San Diego, CA (My Sportsbook) - 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.
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.
Game Notes
The Chargers outgained the Raiders 346-180, including a 246-81 difference through the air...Despite the loss, Oakland has a 54-44-2 record in its all- time regular season series with San Diego. Oakland, though, won the only postseason meeting between the teams, prevailing by a 34-27 count in the 1980 AFC Championship.
