San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Philip Rivers threw for 249 yards and a
touchdown, LaDainian Tomlinson scored twice and the San Diego defense made a
late stand to lead the Chargers to their 13th straight win over the Raiders
with a 24-16 victory at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Chargers, whose 13 straight wins over the Raiders is the longest active
streak by one team over another, pulled off their sixth consecutive home-and-
home sweep over the Raiders. Oakland is 0-7 in San Diego since last winning
there in 2002.
Rivers, who moved to 8-0 against the Raiders, finished 16-of-25 with an
interception for the Chargers (4-3), who have won two in a row following a
two-game slide. Vincent Jackson hauled in eight balls for 103 yards and a
score, while Tomlinson ended with 56 yards on 18 carries.
San Diego linebacker Shawne Merriman had two sacks and now has 8 1/2 in his
past five games against Oakland.
JaMarcus Russell notched just 109 yards and a pick on 14-of-22 passing for the
Raiders (2-6), who have dropped five of six overall. Justin Fargas totaled 59
yards on 18 carries with a TD. Zach Miller had five grabs for 52 yards in the
setback.
"There's so much belief in this team from each other," said Raiders coach Tom
Cable. "If we just keep pounding the rock, pretty soon we'll get to where we
want to get. It's disappointing. We felt we could come in here and win this
game today. We had our opportunity, but we didn't take it."
Leading by five points early in the fourth frame, the Chargers started at
their own eight-yard line. Darren Sproles' nine-yard run got the ball past
midfield and, later in the drive, Tomlinson's 13-yard rush moved the ball to
the Oakland three. However, San Diego failed to advance the ball and had to
settle for a Nate Kaeding 28-yard field goal, which gave the home team a 24-16
lead with 4:43 left to play.
The Raiders then started at their own 26, and moved the ball up-field where
Russell converted a 4th-and-7 from his own 46 via a 10-yard pass to Miller
leading to the two-minute warning. On the next play Russell was sacked and
fumbled, but the Raiders recovered it. The team failed to move the chains on
the next three plays, which sealed Oakland's fate.
"They run the ball extremely well," said Chargers head coach Norv Turner. "But
we didn't give up big plays. If you don't give up big plays...you usually end
up in good shape."
The Chargers drew first blood, as Antonio Cromartie intercepted a pass and ran
it back 16 yards to the San Diego 41. Rivers hit Malcolm Floyd for a 53-yard
gain on first down and Tomlinson trotted in the remaining six yards to make it
7-0 about four minutes into the game.
Fargas punched in a three-yard score about 1 1/2 minutes into the second
stanza.
San Diego, though, responded with a 12-play, 78-yard drive that lasted 7:31
and culminated with Jackson's eight-yard touchdown reception, which made it
14-7.
Tomlinson found pay dirt late in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run
that made it a 14-point difference.
"We want to become a complete offensive football team; we've become a good
trapping team and a team that spreads the ball around," Turner said.
Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 48-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the
half to make it 21-10 at the break. Janikowski's 41-yard boot early in the
third closed it to 21-13, and his 28-yarder in the early stages of the fourth
trimmed Oakland's deficit to five point.