Thursday Night Football: Oakland Raiders v. Los Angeles Chargers

The Oakland Raiders won a classic back and forth game between their division rivals the Los Angeles Chargers, with the final score reading out 26-24. This was also the last regular season prime-time game to be held in Oakland (the Raiders will move to Las Vegas next season). Thankfully there was no dirt on the field that would’ve ruined the occasion. It’s great to see the Thursday night game is starting to be more exciting to watch.

To start the 1st quarter, Oakland kicked a 40 yard field goal. The Chargers chance to take the lead was going great after the kickoff until Phillip Rivers (QB, LAC) threw a pick to Erik Harris (FS, OAK) who subsequently took it to the house for 56 yards and the six points! This made the score 10-0 and made the crowd in the Oakland Coliseum roar with delight. The Chargers did answer back with a touchdown of their own; it was a Rivers 2 yard TD pass to Hunter Henry (TE, LAC), making the score at the end of 1 quarter 10-7.

The Chargers were able to take the lead thanks in part to a Melvin Gordon (RB, LAC) 3 yard touchdown run early in the 2nd quarter, sending the score 10-14. They would maintain this lead until the dying seconds of the 1st half; Derek Carr (QB, OAK) threw a 9 yard touchdown pass to Alec Ingold (FB, OAK). This left the score 17-14. Now during the TD play, there was defensive offside that was declined because of the result and also the officials called a replay to check if the runner broke the plane (he did). After the replay, the official sided with the call, keeping the score 17-14 at the end of the half.

Once the 2nd half began, Oakland were able to score a field goal from 22 yards out. Both defenses were pretty stout throughout the quarter till the end. The Chargers scored a field goal of their own in order to keep the score close. The score at the end of the quarter read 20-17.

The final quarter of the game showed not one, but two possible game winning drives. Rivers and the Chargers offense wanted to win the game when they received the ball at the 12 minute mark. Rivers drive lasted 8 minutes of game clock, ending with what seemed to be the game-winning TD pass to Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC). There was a defensive holding call on the play but was declined due to the touchdown. This left the Raiders only 4 minutes to win the game (which they did). Carr and Co. were able to carve up a surprisingly lax Chargers defense for 3 minutes of game time, capping it with a Josh Jacobs (RB, OAK) 18 yard touchdown run. Oakland’s kicker couldn’t make the extra point, but it didn’t matter at that point; the game was won. The win places the Raiders in second place of the AFC West (5-4) and the Chargers in third with a win-loss record of 4-6 in the same division. If Oakland keeps winning (and Indy keeps losing), they should be able to make the last wild card in time for January.

  Thursday Night Takeaways

Erik Harris is the 1st Raiders player with two interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season since Thomas Howard (retired) did it back in 2007.

Clelin Ferrell (DE, OAK) has joined Nick Bosa (DE, SF) as the only rookies with 2+ sacks and a pass defended in a game this season.

Austin Ekeler’s touchdown in the 4th quarter was his 6th receiving TD this season. He had 6 receiving TDs combined in his first two seasons.

Josh Jacobs has tied Arthur Whittington (retired) for the 2nd-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie RB in Raiders history.

Keenan Allen (WR, LAC) had 65+ receiving yards in a game since Week 3.

Derek Carr was sacked 3 times against the Chargers. He was sacked once in the last four games combined.

Melvin Gordon was just the 2nd RB with 85+ vs the Raiders this season. Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN) did it earlier.

Thursday Night Fantasy Stats of Note

Derek Carr (QB, OAK) – 13.12 points (218 Passing Yards and 1 Passing TD + 4 Rushing Yards)

Phillip Rivers (QB, LAC) – 10.28 points (207 Passing Yards and 2 Passing TDS with 3 Interceptions)

Melvin Gordon (RB, LAC) – 20.3 points (108 Rushing Yards and 1 Rushing TD + 1 Reception for 25 Yards)

Josh Jacobs (RB, OAK) – 19.1 points 71 Rushing Yards and 1 Rushing TD + 3 Receptions for 30 Yards)

Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC) – 12.8 points (19 Rushing Yards + 2 Receptions for 29 yards and 1 Receiving TD)

Keenan Allen (WR, LAC) – 16.6 points (18 Rushing Yards + 8 Receptions for 68 Yards)

Hunter Henry (TE, LAC) – 13 points (4 Receptions for 30 Yards and 1 Receiving TD)

Raiders Defense – 17 points (5 sacks + 3 Interceptions + 1 TD + 24 Points Allowed)

Punto Extra

No se cuantos de Uds. son fanaticos de los Chargers (no hay muchos), pero se que los Chargers necesitan jugar mas bueno si ellos quieren ir a los playoffs. Su proximo juego es contra los Chiefs en el DF. Si ellos no ganan esa partido, ellos probablemente no van a jugar en Enero.