John Matuszak and Otis Sistrunk often draw more attention for their outlandish personalities than their football skills, but the two defensive linemen made the big plays in Week 2's 21-13 win for the '76 Raiders over the '99 Rams.
On paper, Kurt Warner and the Rams (0-2) dominated the Raiders (2-0). They led in total yards, 536 to 284. Isaac Bruce abused 36-year-old Raiders cornerback Willie Brown for 15 catches and 262 yards. Marshall Faulk ran for 129 yards. The Rams didn't turn the ball over. But the Raiders came out on top.
You can thank two goal-line stands by the bend-but-don't-break Oakland defense. In the second quarter, with the Raiders leading 7-3, the Rams reached the Oakland 4. Faulk carried twice down to the 1-yard line. Warner overthrew Bruce on third down. On fourth down, the Rams tried to punch it in with Faulk, but Matuszak and Sistrunk threw off their blocks and stopped Faulk for no gain.
In the fourth quarter, with Oakland leading 21-13, the Rams again reached the 1-yard line on fourth down. This time, Warner tried to sneak it in, only to run into the Matuszak/Sistrunk wall.
The Raiders once again were successful running the ball, as Mark van Eeghen and Clarence Davis combined for 162 yards. Ken Stabler was 11-for-20 for 101 yards, but connected on two TD passes with Cliff Branch.