For three
quarters, the Oakland Raiders
stopped LaDainian Tomlinson and
appeared poised to stop a long
losing streak to the San Diego
Chargers.
Then Tomlinson got loose, the
Chargers pressured JaMarcus
Russell and the longest winning
streak any team has held against
the Raiders grew to 10 games.
Darren Sproles’ long kickoff
return set up Nate Kaeding’s
go-ahead 47-yard field goal with
1:51 to play and Tomlinson
sealed the 28-18 victory Sunday
with his second fourth-quarter
touchdown that gave him yet
another 100-yard game.
“Every year is different.
They’re a better team,” said
Tomlinson, who had 75 of his 106
yards in the fourth quarter. “We
pride ourselves on now matter
how we start, finishing the game
strong. It didn’t matter that it
was against the Raiders.”
Closing a game out was important
for the Chargers (2-2), who lost
their first two games of the
season in the final minute. But
those games weren’t against the
Raiders (1-3), who showed they
can blow a lead against the
Chargers as easily as they can
get blown out...
Philip Rivers rushed up the middle for no gain. Philip
Rivers fumbled. Philip Rivers recovered fumble. Safety
0 - 5
2nd Quarter
11:22
OAK
TD
JaMarcus Russell passed to Zach Miller down the middle
for 63 yard gain (Sebastian Janikowski made PAT)
0 - 12
5:26
OAK
FG
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 28-yard field goal
0 - 15
3rd Quarter
7:34
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 28-yard field goal
3 - 15
4th Quarter
14:12
SD
TD
Philip Rivers passed to Antonio Gates to the right for 9
yard gain (Nate Kaeding made PAT)
10 - 15
12:47
SD
TD
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed to the left for 13 yard gain
(2pt attempt converted, Philip Rivers pass to Darren Sproles)
18 - 15
2:47
OAK
FG
Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 32-yard field goal
18 - 18
1:51
SD
FG
Nate Kaeding kicked a 47-yard field goal
21 - 18
1:04
SD
TD
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed to the right for 41 yard gain
(Nate Kaeding made PAT)
Team Statistics
SD
OAK
First Downs
17
14
Passing
9
11
Rushing
5
1
Penalty
3
2
Third Down Efficiency
4-13
3-15
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
295
323
Total Plays
59
66
Average Gain Per Play
5.0
4.9
NET YARDS RUSHING
141
72
Rushes
30
23
Average Per Rush
4.7
3.1
NET YARDS PASSING
154
251
Completions-Attempts
14-25
22-37
Yards Per Pass Play
5.3
5.8
Times Sacked
4
6
Yards Lost to Sacks
26
26
Had Intercepted
2
1
PUNTS
4
6
Average Punt
55.5
50.3
PENALTIES
3
8
Penalty Yards
15
64
FUMBLES
2
1
Fumbles Lost
0
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
29:42
30:18
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
No Antonio Gates and a gimpy LaDainian Tomlinson. No problem!
Off 38- and 48-point explosions the past two games, the Chargers have obviously
got their offense back in high gear.
Through three games, the San Diego Chargers have the 29th-ranked
defense in football, two heartbreaking losses and a disappointing start for one
of the AFC's preseason favorites.
Still, they're much better off than the Oakland Raiders.
With uncertainty swirling around Oakland coach Lane Kiffin, the host Raiders
will look to end a nine-game losing streak against the their AFC West rivals on
Sunday, while San Diego hopes to build on a high-scoring victory...more
Inside the Game Plans:
Notable:
CHARGERS: If the
Chargers can stop the run, they can keep one of the NFL's brightest
offenses on the field. The Raiders are going to be bent on establishing
the run by trying to lean on Darren McFadden. If they do that, they keep
Rivers and Co., on the sidelines by chewing up the clock. If they don't
run -- and RB Justin Fargas might not go with a groin injury -- they
have to rely on a passing game still maturing under JaMarcus Russell.
The Chargers' run defense showed some life in the win over the Jets,
although New York ran but 13 times. Defensive tackle Jamal Williams
needs to play to his Pro Bowl caliber and help get the ball back to the
Chargers offense...FULL
STORY
RAIDERS: The
Raiders have run the ball on 62 percent of their snaps and Lane Kiffin
sounds as if he doesn't plan to turn JaMarcus Russell loose any time
soon with the pass. That said, Russell played against San Diego last
season and threw the ball 31 times, his most in an NFL game, and
completed 23 for 224 yards and a touchdown. With it being the first time
he has seen a defense the second time, look for a few more first-down
throws...FULL
STORY
The Chargers beat the
Jets, 48-29, on Monday night for their first win of the 2008 campaign.
San Diego has scored 110 points thus far, its second-most all-time in
the first three games of any season
Just one week after rushing for 300
yards against the Chiefs, the Raiders were held to 98 yards on the
ground by the Bills and lost on the last play of the game, 24-23
JaMarcus Russell has yet to be picked
off this season, making the Raiders one of three teams in the league
without an interception thrown in 2008
8.3
18.6