Instant replay: Chargers fend off Raiders, 24-16

3:58 p.m. Final Chargers 24, Raiders 16

Surprise, surprise. The Raiders didn’t have a fourth and 20 play for JaMarcus Russell. It wasn’t dominant, it wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing. But it was a win for the Chargers as they improve to 4-3 and gain a full game on the AFC West leading Broncos who got spanked by Baltimore earlier in the day and dropped to 6-1.

I’m going down to the podium to hear what Norv and the Chargers have to say.

3:45 p.m. Late fourth quarter. Chargers 24, Raiders 16

The Raiders have self-imploded. Now they’re digging up the 3rd and 31 play for JaMarcus Russell with 1:07 to go. I don’t like their chances.

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3:43 p.m. Late fourth quarter. Chargers 24, Raiders 16

The Raiders kept alive with a fourth-and-seven with JaMarcus Russell pass to — you guessed it — tight end Zach Miller. It’s the two-minute warning and the Raiders are threatening in Chargers territory.

3:27 p.m. Mid fourth quarter. Chargers 24, Raiders 16

There’s Chris Chambers! His first down catch on third-and-10 (while blanked by Asomugha) from the Chargers 7 gave San Diego a chance to put the game away.

They didn’t, though. San Diego marched the ball and ate up time to the red zone, but sputtered yet again inside the 10. It’s still a one-possession game.

But Chambers’ catch still plays big — an incompletion there sets the Raiders up around midfield with a confident running game and a 5-point deficit.

3:16 p.m. Early fourth quarter. Chargers 21, Raiders 16

Oakland has found the formula for field goals. They’re running the ball effectively up the middle and setting up JaMarcus Russell for dumpoffs and screen passes (basically nothing longer than 10 yards) to eat up yards.

They’re also eating up time, to their detriment, but with less than a quarter remaining, they’re very much in this game.

The ensuing kickoff set San Diego up at their own seven. This has the makings of a game-changing drive — one way or the other.

3:03 p.m. Late third quarter. Chargers 21, Raiders 13

The Chargers are doing their best to keep Oakland in the game. After forcing a third and long, which led to a Steve Gregory sack of JaMarcus Russell, it looked like Darren Sproles had set San Diego up at midfield on a punt return.

Not so much. Sproles fumbled the ball on the way down, giving the Raiders another set of downs at midfield, trailing by just one possession.

2:50 p.m. Early third quarter: Chargers 21, Raiders 13

The Chargers opened up the second half in a hole with a holding penalty on first down.

Then they punted, Oakland picked up 29 yards, and all of the sudden it’s a one-possession game. San Diego’s dominated most aspects of the game, but hasn’t been able to connect with the knockout blow.

2:25 p.m. Halftime: Chargers 21, Raiders 10

Hey — it’s Shawne Merriman! For better or worse, we just saw the lights out dance for the first time. Merriman got JaMarcus Russell for his first sack of the season and you’d have thought he’d won the Super Bowl.

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I guess I’d be excited too if all I did was answer questions every week about why I’m not doing my job.

A midfield hug from Eric Weddle later, and the Raiders were stuck kicking a field goal to set the Chargers up with a 21-10 halftime lead.

2:17 p.m. Late second quarter: Chargers 21, Raiders 7

LaDainian Tomlinson fantasy owners are rejoicing everywhere. L.T. just scored his second touchdown today on a 10-yard gain — his first multiple touchdown performance of the season.

In fact it he hadn’t scored multiple TDs on the season until he crossed the goal line today. Now he has three for the season. The touchdown run also put Tomlinson over 12,000 rushing yards for his career.

2:07 p.m. Mid second quarter: Chargers 14, Raiders 7

At some point, no matter how much you’re paying a guy or how high you drafted him, you’ve got to play a guy based on his performance, right?

That’s where the Raiders stand with JaMarcus Russell, who is completely ineffective as an NFL quarterback. The Raiders have run the ball 14 times and thrown it six today.

