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Chargers 31, Raiders 28
OAKLAND, Calif. — Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, rookie running back Branden Oliver rushed for 101 yards and a score, and the San Diego Chargers rallied Sunday to beat Oakland 31-28.
Oliver scored on a 1-yard run with 1:56 left to play, giving the Chargers (5-1) a 31-28 lead.
San Diego sealed the win when cornerback Jason Verrett intercepted Raiders quarterback Derek Carr’s deep strike intended for wide receiver Brice Butler on second-and-1 from the Chargers’ 44 with just over a minute to play.
The Raiders, who led 28-21 midway through the fourth quarter, fell to 0-5 while losing interim coach Tony Sparano’s debut.
Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Oliver, making his first career start, carried 26 times. Rivers finished 22-for-34 and didn’t throw an interception.
Carr completed 18 of 34 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns — the yardage and touchdown totals both career highs — with one interception.
Raiders wide receiver Andre Holmes caught four passes for 121 yards and two scores, and running back Darren McFadden carried 14 times for 80 yards.
Oakland snapped a 14-14 tie with Carr’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 47-yarder to Butler with 7:40 left in the third quarter. Carr hit Butler with a short pass, and the receiver spun away from safety Marcus Gilchrist, then sprinted to the end zone untouched.
San Diego responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive, Rivers hitting tight end Antonio Gates with a 1-yard scoring pass. Earlier in the drive, Rivers threw a 44-yard pass to Floyd, who made a leaping catch at the Raiders’ 9, beating free safety Charles Woodson.
The Raiders moved back ahead 28-21 with 10:01 to play when Carr fired a 6-yard touchdown strike to Holmes. Carr faked a handoff, rolled right and hit Holmes in the back right corner of the end zone.
San Diego cut Oakland’s lead to 28-24 with 5:52 left after stalling at the Raiders’ 12 and settling for kicker Nick Novak’s 30-yard field goal.
After forcing the Raiders to go three-and-and out, Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen returned the punt 29 yards to the Oakland 39. The Chargers marched 39 yards in six plays, with Oliver gaining the final 29 yards on four consecutive carries.
After a first half marked by big plays, the Raiders and Chargers were tied 14-14.
The Raiders grabbed a 7-0 lead just 52 seconds into the game when Carr hit Holmes for a 77-yard touchdown — career longs for both. Holmes got behind cornerback Brandon Flowers down the right sideline, and Carr hit him in stride.
The Chargers answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped by Rivers’ 29-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Eddie Royal. The Raiders blitzed, and Royal beat cornerback Carlos Rogers’ man coverage, catching Rivers’ pass in the front left corner of the end zone with 9:36 left in the opening quarter.
San Diego moved ahead 14-7 on Rivers’ 5-yard touchdown pass to Floyd with 11:52 remaining in the first half. The Chargers drove 85 yards in 13 plays for the score.
Oakland pulled even with a 76-yard, 11-play touchdown drive capped by Carr’s 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver James Jones with 7:25 left in the half — the Raiders’ first second-quarter score of any kind this season.
NOTES: Raiders starting RT Khalif Barnes (quadriceps) was inactive, and Menelik Watson started in his place. … Raiders WR Vincent Brown, a former Charger, was inactive due to a hamstring injury. … Chargers RBs Donald Brown (concussion) and Ryan Mathews (knee) were inactive. … San Diego C Rich Ohrnberger, who was inactive the past two weeks because of a back injury, made his third start of the season. … Raiders DE Justin Tuck left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury but returned in the third quarter. … Chargers CB Brandon Flowers left the game midway through the third quarter with a groin injury, and WR Eddie Royal left with a rib injury.
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