OAKLAND -- Justin Miller's 91-yard kickoff return for the Raiders was the second TD runback allowed by the Patriots this season. He was untouched on his way to the end zone.

Leon Washington of the Jets also had one -- a 92-yarder in the Thursday night game a month ago in Foxboro.

The last time the Patriots allowed two KO returns for TDs in a season was 1970.

The good news is that, moments after Miller's score, Ellis Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. He burst through a huge opening up the middle, then managed to stay inbounds in front of the New England bench, when he was pushed by the Raiders' burly kicker, Sebastian Janikowski.

It was the first kickoff return for a TD by the Pats this season.

Hobbs now has had TD return each of the past three seasons, including a record-setting, 108-yarder last year against the Jets at the Meadowlands..