Quarterback Carson Palmer called it a "must-win" game, and the Raiders had to work overtime against the Jacksonville Jaguars to secure a crucial victory Sunday at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland.
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 40-yard field goal with 12:54 left in overtime, giving the Raiders a 26-23 win.
The Raiders improved to 2-4 and pulled to within one game of 3-3 San Diego and Denver in the AFC West. Jacksonville fell to 1-5.
The Jaguars built a 17-3 first-half lead and nearly escaped with a win, despite losing running back Maurice Jones-Drew to a left foot injury on their first offensive series and quarterback Blaine Gabbert to a left shoulder stinger midway through the second quarter.
When the game turned: Once Gabbert gave way to Chad Henne with 6:45 left in the first half, the Raiders' defense clamped down. Henne completed just 9 of 20 passes for 71 yards with a passer rating of 54.4. Gabbert went 8 of 12 for 110 yards and a touchdown with a rating of 123.6.
Highlight moments: With the Jaguars facing 3rd-and-20 from their 9 in overtime, Henne completed a short pass to wide receiver Cecil Shorts III , but Raiders defensive end Lamarr Houston knocked the ball loose. Cornerback Joselio Hanson recovered at the Jaguars' 21, setting up Janikowksi's game-winner.
Top-shelf performances:
- Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey -- 4 catches for 85 yards, including a 59-yard strike from QB Carson Palmer
- Raiders FB Marcel Reece -- 4 catches for 58 yards with a long of 35
- Raiders DE Lamarr Houston -- team-high 8 tackles with one sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits
- Jaguars DE Jeremy Mincey -- four tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and two QB hits
- Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny -- team-high eight tackles, three QB hits, two passes defensed and one tackle for loss
What they said about Jones-Drew and Gabbert leaving the game with injuries:
- Raiders CB Joselio Hanson – “It's tough to play without those guys. ... I smelled blood, and we jumped on them. I wanted to play real tight coverage on those guys, give their quarterback no windows to throw. I feel like we did for the most part. We played a lot of man-to-man and got up in their faces and made them beat us, and they couldn't do it."
- Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey – “Maurice's (injury) is a foot. I don't know to what extent, but obviously it was not well enough to play. We re-taped him numerous times, and it was just too painful. And Blaine is a non-throwing, left shoulder. I don't know the extent, but painful enough that he could not stay in there. He tried. I appreciate the effort. He's a tough guy, but I think it would have not been smart for us to do that with him.”
Numbers you should know: Oakland held Jacksonville's offense to 1-for-15 on third downs.
Injury update: Raiders -- DT Desmond Bryant suffered and elbow injury, but coach Dennis Allen said he expects him to be able to play against Kansas City. Jaguars -- Gabbert (left shoulder stinger), Jones-Drew (left foot) and RG Uche Nwaneri (left leg) were all injured in the first half and didn't return. CB Rashean Mathis (groin) was hurt in the second half and was not on the field late in the fourth quarter when the Raiders drove for the tying score.
Going forward: Raiders -- Oakland travels to face the 1-5 Kansas City Chiefs, who have a bye this week. After that, the Raiders return home to play Tampa Bay, another team with a losing record. They should be slight favorites in both games. Jaguars -- It doesn't get any easier for the battered Jaguars. They travel to Green Bay to face the high-powered Packers then return home to play Detroit, another team with an explosive offense.
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.