Recap: Oakland vs. San Diego
Sports Network | September 28, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Nate Kaeding hit a 47-yard field goal with under two minutes to play and the San Diego Chargers overcame a 15-point halftime deficit with 25 fourth-quarter points to clip the Oakland Raiders, 28-18, at McAfee Coliseum.
Philip Rivers overcame a slow start to help lead five second-half scoring drives, finishing 14-of-25 for 180 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Rivers also fumbled on his own five and took a safety in the first quarter. LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
Antonio Gates had five receptions for 58 yards and a score for the Chargers (2-2), who were coming off a 48-29 dismantling of the New York Jets last Monday.
JaMarcus Russell was a mirror image of Rivers, leading four first-half scoring drives while finishing 22-of-37 for 277 yards with a touchdown and a second-half interception. Zach Miller posted five catches for 95 yards and a score.
Michael Bush ran for 48 yards on 14 attempts and caught seven passes for 80 yards while rookie standout Darren McFadden was held to just 20 yards rushing for the Raiders (2-2), who dropped a heart-breaker to Buffalo last Sunday.
The Raiders took the ball 49 yards in 11 plays and Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 32-yard field goal with 2:47 remaining to tie the game, 18-18, but San Diego got a 63-yard return from Darren Sproles on the ensuing kickoff to the Oakland 35. After gaining just six yards on three plays, Kaeding was true on the eventual game-winner.
Oakland seemingly had one last chance and Russell hit Miller for 15 yards on the first play but three of his next four passes fell incomplete, including a 4th-and-5 attempt that gave the ball to San Diego on the Oakland 44.
Two plays later Tomlinson busted up the right sideline for a 41-yard score to further cement the outcome, but that did leave 1:04 on the clock. The Raiders used their timeouts and moved to the Chargers' 43-yard-line, but the final play went for just 16 yards.
