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OAKLAND, Calif. – It took four games and almost 10 years, but Jon Gruden earned his first victory since returning to the NFL as coach of the Oakland Raiders.
The 45-42 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday was Gruden's first win since November 30, 2008, when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This is Gruden's first win with the Raiders since Oakland defeated the New York Jets in a playoff game on January 12, 2002.
As such, Gruden equaled Vince Lombardi in career coaching wins with 96 wins.
Rookie Matt McCrane's 29-meter scorer with 1 minute and 46 seconds to play in the extra period improved the Raiders' record to 1-3 and dropped the Browns to 1-2-1. McCrane joined the team this week after an injury to Mike Nugent, who Oakland had signed after Eddie Piñeiro was injured at the training camp.
The Raiders, who were beaten by a 64-17 combined in the second half in the first three games of the season and 37-3 in the fourth quarter, were late against the Browns, who had a lead of 42. -34.
Oakland forced overtime by driving 53 yards in six games and 56 seconds, Derek Carr hit tight winger Jared Cook for his second TD of the day with 34 seconds remaining. Carr then joined Jordy Nelson for the conversion of 2 points on a fade in the left corner of the goal area, beating former Raiders cornerback half, T.J. Carrie on the play.
Marshawn Lynch gave a passionate speech to the offensive line in the first half and finished with 130 yards on 20 runs. This was his highest total since he rushed for 140 yards for the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 9, 2014 against the New York Giants.
Derek Carr was eliminated twice, giving him seven interceptions at the top of the league, but he also received four TD passes to Jordy Nelson, Amari Cooper and Cook. Carr scored 437 yards in 35 attempts out of 58.
Perhaps the most rewarding for Gruden and the Raiders was beating former coach Hue Jackson, who was 8-8 for Oakland in 2011, but was fired by new managing director Reggie McKenzie.
Gruden and Jackson were part of the same coaching staff at the University of the Pacific in 1989.
The Gareon Corner Raider had a 36-yard run for the Raiders, giving them a 7-0 lead of about four hours before McCrane's field goal gave Gruden his first victory in nearly a decade.
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