The Los Angeles Chargers are all of a sudden right there in the AFC West, competing with the Kansas City Chiefs, despite not that many people talking about them. They're okay with that, as long as they continue to win like they did on Sunday afternoon, 20-6, over the lowly Oakland Raiders. The victory for the Chargers was their sixth in a row, as Phillip Rivers threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Melvin Gordon also stepped up with 165 total yards, including a touchdown reception in the Chargers' seventh win of the season.
Rivers went the entire first quarter without a completion, but quickly put that aside when he found Keenan Allen for an 11-yard touchdown score in the second quarter. His 66-yard touchdown throw to Gordon that opened the second half put his team ahead for good, The Chargers kept pace with the Chiefs, who beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, as they sit 1.5 games back of the top spot in the AFC West.
The Raiders jumped out to a hot start, out-gaining the Chargers by 129 yards in the first quarter and had the ball for 23 of the 29 plays in the opening 15 minutes. A sack on Derek Carr early in the second forced a fumble that was recovered by Melvin Ingram, and seemingly shifted the momentum to the Chargers for the rest of the game at Oakland Coliseum.
Despite the fast start, the Raiders dropped their fifth straight game and fell to 1-8 in Jon Gruden's first season back as head coach. All five of their losses in the skid have been by at least 14 points, as they have been outscored, 75-9, in the past nine quarters.
The Chargers' offense was once again powered by Gordon, who has been productive since returning from injury. The tailback had 93 yards rushing and 72 yards receiving for Los Angeles, who will host the Denver Broncos next week. The struggling Raiders will hit the road to visit the Cardinals.
Rivers went the entire first quarter without a completion, but quickly put that aside when he found Keenan Allen for an 11-yard touchdown score in the second quarter. His 66-yard touchdown throw to Gordon that opened the second half put his team ahead for good, The Chargers kept pace with the Chiefs, who beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, as they sit 1.5 games back of the top spot in the AFC West.
The Raiders jumped out to a hot start, out-gaining the Chargers by 129 yards in the first quarter and had the ball for 23 of the 29 plays in the opening 15 minutes. A sack on Derek Carr early in the second forced a fumble that was recovered by Melvin Ingram, and seemingly shifted the momentum to the Chargers for the rest of the game at Oakland Coliseum.
Despite the fast start, the Raiders dropped their fifth straight game and fell to 1-8 in Jon Gruden's first season back as head coach. All five of their losses in the skid have been by at least 14 points, as they have been outscored, 75-9, in the past nine quarters.
The Chargers' offense was once again powered by Gordon, who has been productive since returning from injury. The tailback had 93 yards rushing and 72 yards receiving for Los Angeles, who will host the Denver Broncos next week. The struggling Raiders will hit the road to visit the Cardinals.
