OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- With one swift kick, John Hall put the New York Jets into the playoffs and cost the Oakland Raiders a first-round bye. Sebastian Janikowski probably hopes for the chance to boot the Jets out of the playoffs.
The enormous burden of post-December collapses was lifted from the Jets when Hall boomed a 53-yard field goal with 59 seconds left to lift New York to a 24-22 victory over the Raiders last Sunday and into the postseason for the first time since 1998.
Although the Raiders had already clinched the AFC West title, Hall's kick forced them to play in the wild card round, where they will meet the Jets again on Saturday night.
The Jets were 0-8-1 in Oakland dating to 1962 before the dramatic win and had no problems in a hostile environment. Then again, the Jets were better off on the road this season, winning seven of eight games.
"Baltimore came in as a wild card and they went all the way to the Super Bowl (last season)," Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn said. "We have to keep winning, keep winning all the way to the Super Bowl."
The Jets are 2-0 against the Raiders in the postseason, winning the AFL championship, 27-23, en route to Super Bowl III, and 17-14 in January 1983.
But that history does not interest coach Jon Gruden, who needs to restore the Raiders' confidence after they closed the season with a three-game losing streak.
"We need to go out and play the game with confidence and quit reading about how old and how tired we are," Gruden said.
Gruden called the right play at the right time last week, but quarterback Rich Gannon failed to execute it. With a third and two at the Oakland 37, Gannon rolled to his right and overthrew wide-open tight end Roland Williams at the 45 with 2:23 left. The first down would have virtually sealed the win for the Raiders since the Jets had just one timeout left.
Oakland was also done in by poor special teams play, which allowed the Jets to get a touchdown off a blocked punt, and replacement kicker Brad Daluiso, who filled in for the injured Janikowski and booted three field goals but also missed a chip shot 28-yard attempt and an extra point.
Janikowski appears ready to return after missing last week's game with a bacterial infection in his left foot. Known for his distance, Janikowski converted 23 of 28 field goals this season, with three of the misses coming in one game. Having Janikowski back could be the difference for the Raiders, especially since their loss to the Jets featured six lead changes.
Oakland successfully contained Jets back Curtis Martin last week, holding him to 50 yards on 16 carries. Named to his third Pro Bowl, Martin finished second in the NFL in rushing with 1,505 yards. However, the Raiders were burned by rookie LaMont Jordan, who busted a 46-yard touchdown run on his lone carry.
And Raiders cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Eric Allen had more problems than expected with Jets receivers Laveranues Coles and Wayne Chrebet.
The 36-year-old Allen gave a huge cushion to Coles, who raced past the veteran cornerback on a flanker screen for a 40-yard touchdown less than a minute into the game and finished with five receptions for 111 yards.
Playing with a sore toe, Woodson had fits with Chrebet, who caught five passes for 83 yards.
Meanwhile, Jets cornerbacks Glenn and Marcus Coleman did a stellar job on Raiders star receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Brown had six catches for 57 yards and Rice caught three passes for 58 yards.
Gannon completed 23 of 38 passes for 224 yards and was sacked just once by Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham. But Abraham often raced past left tackle Barry Sims and caused numerous hurries.
Gruden may opt to run the ball more Saturday, especially after Charlie Garner produced 84 yards on 19 carries last week. Linebacker James Farrior led the Jets with 11 tackles.
New York's Vinny Testaverde was 18 of 29 for 230 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Tory James returned one of those interceptions 33 yards to set up an 18-yard scoring pass from Gannon to Williams late in the first half.
