The Oakland Raiders kept their postseason hopes alive with a win over the division-rival Chargers Sunday; here are the game notes, presented by Microsoft Surface.
Raiders 24, Chargers 17
- The Raiders defeated the Chargers by a score of 24-17, moving to 7-8 overall and improving their record to 3-2 against AFC West opponents this season.
- Oakland completes the season series sweep against the Chargers, winning 26-24 in Week 10, and doing so for the first time since 2016 when the club was located in San Diego.
- The win marked the Raiders first victory at ROKiT Field at Dignity Health Sports Park in the series history (Prev.: 0-2 since 2017).
- Head Coach Jon Gruden improves his overall record against the Chargers to 9-5.
- The Silver and Black now own a 10-game lead in the all-time regular season series, 64-54-2, and improve to 32-27-1 against the Chargers on the road.
Starters - Offense
WR Zay Jones
LT Kolton Miller
LG Denzelle Good
C Rodney Hudson
RG Gabe Jackson
RT Brandon Parker
TE Darren Waller
WR Tyrell Williams
WR Hunter Renfrow
QB Derek Carr
RB DeAndré Washington
Starters - Defense
DE Clelin Ferrell
DT Johnathan Hankins
DT P.J. Hall
DE Maxx Crosby
SLB Tahir Whitehead
MLB Will Compton
CB Lamarcus Joyner
CB Nevin Lawson
CB Trayvon Mullen
FS Erik Harris
SS Daryl Worley
Raiders Themes
- QB Derek Carr became first player in franchise history with five seasons of 20-plus touchdown passes, and surpassed Rich Gannon for the most 3,500-yard passing seasons (four) in Raiders history.
- Carr's 32 games with a passer rating over 100.0 tie Ken Stabler for most such games in franchise history.
- WR Hunter Renfrow recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game, becoming the first Raiders rookie WR since Amari Cooper to record 100 receiving yards in a contest (last: 120; Dec. 20, 2015 vs. GB).
- TE Darren Waller surpassed Todd Christensen for the third-most receptions (84) and third-most receiving yards (1,038) in franchise history by a tight end in single season.
- The rookie class continues to lead the NFL in total TDs (16), scoring at least one TD for the ninth time in the last 12 games.
- Oakland's offense ranks second in NFL with 54 points on opening drive this season and lead the NFL with 155 points on drives of at least 10 plays.
- Oakland's defense limited the Chargers to 19 rush yards in the contest, the fewest rushing yards allowed in a single game in the all-time season series (prev.: 21; Dec. 5, 2010). The defense also started the game by forcing three straight three-and-outs for first time since Sept. 16, 2018 at Denver, and for the first time in QB Phillip Rivers' career.
Individual Highlights
- QB Derek Carr
- On the Raiders opening possession, Carr orchestrated a four-play, 71-yard scoring drive lasting 1:48, culminating in a 56-yard receiving TD by WR Hunter Renfrow to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead.
- On the 3rd-and-6 TD pass to Renfrow, Carr passed for his league-leading 14th touchdown on third down this season. His 127.0 passer rating on third down ranks first in the NFL.
- Carr became first player in franchise history with five seasons of 20-plus touchdown passes.
- The Raiders offense now ranks second in the NFL with 54 points on opening drive of game this season.
- With :14 seconds remaining in the first half, Carr recorded his second rushing TD of the season, a three-yard score culminating an 11-play, 75-yard drive lasting 1:46 to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead.
- Carr ended the day completing 26-of-30 attempts (86.7 percent) for 291 yards with one TD for a passer rating of 118.2.
- Carr's 86.7 completion percentage was his highest this season, and second-highest performance of his career (90.6 percent vs Den., Week 2, 2018).
- Carr earned a passer rating of at least 100.0 (118.2) for the 32nd time in his career and for the eighth time in the last 12 games. The Raiders are 21-10 when Carr surpasses the 100-point barrier.
- His 32 games with a passer rating over 100.0 tie Ken Stabler for most such games in franchise history.
- Carr surpassed Rich Gannon for the most 3,500-yard passing seasons in franchise history (four).
- By surpassing 3,475 passing yards (3,663) this season, Carr enters the Top-5 in NFL history for career passing yards in a player's first six seasons (22,402).
- Carr recorded his 20th touchdown pass, joining Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Eli Manning and Matt Ryan as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least five seasons with 20 touchdown passes in their first six years in the NFL.
- Recorded third contest in a row with a 90-plus passer rating and has 106.4 rating in past five on the road against Los Angeles (2015-19).
- Carr moves to 6-6 all-time against the Chargers, completing 260-of-396 attempts (65.7 percent) for 2,911 yards for 16 TDs against eight INTs for a passer rating of 92.5.
- Carr currently ranks second in the NFL in completion percentage (71.1 percent.).
- Carr currently ranks eighth in the NFL with a passer rating of 101.1.
- WR Hunter Renfrow
- Renfrow's third touchdown of the season, which gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead, was a culmination of a four-play, 71-yard drive lasting 1:48.
- His 56-yard touchdown reception marks the second-longest receiving TD by a Raider this season.
- Renfrow finished with 107 yards on seven receptions (15.3 avg.) with one touchdown.
- Recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game, becoming the first Raiders rookie WR since Amari Cooper to record 100 receiving yards in a contest (last: 120; Dec. 20, 2015 vs. GB).
- TE Darren Waller
- With four receptions, Waller surpassed Todd Christensen for third-most receptions (84) in franchise history by a tight end in a single season.
- With 36 receiving yards, Waller surpassed Todd Christensen for the third-most receiving yards in franchise history by a tight end in a single season (1,038).
- Continues to rank second among tight ends in the NFL in receiving yards (1,038) and third in receptions (84).
- RB DeAndré Washington
- Washington's five-yard rush TD culminated a 13-play, 75-yard drive lasting 8:49 to give the Raiders a 21-7 lead midway through the third quarter.His rush TD marks his second in his last three games.
- Washington finished with 23 carries for 85 yards (3.7 avg.) and one TD, in addition to two receptions for 21 yards.
- Has 37 carries for 138 yards (3.7 avg.) and two TDs, adding eight catches for 64 yards in his two starts (Week 14, 16).
Additional Notes
- K Daniel Carlson connected on a 48-yard FG attempt and was 3-of-3 on PATs.
- P A.J. Cole punted five times for 259 yards (51.8 avg.) with a long of 74 yards, placing three punts inside the 20-yard line.
- Cole's 74-yard punt was the third-longest in the NFL this season and longest for Raiders players since Shane Lechler's 76-yarder at KC on Dec. 24, 2011.
- LB Will Compton led the team for consecutive weeks, recording a season-high 12 tackles after recording a then season-high nine tackles in Week 15 against the Jaguars.
- DE Clelin Ferrell recorded the Raiders' only sack of the game, taking down QB Phillip Rivers for a loss of 14 yards midway through the fourth quarter.
- Ferrell has recorded 3.5 sacks in two contests against the Chargers this season.
- Ferrell and Maxx Crosby are the only two rookies in the NFL to have recorded at least four sacks and three passes defensed this season.
- LB Tahir Whitehead finished with five tackles (four solo), marking his fourth-straight 100-plus tackle season (103).
- WR Tyrell Williams finished with 82 yards on four receptions (20.5 avg.) with a 43-yard long.
