ground, causing it to bounce over a metal bench.
He appeared to yell in frustration and paced the sideline for several minutes.
Drew Bledsoe's first career game in Oakland wasn't much fun, either. Playing before the Raider Nation for the first time in his 12th season, Bledsoe was sacked seven times and struggled for the second straight week to take advantage of good field position.
Three of the sacks came in the first half, when Bledsoe's 31 yards were only seven more than those of punter Brian Moorman.
DeLawrence Grant had two sacks for the Raiders, who hosted the Bills in Oakland for the first time since 1977.
The Raiders staged a goal-line stand on the first play of the fourth quarter, stopping Travis Henry for no gain on fourth-and-1.
The Bills (0-2) finally got in the end zone with 1:20 left when Bledsoe hit Eric Moulds for a 5-yard TD after the ball was deflected by Ray Buchanan. Jerry Porter recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Curry caught a 43-yard TD pass from Rich Gannon in the second period, then Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals of 21 and 33 yards. Buchanan intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards early in the third to lead to Janikowski's first field goal.
Gannon completed 10 of his first 12 passes and played a clean game after fumbling three times and throwing two interceptions in last week's 24-21 loss at Pittsburgh. He finished 19-for-27 for 209 yards.
The Bills managed only a 32-yard field goal by Rian Lindell after getting 48 yards of help from Raiders penalties on one drive. Charles Woodson was flagged for a 28-yard pass interference against Moulds and then again for a 15-yard face mask on Henry on the next play. Oakland's Travian Smith committed was offside moments later.
Phillip Buchanon, who calls himself ''Showtime,'' got bailed out twice on punt return mistakes. The Bills punted on their first possession and he let the ball bounce and a Buffalo player illegally downed it deep in Raiders territory. So Buffalo set up to punt again from the 27, but faked and Moorman threw a 24-yard completion to Kevin Thomas.
On the next Buffalo series, Buchanon slipped and Moorman's 63-yard punt rolled to the 2. But Gannon completed a 41-yard play-action pass to Porter for a first down.