And when Russell throws it, he looks lost. It’s beyond time to give Bruce Gradkowski a chance — and by a chance I don’t mean throwing him in a game where you’re already down by 20-plus points.

1:58 Mid second quarter, Chargers 14, Raiders 7

The Raiders have no answer for the quick slants and outs to Vincent Jackson, who just redeemed himself for his first quarter drop/interception with an easy TD to give the Chargers the lead. He caught five balls for 59 yards on the touchdown drive.

There’s also no pressure on Philip Rivers. By this time in the season opener, Richard Seymour had sacked him twice. We haven’t heard Seymour’s name yet today.

1:47 p.m. Early second quarter. Raiders 7, Chargers 7

Oakland capitalized on the Rivers/Jackson’s interception by NOT letting JaMarcus Russell throw. They methodically moved 27 yards with runs up the gut and punched it in with Justin Fargas.

This seems to be a winning strategy for the Raiders — or as winning ove a strategy as they can find. Don’t let Russell throw, and it’s hard for him to turn the ball over.

Until San Diego figures out a way to slow the run, this should remain a competitive game. And if the Raiders actually decide to bench Russell — watch out!

1:45 p.m. Early second quarter. Chargers 7, Raiders 0

Tim Dobbins stint as a Chargers playmaker may have been shortlived. He just got carted off the field after taking a blow to the knee.

1:37 p.m. late first quarter. Chargers 7, Raiders 0

That’s not good. With Chris Johnson covering him, Vincent Jackson just let a pinpoint pass bounce off his hands and into Johnson’s for a Philip Rivers interception to set the Raiders up in Chargers territory.

The Raiders have already shifted their attention to Malcom Floyd when he lines up on Nnamdi Asomugha’s side. The Chargers can’t afford for Jackson to make those kinds of miscues.

1:28 p.m. Mid first quarter. Chargers 7, Raiders 0

Looks like today’s going to be a big one for Malcom Floyd. With all-everything cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha covering Vincent Jackson, Floyd is the safer target for Philip Rivers.

He’s already set up a San Diego touchdown and caught a first-down pass on a quick slant on the Chargers second possession. Look for more from Floyd as the day goes on.

1:15 p.m. Early first quarter. Chargers 7, Raiders 0

So that was quick. The Raiders came out and pounded the ball down San Diego’s throat on the ground. Michael Bush, Michael Bush, Justin Fargas — easy first downs.

Then JaMarcus Russell got involved. The NFL’s worst quarterback threw a floater that Antonio Cromartie jumped on and set the Chargers up for a quick 59-yard drive.

Philip Rivers found new starter Malcom Floyd for a 53-yard bomb and set the Chargers up in the red zone — where they actually converted!

And it came from the Wildcat formation, which we haven’t seen yet. With the crowd chanting for LT, he lined up behind center and danced into the end zone.

Where has that been?

12:35 p.m. Pregame:

There must be a rash of Halloween hangovers. It’s 30 minutes before kickoff of the Raiders game and things are strangely calm at the Q.

No ruckuses in the parking lot… No Raider nation crazies that you’re not sure whether they’re dressed up for Halloween or if this is just their normal game attire… a relatively empty stadium for being this close to kickoff.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was at Staples Center for a Lakers game.

At least that’s how it is from my perspective. Maybe Raider Nation’s camped out on the other side of the stadium getting ready to make its presence felt for kickoff.

As for on the field, the Chargers gave the long-awaited official promotion to Malcom Floyd, who’s won the second starting receiver job over an ineffective Chris Chambers. Floyd, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates — all big, athletic playmakers — could give the Raiders fits today. Nnamdi Asomugha can’t cover them all.

Also — Tim Dobbins, who stepped up for 11 tackles and a pick playing for an injured Kevin Burnett against K.C., gets the start again today.

We’re getting close to kickoff. Keep checking in for live game updates. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

Tags: Chargers, JaMarcus Russell, Norv Turner, Philip Rivers. LaDainian Tomlinson, Raiders, SDNN, Tom Cable

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Chargers, Sports, Sports News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.