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First Quarter
The Chargers offense looked like it was going to get off to a good start with Melvin Gordon ripping off a 13-yard run on 1st down, but it was not to be. His next run was stopped after a short gain. Then a pair of targets for Keenan Allen gained only one more yard. Drew Kaser came on to punt.
Marshawn Lynch’s first carry of the game went for 15 yards. Unfortunately for the Raiders, E.J. Manuel’s first pass went to Trevor Williams who had a nice interception return that was brought back on a penalty.
The offense was unable to capitalize. Gordon was stopped for no gain. Philip Rivers threw two incomplete passes. Then Nick Novak missed a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right.
The Raiders offense took over after the missed kick and methodically moved the ball down the field. Marshawn Lynch looked unstoppable. Eventually, Michael Crabtree took an intermediate pass and ran for a touchdown just getting inside the pylon.
The Chargers started their drive at their own 25-yard line following a touchback. They actually managed to move the ball effectively for the first time in the game. Hunter Henry, in particular, had a nice catch and run. Eventually, on 4th & 2, Philip Rivers overthrew Allen who was open.
The defense stood strong, though, and forced a three-and-out.
Second Quarter
Marquette King drilled a 59-yard punt that was not returned.
The Chargers managed to get out of the shadow of their own end zone, but their drive stalled inside their own 30. Kaser launched a 52-yard punt that was returned only 5 yards.
Lynch continued to be effective picking up a big gain on 1st down. Washington lost six yards on the following play. Amari Cooper got five of them back. Then on 3rd & 11, Joey Bosa beat his man and got a strip sack. Oakland recovered and punted the ball away.
The Chargers offense put together an impressive 15-play, 82-yard drive that they capped off with a one-yard run by Melvin Gordon on 4th & goal.
Derek Carr and co. took over with about a minute and a half on the clock and 60 yards needed to score. Amari Cooper pulled in an amazing deep pass down the sideline, but Gabe Jackson was flagged for holding. Jahleel Addae gave some of the yards back with a bad defensive pass interference penalty. Jalen Richard picked up 19 yards on the next two plays. Giorgio Tavecchio converted a 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
Third Quarter
After a short kick by Nick Novak, the Raiders took over on their own 36-yard line. They methodically moved the ball down the field before a tipped pass was intercepted by Hayes Pullard to kill a 10+ play drive.
Melvin Gordon broke off a nice run on 1st down, but they promptly stalled out when they could not get anything else going.
The defense came up big again holding the Raiders to a three-and-out.
Gordon once again got the offense started fast with an 11-yard reception. And on 3rd down, Tyrell Williams picked up a big gain before fumbling.
A fumbled snap put the Raiders behind the sticks and they were unable to achieve a 1st down before the quarter expired.
Fourth Quarter
On 4th down, the Raiders went for it and failed.
The Chargers offense then had a 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to take the lead.
The Raiders offense was moving fairly well when they got to midfield. Then, Cordarrelle Patterson took a 47-yard run to the house. Tavecchio missed the extra point which kept the Chargers only two points back.
The first two plays of the drive went to Melvin Gordon and netted a total of zero yards. On 3rd & 10, Rivers found him again for six yards which set up a punt.
The defense held and forced a punt to give the ball back to Rivers.
The drive was kickstarted by a long catch and run by Hunter Henry. Gordon chipped in two yards. Then Henry added another 1st down. Gordon contributed with a solid run that set up a 2nd and reasonable. After the 2 minute warning, Gordon rushed for a 1st down. With time running down, the Chargers went to the run again and again. Gordon eventually set them up with 1st & goal and just under a minute on the clock. Lynn elected to run the clock down and attempt a game-winning field goal as time expired. Novak converted it for the win.