Raiders' ills reveal downward spiral

Father Time has caught up with the defending AFC champions.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Almost overnight, the franchise that calls itself the NFL's "Team of the Decades" has become the Team of the Decayed.
Coming off last year's Super Bowl appearance, the Raiders' receiving corps (41-year-old Jerry Rice, 37-year-old Tim Brown and Jerry Porter) was considered the league's best.
With two receivers coming off 1,000-yard seasons, the Steelers' top trio (Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El) was expected to challenge their supremacy.
Both have endured disappointing seasons, but the Steelers' victory at Heinz Field showed just how quickly Father Time has caught up with the defending AFC champions (3-10), who are tied for last place in the AFC West with the San Diego Chargers.
What a difference
In Oakland's 30-17 victory at Heinz Field last season, quarterback Rich Gannon completed 43-of-64 tosses for 403 yards and two touchdowns.
But with Gannon and backup Marques Tuiasosopa on injured reserve, reclamation project Rick Mirer showed why he's been released by five teams over the past 11 seasons.
Mirer completed 10-of-25 for 68 yards and recorded one of the worst passer ratings in NFL history -- 14.6. Brown had three receptions for 19 yards, Rice two for 27 and Porter two for 12.
"We're a run-stopping type defense," Steelers cornerback Dwayne Washington said. "That's something that we had to do to get them into a pass situation."
It worked.
The Raiders have junked the West Coast offense scheme in favor of a grind-it-out game.
But when the Steelers went ahead 17-7 after Washington intercepted a pass in the second quarter, the Raiders were forced to throw.
In the first half, Mirer attempted just 11 passes, completing three for 20 yards. Porter caught one for 11 yards, while Rice caught another for 11.
Brown didn't catch his first pass -- a 9-yard reception -- until five minutes into the second half.
Harassed
Mirer was sacked four times, including three by defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen. Although he twisted an ankle on von Oelhoffen's first sack, he remained in the game.
"He was cleared so we continued to stay with him," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "We were concerned for his health, but he was capable to still play so we kept him in."
The Raiders backups were Rob Johnson and Tee Martin, which could explain Callahan's reluctance to relieve Mirer.
Ward was the game's leading receiver (four receptions for 67 yards). Randle El and Burress caught three each for 48 and 38 yards, respectively.