The San Diego Chargers defeated The Oakland Raiders 28-18 at the Oakland Coliseum in 2008 Regular Season Week 4 action. QB JaMarcus Russell completed 22 of 37 for 277 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown strike to TE Zach Miller but it wasn’t enough.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins returned K Nate Kaeding’s opening kickoff 37 yards to the 48. Starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell came out firing with three straight completions setting the Raiders up with 1st and goal. However, the Raiders were forced to settle for a K Sebastian Janikowski 22-yard field goal attempt. The successful kick capped a 7-play, 48-yard drive and gave the Raiders a 3-0 lead with 10:57 left in the first quarter.
RB Darren Sproles returned Janikowski’s ensuing kickoff 32 yards to the San Diego 36. The Raiders held the Chargers to a three-and-out and P Mike Scifres came on to punt on 4th and 6 at the 40. Scifres’ 60-yard punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders took over at their own 20 with 8:51 left in the first quarter.
The Chargers returned the favor with a three-and out of their own. P Shane Lechler came on to punt on 4th and 5. Lechler’s 70-yard punt was downed at the Chargers 5-yard. RB LaDainian Tomlinson and QB Philip Rivers botched the handoff and the ball hit the ground. Rivers jumped on it and the Raiders defense jumped on him for a safety. The Raiders took a 5-0 lead with just over 7:00 left in the 1st quarter. After Higgins returned the free kick, the Raiders took possession at their own 33. The Chargers forced a three-and-out and Lechler came on to punt.
The Chargers began their next possession at their own 29. The Raiders defense held the Chargers to a three-and-out and Scifres came on to punt. Higgins returned the 53-yard kick to the Oakland 24. The Raiders and Chargers were unable to move the ball on their next possessions and traded punts.
The Raiders took over at their own 24 after a Scifres punt began the second quarter. San Diego held the Raiders to a three-and-out and took over at their own 25 for thewir next possession after a 57-yard Lechler punt and short Sproles return. The Raiders defense forced a three-and-out and took over after Higgins returned Scifres punt. Russell then hit TE Zach Miller for a 63-yard touchdown strike. Janikowski’s extra point was good and the Raiders led 12-0 with 11:22 left in the 2nd quarter.
A few plays later, the Raiders got the ball back when CB Chris Johnson picked off a Rivers pass and returned it to the Oakland 48. The Raiders drove to the San Diego 13 before settling for a 31-yard Janikowski field goal. The kick was good but a San Diego penalty gave the Raiders first and goal. The Raiders drove to the San Diego 1 before facing 4th and 1. RB Michael Bush scored from a yard out but a holding call wiped it out. Janikowski came on and hit from 28 yards out to give the Raiders a 15-0 lead with 5:28 left in the 2nd quarter.
San Diego drove into Raiders territory before back-to-back quarterback sacks forced a 44-yard field goal attempt. Kaeding’s kick was no good and the Raiders took over at their own 34 with 59 seconds left in the second quarter. A few plays later, the Raiders faced 3rd and 2 at their own 42. Janikowski came on for a 76-yard field goal attempt. The kick was 10 yards short and CB Antonio Cromartie returned it 28 yards to end the first half.
Sproles returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the San Diego 15. Kaeding capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive with a 28-yard field goal to cut the Raiders lead to 15-3 with 7:34 left in the second quarter.
Higgins returned the ensuing kickoff 12 yards to the Oakland 21. The Chargers held the Raiders to a three-and-out. Sproles returned Lechler’s 45-yard punt 12 yards to the San Diego 38. The Raiders got the ball back when CB DeAngelo Hall picked off a Rivers’ pass and returned the interception 21 yards to the Chargers 38. San Diego got the ball back when Tim Dobbins intercepted a deflected pass. The Chargers took over at their own 34.
San Diego cut the Raiders lead to 15-10 with 14:12 left in the fourth quarter when Rivers connected with TE Antonio Gates for a 9-yard pass play for a touchdown and Kaeding added the extra point.
San Diego got the ball back when Russell was sacked and fumbled. The Chargers recovered at the Raiders 13. Tomlinson gave the Chargers the lead with a 13-yard TD run. The two-point conversion was good and San Diego took an 18-15 lead with 12:47 left in the fourth quarter.
San Diego held the Raiders to a three-and-out and took over after Lechler’s punt was downed at midfield. They moved into range for a 47-yard field goal attempt but Kaeding missed it and the Raiders took over at the 37. The Raiders marched 47 yards in 11 plays and tied the game at 18-18 with 2:47 left to play with a 32-yard Janikowski field goal.
Sproles returned the ensuing kickoff 67 yards to the Raiders 35-yard line. A few plays later Kaeding connected from 47 to give the Chargers a 21-18 lead with 1:51 left to play.
The Raiders were unable to mount a scoring drive and turned the ball over on downs. Tomlinson iced the game with a 41-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Chargers a 28-18 lead with 1:04 left.
The Raiders head into their bye week with as 1-3 record on the 2008 season.
