Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders Match Player Stats On Oct 09, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 9, 2016

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Carr threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, Amari Cooper caught six passes for 138 yards and a score and the Oakland Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 34-31 on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Raiders (4-1) moved into a first-place tie in the AFC West with the Denver Broncos, who lost 26-13 to Atlanta.

San Diego (1-4) lost its third straight game and fell for the 10th consecutive time against teams from the West.

With just over two minutes left to play and the Raiders leading 34-31, San Diego's Josh Lambo lined up to kick a 36-yard field goal. But holder Drew Kaser -- San Diego's punter -- fumbled the ball when he tried to place it for Lambo, and the Raiders took over at the Chargers 35 with 2:00 remaining

On the last play of the third quarter, Kaser shanked his only punt of the game 16 yards, giving Oakland the ball at San Diego's 32. Fullback Jamize Olawale blasted into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown as the Raiders increased their lead to 34-24 with 12:51 left to play.

Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, giving him five TD grabs on the season. Carr completed 25 of 40 passes and had one interception.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers completed 21 of 30 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Wide receiver Tyrell Williams caught five passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, and Travis Benjamin had seven catches for 117 yards.

Tight end Hunter Henry caught three passes for 74 yards and a score for the Chargers, and tight end Antonio Gates (hamstring) returned from a two-game absence and had four catches for 30 yards and a TD.

Chargers rookie defensive end Joey Bosa, the No. 3 pick in the 2016 NFL draft, made his debut after missing the first four games with a hamstring injury and recorded his first two career sacks.

The Chargers took a 10-9 lead into the second half and struck quickly after the break, marching 75 yards in four plays for a touchdown as Rivers hit running back Melvin Gordon on an 18-yard screen pass. San Diego scored two plays after Rivers and Henry connected for 59 yards to Oakland's 21.

The Raiders answered on their next drive with Carr's 64-yard touchdown pass to Cooper with 11:25 left in the third quarter, cutting San Diego's lead to 17-16.

The Chargers needed just three plays to score again. Rivers hit Williams over the middle for 50 yards to the Raiders' 25, Gordon darted around right end for 24 yards and Rivers hit a wide-open Henry over the middle for a 1-yard touchdown.

That increased San Diego's lead to 24-16 with 10:10 still left in the third.

Oakland's Sebastian Janikowski hit a 48-yard field goal with 4:41 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the Chargers' lead to 24-19.

The Raiders regained the lead when Carr found Crabtree for a 21-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-3. Crabtree got a step behind cornerback Casey Hayward and caught Carr's pass in the front right corner of the end zone.

The Raiders went for the two-point conversion, and Carr hit Cooper on a quick slant to give Oakland a 27-24 lead with 1:09 left in the third.

Oakland capitalized on Gordon's fumble -- he lost the ball without contact -- that was recovered by rookie safety Karl Joseph at the Chargers' 38.

The Raiders increased their lead to 34-24 on Olawale's 1-yard run, but San Diego cut Oakland's advantage to 34-31 with 6:21 to play on Rivers' 4-yard pass to Gates.

NOTES: Raiders rookie RB DeAndre Washington made his first career start, replacing Latavius Murray (toe), who was inactive. ... Chargers backup ILB Korey Toomer, who was on the Raiders practice squad earlier this season, started in place of the injured Denzel Perryman (shoulder). ... Oakland TE Mychal Rivera made his first start of the season, replacing the injured Clive Walford (knee). ... San Diego CB Casey Hayward made his second straight start in place of Brandon Flowers (concussion). ... Chargers CB Craig Mager started in place of Jason Verdett, who was placed on injured reserve Friday with a torn knee ligament. ... Raiders OLB Perry Riley, who was signed earlier in the week as a free agent, made his debut, starting in place of Malcolm Smith (quad).