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Wilfork's interception helps Pats hold off Oakland

Sep 21, 2014 - 11:02 PM Foxboro, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Vince Wilfork intercepted a deflected pass deep in New England territory after Oakland had a potential tying touchdown negated by a penalty, as the Patriots held on for a 16-9 victory over the Raiders on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

The Raiders held New England to a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter to keep it a seven-point game and marched from their own 38 to the New England 6 in the final minutes. Darren McFadden found a big hole and cruised into the end zone, but a holding penalty wiped out the touchdown.

"Definitely thought we scored a touchdown. The referee ruled it a hold, so you know you got to roll with whatever they call," McFadden said.

Derek Carr then tried to hit Denarius Moore with a short pass, but the ball deflected off the receiver's hands and into the arms of Wilfork at the New England 11 with just under a minute to play.

The Patriots (2-1) were able to run out the remaining time to earn their second straight win.

"I thought the players did a good job of making the plays we had to make here at the end of the game; good situational football, did a pretty good job of handling that," said New England head coach Bill Belichick. "Defensively, any time you can keep a team out of the end zone, you have to feel good about that."

Tom Brady was held in check for the most part, throwing for 234 yards with a touchdown on 24-of-37 passing. Rob Gronkowski caught the TD pass and Julian Edelman had 10 receptions for 84 yards.

Carr completed 21-of-34 passes for 174 yards and McFadden finished with 59 yards on 18 carries for Oakland (0-3), which is winless after three games for the first time since an 0-5 start in 2006.

The Raiders, held to three Sebastian Janikowski field goals, have lost 15 straight games in the Eastern time zone. They'll head further east for their next game, a matchup next Sunday with Miami in London.

Each team had four offensive possessions in a quickly played first half.

Oakland took its second series 50 yards in 13 plays and grabbed a 3-0 lead on a 49-yard Janikowski field goal.

New England, after a pair of punts in the opening quarter, scored 10 points in the second. A 15-play, 84-yard drive featured five third-down conversions, one thanks to a pass interference penalty on an incomplete pass, and ended with Brady's 6-yard scoring toss to Gronkowski.

The Raiders then went three-and-out and the Patriots tacked on a 21-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal as time expired in the half.

Oakland picked up a pair of Janikowski field goals in the third. A 37-yard kick capped the Raiders' first drive of the second half and a 29-yard pass from Carr to Andre Holmes on 3rd-and-4 set up a 47-yard boot to make it 10-9 with 2:21 left in the third.

Brady then drove the Patriots to the Oakland 2, but threw incomplete on second and third down before Gostkowski drilled a 20-yard field goal to extend the margin to four early in the fourth.

After another Oakland three-and-out, Gostkowski capped a 12-play, 63-yard set with a 36-yard field goal to make it 16-9 with 6:20 remaining.

Game Notes

The Patriots have won 12 of their last 13 home openers ... Carr completed passes to nine different receivers, with McFadden taking in four but for only six yards ... The Raiders again played without running back Maurice Jones-Drew because of a hand injury ... The Patriots converted 9-of-18 third downs and outgained the Raiders 297-241 ... New England has won four straight against Oakland ... The Patriots will visit Kansas City next Monday night.