The Chargers were pushed to the limit by the winless Raiders, but two fourth-quarter lead changes left San Diego on the right side of a 31-28 win in Oakland. The Chargers have now won five straight after dropping their season opener in Arizona and are, as we expected, looking like a repeat AFC playoff team.
Chargers vs. Raiders final score: 3 things we learned from San Diego’s escape in Oakland
A mismatch on paper turned into a back-and-forth Week 6 offensive shootout in Oakland.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle was a tougher opponent, but this was San Diego's most difficult test since that season-opening loss. The Raiders were coming off an extra week of rest and playing for a new coach against a rival they've pestered even at their worst times. But another sharp game from Philip Rivers, and a continued revelation at running back, were enough for San Diego to outscore the Raiders. Here are three things we learned from a close one in Oakland.
1. The Chargers may have their answer at running back
Running back is the most volatile position in the NFL -- careers are short and overturn is constant. San Diego has struggled to find a long-term and consistent replacement for LaDainian Tomlinson, who left five years ago. Ryan Mathews was drafted as the heir apparent, but his health has always inhibited his talent from breaking out in what should be a wonderful offensive opportunity for a rusher.
When the Chargers lost Danny Woodhead for the season and Mathews went down against the Seahawks, rookie Branden Oliver stepped up in the San Diego backfield. We shouldn't be surprised anymore by obscure running backs finding success in the NFL, but it's still impressive to see this undrafted rookie from the University at Buffalo become such a key part of the Chargers' offensive machine.
Oliver carried the ball 26 times for 101 yards and the game-winning touchdown. When the Chargers had an opportunity to take the lead in the final five minutes, it was Oliver, and not Philip Rivers, who did most of the work to move the ball. Oliver got four straight carries on the winning drive, the last coming right after the two-minute warning and crossing the plane for the 31-28 victory. Running backs come and go without warning in the NFL, but right now, Oliver is the top rushing weapon for one of the NFL's best offenses.
2. Derek Carr settles his place as Raiders QB
While most rookie QBs did not start the season from the jump, the Raiders rookie was pressed into immediate duty because of the awful circumstances at that position in Oakland. It was hard to argue he’d be ready to go right away, but he seemed like the best of a lot of bad options.
Carr has held his own through the first month of the season and wasn't a complete disaster. Even though there were ugly moments, he didn't give games away. He had four interceptions and four touchdowns through his first four games, and kept an overmatched Oakland close against the Jets and Patriots. Carr wasn't blameless, but the Raiders had their own problems across the board that resulted in the 0-4 start.
With an extra week of preparation, Carr looked at ease under center and picked apart the San Diego secondary. There were no questions on his arm strength coming out of Fresno State, and he rocketed a slant right into the chest of James Jones to pull Oakland even before the half. San Diego knew it was coming and he still put it right on the numbers. He added two more in the second half to set a new Oakland rookie record:
Derek Carr is the first @RAIDERS rookie QB to throw 4 TD passes in a game.
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) October 12, 2014 Not only was that a Raiders record, but he also now has more four-touchdown games than his brother, David, did in his entire 11-year career.
3. Philip Rivers is the hottest QB in the league
Surprisingly, this was San Diego's most challenging game since their opening loss to the Cardinals. Rivers isn't posting 300-plus-yard games every week, but he's rarely missing his targets and wasting downs with incompletions. He's also eliminated turnovers.
Peyton Manning will rightly get all the publicity among quarterbacks in the division, but Rivers is not far behind and has opened the season on fire. The win over Seattle's Legion of Boom secondary was an early tone-setter, and Sunday's game may have been his most impressive performance this season. He was working with a full complement of pass catchers and targeted eight different guys, finishing 22 of 34 for 313 yards and three touchdowns. The 65 percent completion rate is actually a dip from the past four games, when he's been well over 70 percent each time. For the season, he's completing just under 70 percent and has 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions.
The severing of his long relationship with Norv Turner and the switch to Mike McCoy has boosted Rivers over the past two seasons. We expected the Chargers to make another playoff run this year, and if Rivers continues his form, they’ll push Denver all the way through December.
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