Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Chargers Game Thread
The Las Vegas Raiders (4-3) enter today's contest in Los Angeles against their rival, the Los Angeles Chargers (2-5).
This game is vitally critical for both teams. For the Raiders it is an opportunity to win the first of a three-game swing versus the AFC West. While not a Super Bowl team, the 2020 Raiders are a playoff quality team, and beating the Chargers on the road, is more evidence of that.
For the Chargers, they are a young team, who if honesty is the name of the game, have looked much better than their record indicates. Nothing would make a young team better than to not only beat a fell AFC West opponent but to do it to a playoff-caliber team as well.
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START OF FIRST QUARTER:
Chargers placekicker Badgley's field goal attempt is No GOOD. Ball goes wide right. Raiders get the ball on own 30-yard line - 8:15 left to go in the first quarter.
SCORING UPDATE #1: Devontae Booker runs the ball for 23 yards for a touchdown. PAT is GOOD. Raiders lead 7-0 with 4:42 left to go in the first quarter.
END OF FIRST QUARTER - Raiders lead 7-0. Chargers will get the ball on Las Vegas 14 yard-line.
SCORING UPDATE #2: Chargers running back Kalen Ballage rushes for a five-yard touchdown on fourth and 1 to go. PAT is Good. It's all tied up in Los Angeles. - 13:24 left to go in the half.
INJURY UPDATE: Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen is headed to the locker room.
SCORING UPDATE #3: Running back Josh jacobs rushes for a 14-yard touchdown. PAT is Good. Raiders lead 14-7 with 5:34 left to go.
INJURY UPDATE: Fullback Alec Ingold suffers a rib injury. He is questionable to come back.
TWO MINUTE WARNING - Raiders lead 14-7. Ball on Las Vegas 37-yard line. Second down and nine to go for the Chargers.
PENALTY UPDATE: Pass Interference called on wide receiver Jalen Guyton. 15-yard penalty. Second down Chargers.
TIMEOUT #1 called by the Raiders. 1:45 left to go in the half. Raiders lead 14-7.
SCORING UPDATE #4: Wide Receiver Keenan Allen catches a 27-yard touchdown pass. PAT is Good. Raiders and Chargers are tied 14-14. - 0:19 left to go in the half.
TURNOVER - Quarterback Derek Carr fumbles the football. Recovered by the Chargers on Las Vegas 27-yard line.
SCORING UPDATE #5: 45-yard field goal try by Michael Badgley is good. Chargers lead 17-14 with 0:05 left to go in the half.
HALFTIME - Chargers lead 17-14 at the half. Raiders will receive the ball in the second half
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HALFTIME REPORT:
The Raiders got the ball rolling in the right direction in Los Angeles.
The first couple of possessions for the Raiders defense was off to a solid start, forcing a punt as well as a 48-yard field-goal attempt by placekicker Michael Badgley goes wide right.
However, on the third drive for the Chargers, quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers took over six minutes to get down the field, finding seven points after going for it on fourth and one in the red zone.
The following drive, after a phenomenal punt by A.J. Cole, the Raiders defense forced a three and out, thanks to a solid effort by defensive end Carl Nassib. A tipped pass and a sack under Nassib’s belt in that particular possession.
In total, the Silver and Black committed two sacks in the first half. The other sack came from defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Then the final drive by the Chargers. The defense broke down as they allowed a 16-yard third-down throw to keep the drive alive. Then a couple of plays later, Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen slips through the cracks for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
As the Raiders defense has done often this season, the Silver and Black held the Chargers to empty trips early in the game. The big issue for the Raiders has been defensive inconsistency. Some possessions, they’ll get walked on like thin paper. Other possessions, they're a brick wall.
Raiders must find consistency on the field in the second half.
As for the Silver and Black offense, the ground game has been the name of the game.
Their first points on the day was a 23-yard rush by Devontae Booker.
In total five players rushed the ball for 97 yards.
One of the five rushers includes wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. He rushed for 10 yards in the first half. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson isn’t scared to mix up the script at times, something that has been working for the Raiders today.
Even when quarterback Derek Carr threw the football, most of his passes were either screen passes or short passes.
Today, the ground game and the short ball has been working well for the Silver and Black.
However, a fumble by quarterback Derek Carr suddenly changed the story of this game headed into the locker room.
Chargers lead 17-14 at the half.
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START OF THIRD QUARTER:
SCORING UPDATE #6: Wide receiver Nelson Agholor goes deep for a 45-yard receiving touchdown. PAT is Good. Raiders lead 21-17.
INJURY UPDATE: Fullback Alec Ingold has been ruled out of today's contest, citing a rib injury.
PENALTY UPDATE: The Chargers called on a false start. Five-yard penalty. Remains fourth down.
Derek Carr flies for the first down.
SCORING UPDATE #7: Tight end Darren Waller catches a three-yard pass for a touchdown. PAT is Good. Raiders extend their lead to 28-17. 7:49 left to go in the third quarter.
TIMEOUT #1 - Raiders take their first timeout in the second half. Las Vegas leads 28-17. 6:34 left to go in the third.
SCORING UPDATE #8: Field goal attempt by Michael Badgley is good. Raiders still lead 28-20. 4:19 left to go in the third quarter.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Raiders lead 28-20 at the end of the third quarter. Ball on Chargers 42-yard line.
PENALTY UPDATE: Delay of Game called on the Raiders. Five-yard penalty. Remains fourth down.
INJURY UPDATE: Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is injured on the field.
PENALTY UPDATE: Linebacker Cory Littleton is called for a holding penalty. Half of the distance to the goal. First down Chargers.
SCORING UPDATE #9: Fullback Gabe Nabers catches a four-yard pass for a touchdown. The two-point conversion by quarterback Tyrod Taylor is not good. Raiders still lead 28-26. 9:04 left to go in regulation.
TURNOVER - K.J. Hill Jr. muffs the football. Raiders Kyle Wilbur recovers the football on the Los Angeles 31-yard line. First down Las Vegas.
SCORING UPDATE #10 - Placekicker Daniel Carlson boots a 31-yard field goal through the uprights. Raiders extend their lead, 31-26. 4:27 left to go in regulation.
TWO MINUTE WARNING: Raiders lead 31-26.
FINAL SCORE: Raiders win 31-26. The Silver and Black went down to the wire but come off with a victory. Raiders are now 5-3 on the season.
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