The Los Angeles Chargers bid farewell 2017 with a 30-10 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday at StubHub Center to ensure a winning season (9-7) in their first season back in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, they bid a not-so-fond ‘adieu’ to their 2017 playoff hopes, as well.
Quarterback Philip Rivers went 28-of-37 for 387 yards and three touchdowns — his sixth 300-yard game of the season. Melvin Gordon racked up 124 total yards and Keenan Allen caught nine passes for 133 yards and scored two touchdowns. Alas, it just wasn’t enough to clinch the AFC’s No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
The Tennessee Titans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 15-10 on Sunday. I’m doing so, they officially eliminated Los Angeles from the postseason.
After a scoreless opening quarter, Los Angeles and Oakland combined for 30 points in the second. The Chargers struck first on a sequence that they certainly didn’t draw up. On the ninth play of an eventual 99-yard drive, Gordon rushed for 14 yards, but fumbled. The ball was plucked out of the air by Allen, who took it 27 yards for a touchdown. Nick Rose’s extra point put Los Angeles up 7-0.
On the Raiders’ next possession, Derek Carr found Amari Cooper for an 87-yard touchdown that tied the score at 7-7.
The Bolts looked to go ahead on a 50-yard field-goal attempt by Rose, but the kick was blocked and returned to the Chargers’ 30-yard line. Four plays later, Tavecchio broke the tie with a 40-yard field goal.
The fun continued when Rivers hooked up with Tyrell Williams for a 56-yard touchdown to regain the lead. Safety Tre Boston then picked off Carr on Oakland’s next possession, which would later lead to a six-yard touchdown reception from Rivers to Allen.
The Chargers took a 20-10 advantage into halftime.
After a 25-yard Rose field goal to start the second half, Rivers’ aerial assault continued when he hit Travis Benjamin for a 62-yard touchdown. The Chargers outgained the Raiders on offense 495 to 336.
Bolts’ Strikes
In the first quarter, Rivers reached 50,000 passing yards for his career — a feat that only eight other quarterbacks in NFL history have accomplished.
Travis Benjamin caught four passes for 96 yards.
Joey Bosa had one sack and finished with 12.5 on the season.
–Mike D’Abate is a Managing Editor and National Columnist for Full Press Coverage Sports Media. He covers the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers. Follow him on Twitter @mdabateFPC