Mr. Touchdown

1996 and beyond

After a subpar 1996 season and an injury shortened 1997 campaign, many thought Rice's touchdown capability to be over with. But a move to Oakland has rejuvenated Rice, who now holds an amazing 203 career touchdowns.

1996

Number	Date	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
157	Sep 1, 1996	None--Rush	New Orleans	2	Runs all the way across the field and takes the perfect angle as he finally makes his way across the pylon
158	Sep 29, 1996	Kirby	Atlanta	24	Rice scores against the Falcons on a trick play with Kirby lofting him pass in back of endzone
159	Oct 6, 1996	Grbac	St. Louis	31	Hauls in the deep pass in yet another Ram stadium
160	Oct 14, 1996	Grbac	Green Bay	7	Runs back and forth along the back of the endzone, leaps high to snare the pass and tip-toes his way inbounds
161	Oct 14, 1996	Grbac	Green Bay	13	A timing pattern that looks too easy. Even though he's mugged at the line of scrimmage when the Packer cb grabs his facemask, Rice still manages to snare the pass.
162	Nov 3, 1996	Young	New Orleans	36	Rice's 999th career catch
163	Nov 17, 1996	Grbac	Baltimore	34	Oh my God! Marc Trestman actually had Rice run a deep route!
164	Dec 8, 1996	Young	Carolina	5	His first TD against Carolina
165	Dec 15, 1996	Young	Pittsburgh	4	Runs simple drag pattern at back of endzone

1997

Number	Date	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
166	Dec 15, 1997	Young	Denver	14	Comes back just 3 months after knee surgery to score TD that shifts momentum back in 49ers' favor but breaks kneecap in process

1998

Number	Date	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
167	Sep 6, 1998	Young	NY Jets	14	Beats Jet defenders on same old out pattern; receives a good block from J.J. Stokes after making a sharp cut on Candlestick dirt infield that leaves Jets eating dust
168	Sep 27, 1998	Young	Atlanta	66	The "hot" receiver on the play, Young finds Rice on the deep route for his longest score in three years
169	Sep 27, 1998	Young	Atlanta	26	Streaks to the endzone, Young to Rice in perfect stride
170	Oct 25, 1998	Young	St. Louis	12	Rice's catch sets record for consecutive games with a reception
171	Nov 1, 1998	Young	Green Bay	12	Young and Rice hook up for their record breaking TD: no other QB/WR combination in NFL History has hooked up for more TDs. Is it simply a coincidence that it is TD #80 that sets the record?
172	Nov 15, 1998	Young	Atlanta	65	Falcon db bites on Rice's initial cut to sidelines, Rice then streaks up the middle of the field on out and up
173	Nov 22, 1998	Young	New Orleans	8	Slant pattern
174	Dec 20, 1998	Young	New England	75	Vintage Jerry Rice: grabs pass in traffic, slips past would be tackler, breaks out of defender's arm tackle, keeps balance by putting down right hand, spins to middle of field and outraces two faster Patriot CBs for electrifying score
175	Dec 27, 1998	Young	St. Louis	4	Years of Y2J (Young to Jerry) make this possible as Young times his pass perfectly into the hands of Jerry Rice, who fades away from old punching bag Todd Lyght

1999

Number	Date	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
176	Sep 27, 1999	Young	Arizona	13	A long nine months were worth the wait, Rice scores on MNF on post pattern
177	Oct 17, 1999	Garcia	Carolina	8	Starstruck rookie qb zips pass to boyhood idol late in the fourth quarter
178	Dec 5, 1999	Garcia	Cincinnati	7	First touchdown in nearly two months ends longest drought of career between touchdowns in a season
179	Dec 5, 1999	Garcia	Cincinnati	55	Streak pattern, Rice knocks db off balance with shove just before pass glides into his hands
180	Dec 18, 1999	Garcia	Carolina	48	Burns friend Eric Davis on streak pattern in which he again separates from Davis just before the pass comes in

2000

Number	Date	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
181	Sep 24, 2000	Garcia	Dallas	68	Post pattern burns Phillipi Sparks, Rice is literally more open on this touchdown than he's ever been
182	Sep 24, 2000	Garcia	Dallas	5	Slant pattern again beats Sparks and gives Rice his 37th multiple TD game
183	Oct 1, 2000	Garcia	Arizona	5	Burns Hall of Famer Aeneas Williams in the first quarter on slant
184	Oct 8, 2000	Garcia	Oakland	5	Schools Charles Woodson late in first half on slant pattern
185	Oct 22, 2000	Garcia	Carolina	16	Post pattern in second quarter, Rice leaps for fourth score in five weeks
186	Dec 3, 2000	Garcia	San Diego	1	Snakes past Charger cb for short score on goalline out route pattern
187	Dec 3, 2000	Garcia	San Diego	12	Dives low to grab Garcia's pass just inches from ground on post pattern

2001

Number	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
188	Gannon	Seattle	33	Rice's first score as a Raider comes on post pattern
189	Gannon	Seattle	14	A slant on the dirt infield, Rice high steps to paydirt
190	Gannon	Dallas	5	Torments the Cowboys yet again, this time after Gannon finds him in back of endzone
191	Gannon	San Diego	10	Rice leaps over defender at goalline; desire gives him this one
192	Gannon	San Diego	30	Streak pattern features double move, Rice hauls in pass over right shoulder
193	Gannon	San Diego	20	Go ahead score comes on familiar slant pattern
194	Gannon	Arizona	2	Scores game tying touchdown with just 12 seconds remaining
195	Gannon	Kansas City	8	Finally adds Ray Crockett to db victim list in first quarter
196	Gannon	San Diego	40	Touchdown is the only score of any player in game, helps Raiders clinch AFC West

2002

Number	From	Opponent	Yards	Comment
197	Gannon	Tennessee	9	Runs down left sideline, jumps to receive pass thrown slightly behind him, outmuscles defender into endzone
198	Gannon	Buffalo	16	Breaks tackle on out route, jogs in for score
199	Gannon	San Diego	4	Reels in bullet pass in corner of endzone
200	Gannon	Denver	6	Hauls in pass in left corner of endzone on fade pattern in which he turns his head left immediately upon cradling ball in after initially looking right for 200th TD on MNF
201	Gannon	Denver	34	Streak pattern down right sideline burns Deltha O'Neal
202	Gannon	Arizona	37	Post pattern down the middle of the field, Gannon finds him perfectly
203	Gannon	New York Jets	26	Post pattern puts Raiders up for good in showdown with Jets on MNF, comes one play after Tim Brown's 1,000th career reception