RECAP: San Diego vs Oakland
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Philip Rivers completed 13-of-23 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 30-17, at McAfee Coliseum.
LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 56 yards on 16 carries for the Chargers (11-5), who wrapped up the third seed and will host either Cleveland or Tennessee next week in the wild card round of the playoffs.
Antonio Gates had 62 yards on six catches and Chris Chambers finished with 49 yards on three receptions and one score.
Jamarcus Russell, making his first NFL start, completed 23-of-31 passes for 224 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Oakland Raiders (4-12), who finished the season on a four-game skid. Dominic Rhodes carried the ball 29 times for 122 yards with one score and caught six passes for 42 yards, while tight end Zach Miller hauled in eight passes for 84 yards.
Darren Sproles returned the opening kickoff of the second half 61 yards, spotting the ball at the Oakland 34. Tomlinson scampered to the outside for an 11-yard gain, but the drive stalled at the 18 and Nate Kaeding kicked a 36- yard field goal to extend San Diego's lead to 17-10.
The Chargers' advantage reached 24-10 when Jyles Tucker came around the left tackle and swatted the ball out of Jamarcus Russell's hands. The ball rolled into the end zone, where Tucker pounced on it for the TD with 7:12 remaining in the third.
Oakland, aided by a 54-yard punt return by Johnnie Lee Higgins, made it a 24-17 game after Jamarcus Russell threw a 32-yard bomb to Jerry Porter, who made a sliding grab in the end zone.
Less than two minutes into the fourth, Kaeding's 31-yarder restored a double- digit lead for the Chargers, 27-17.
With under four minutes remaining in the third, the Oakland Raiders marched to the Chargers 22, but, on 4th-and-two, Rhodes was stuffed for a one-yard loss.
San Diego went 3-and-out on its next series and Higgins muffed the punt, allowing Kassim Osgood to recover the ball at the Oakland four.
Kaeding sealed the win with a 24-yard field goal in the final two minutes.
Each club took advantage of turnovers in the first quarter.
On the first play from scrimmage, Jamarcus Russell was picked off by defensive end Igor Olshansky at his own 47. San Diego cashed in when Rivers threw a seven-yard touchdown to Tomlinson with 9:53 remaining.
Sebastian Janikowski missed a 49-yard field goal on the Raiders next possession, but Oakland got the ball back two plays later after Rivers put the ball on the ground. Defensive end Derrick Burgess recovered the fumble at the San Diego 35.
Facing 3rd-and-six, Russell heaved a deep ball to Ronald Curry that fell incomplete. However, cornerback Drayton Florence was whistled for defensive pass interference on the play, placing the ball at the one. Rhodes then powered his way for the one-yard score, tying the game at seven with 4:31 left.
With 38 ticks remaining in the second, San Diego forged ahead 14-7 when Rivers found Chambers wide-open in the right corner of the end zone for a 19-yard TD. The score capped a nine-play drive that began at the Chargers' 20-yard line.
Janikowski's 53-yarder sailed through the uprights as time expired, cutting the deficit to 14-10 at halftime.
Game Notes
San Diego has won nine straight meetings..Rivers improves to 4-0 against the Oakland Raiders..Gates came up 16 yards shy of his second 1,000-yard campaign..San Diego evened its record on the road, 4-4..Oakland dropped to 2-6 at home..Oakland outgained the Chargers, 316-253.. The Chargers forced four fumbles, recovering three..Tucker recorded three sacks.
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