SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 11, 2012
Chargers 22, Raiders 14: Nate Kaeding kicked five field goals as San Diego kept host Oakland out of the end zone until the final minute and cruised to victory in the season opener for the AFC West rivals.
Philip Rivers hit Malcom Floyd from 6 yards out late in the second quarter for the Chargers' lone touchdown of the game as they posted their eighth win in nine visits to Oakland. San Diego has won 15 of the last 18 meetings.
In Dennis Allen's debut as a head coach, the Raiders trailed by only four points at the half, but two special-teams miscues in the third quarter helped increase the deficit to 10. A bad snap by Travis Goethel prevented Shane Lechler from getting off a punt, and Kaeding went on to kick a 28-yard field goal for a 13-6 lead.
Lechler had his next attempt blocked by Dante Rosario, and the Chargers got to the Oakland 1 before settling for a 19-yard chip shot by Kaeding.
Oakland took the opening kickoff and drove to the San Diego 38 before wide receiver Rod Streater turned the ball over with a fumble. Sebastian Janikowski got the Raiders on the board with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter with a 51-yard field goal, but Kaeding answered with a 23-yarder with one minute left.
Rivers, who was 24-of-33 for 231 yards, spent plenty of time in the pocket before Floyd got open in the middle of the end zone on 3rd-and-goal with 3:10 remaining in the second for a 10-3 advantage.
Kaeding added kicks of 41 and 45 yards in the fourth quarter.
Oakland found the end zone with 54 seconds left in the fourth as Carson Palmer connected with Streater for a 2-yard score. The duo teamed up again for the two-point conversion, but San Diego recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
Palmer completed 32 of 46 passes for 297 yards.
Neither team was able to establish the run. San Diego gained 32 yards on the ground while Oakland amassed 45.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kaeding fared much better than in the 2011 season opener, when he tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season. ... Chargers LB Shaun Phillips had a pair of sacks after recording only 3.5 last year. ... Raiders RB Darren McFadden gained 32 yards on 15 carries and caught 13 passes for 86 yards. ... Oakland dropped to 36-16-1 in home openers.