The San Diego Chargers dropped their third in a row after falling to the Oakland Raiders 19-16. The Chargers offense started off fast as Philip Rivers and company went 91 yards in eight plays for a 7-0 lead to open the game. The touchdown came courtesy of a 47-yard connection between Rivers and Travis Benjamin. The score then became 7-3 after Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 45-yard field goal on his team's opening possession. The Bolts defense then made its presence known towards the end of the first quarter as Melvin Ingram stripped Latavius Murray, and Kyle Emanuel recovered the fumble. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't capitalize on the turnover and went three-and-out. The Raiders committed another turnover inside the 10 as Trovon Reed picked Derek Carr off at the San Diego three. However, the Chargers offense again went three and out and was forced to punt. The Bolts offense finally got going towards the end of the first half as a 14-play, 63-yard drive ended in three points off a field goal to make it 10-3, San Diego. The teams walked into halftime tied 10-10 after Carr connected with Michael Crabtree in the end zone. While the play was first ruled an incomplete pass, after further review, the officials determined Crabtree got both feet down in the end zone and changed the ruling to a touchdown.
The Raiders made it 13-3 after Janikowski kicked a 33-yard field goal on the team's opening drive of the second half. The Chargers offense scored on their first possession of the final half of play as well. Rivers took the team downfield and connected with Hunter Henry in the end zone for the rookie's seventh touchdown of the year; however, Josh Lambo's extra point was wide right and the Chargers led 16-13. The Raiders capitalized off a Chargers fumble and tied it 16-16 with 8:38 left in the game. Settling for three was a huge win for the Chargers defense as they had an impressive goal line stand, holding the Raiders on three tries from the one. Oakland had to settle for another field goal with 2:40 to go to lead 19-16. The Bolts tried to surmount a comeback and were forced to go for it on 4th-and-15 from their own nine; however, Rivers' pass was picked off, and Carr then took a series of knees to end the game.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
14:13 – Philip Rivers connected with Hunter Henry, who took some Raiders defenders for a ride, to keep pushing and gain 20.
10:39 – Travis Benjamin beat his defender to snag a 47-yard pass into the end zone for the first points of the game.
6:59 – Facing a 3rd-and-8, Derek Carr dropped back and tossed a pass to Mychal Rivera, who gained 15 to move the chains.
4:58 – Sebastian Janikowski made a 45-yard field goal to get his team on the board.
4:01 – Rivers was sacked for a loss of three on third down.
2:37 – Jalen Richard rushed off left tackle for a gain of 23.
1:52 – On the next play, Melvin Ingram came in to strip the ball from Latavius Murray. Kyle Emanuel pounced on the fumble to recover it for the home team.
SECOND QUARTER
13:27 – Denzel Perryman flew in to tackle Richard behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of five.
12:09 – On 3rd-and-10, Amari Cooper juked his defender and took a pass downfield for 28.
9:58 – Trovon Reed inked his second interception in back-to-back weeks after he picked Carr off at the San Diego three and returned it to the Chargers' six-yard line.
7:33 – Joey Bosa sacked Carr for a loss of six on second down.
3:16 – Ronnie Hillman gained 17 off right guard. Three plays later on 3rd-and-7, Benjamin took a short Rivers' pass to the right for nine.
1:33 – Josh Lambo's 35-yard field goal was good.
1:07 – On first down, Murray rushed up the middle for nine. On the next play, he took the ball downfield for 33 to move into San Diego territory.
:32 – Although there was an incomplete Raiders pass on third down, the Chargers were penalized for defensive holding and Oakland gained a new set of downs from the San Diego 13.
:27 – Carr tossed a pass in Michael Crabtree's direction and the receiver went up to catch the ball in the end zone. While the call was initially ruled incomplete, after review, the officials determined Crabtree did get both feet in bounds and changed the ruling to a touchdown.
THIRD QUARTER
14:12 – Carr connected with tight end Clive Walford for 13. Two plays later, the QB found Andre Holmes for a gain of 23.
10:52 – Janikowski's 33-yard field goal was good.
10:42 – Dontrelle Inman gained 21 on the Bolts' first play of the second half. Three plays later, he made a key conversion on third down to move into Raiders territory.
7:08 – The Inman show continued as he gained 26 yards to set up a 1st-and-goal for the Chargers. On the next play, Rivers connected with Henry for a seven-yard touchdown; however, Lambo missed the extra point and the Bolts led 16-13.
1:18 – Rivers was sacked on third down by Denico Autry for a loss of eight.
:33 – After a 69-yard punt by Drew Kaser set the Raiders up at the San Diego three, Carr, from his own end zone, threw deep down the middle to Crabtree for a gain of 19 and some breathing room.
FOURTH QUARTER
14:18 – Carr and Rivera connected for 29; however, San Diego challenged the call. The Bolts won the challenge as the officials determined the receiver did not complete the catch.
11:44 – Kenneth Farrow took the handoff but the ball was punched out by Perry Riley. Malcolm Smith recovered the fumble to set his team up at the San Diego 13.
8:44 – Although the Raiders tied it 16-16, the Chargers defense had an impressive goal line stand after holding the Raiders three times from the one.
6:27 – Murray rushed up the middle and through a big hole for 27. On the next play, Seth Roberts took a pass into Chargers territory for 22.
4:23 – The Raiders challenged a ruling that the ball on Carr's scramble on third down was short of the line. They won the challenge to bring up a new set of downs for Oakland.
3:28 – Carr was sacked by Ingram on third down for a loss of seven.
2:42 – Janikowski's 44-yard field goal was good.
2:31 – Bruce Irvin notched his second sack of the afternoon of Rivers, this one good for a loss of five.
1:51 – After an incomplete pass on third down, the Bolts went for it on fourth down from their own nine; however, Reggie Nelson picked off Rivers and returned it to the San Diego 14. Carr then took a series of knees to end the game.
