Chargers Miss Playoffs Despite Victory Over Raiders

CARSON, CA -- The Los Angeles Chargers failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs despite a 30-10 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday at StubHub Center. All the scenarios of the Chargers making the playoffs depended on the Tennessee Titans losing or tying the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday. The Chargers also would have needed the Buffalo Bills to lose or tie the Miami Dolphins or the Baltimore Ravens to defeat or tie the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Tennessee's 15-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars ended the Chargers playoff hopes. The Chargers and Titans both ended the season with 9-7 records but Tennessee had the tiebreaker advantage.
The Chargers have not made the playoffs since 2013. They were seeking to join the 1992 Chargers as the only NFL teams to make the playoffs after an 0- 4 start.

Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes as the Chargers scored the final 23 points to overcome a 10-7 second-quarter deficit to complete their first season sweep over the Raiders since 2014.

The Chargers took the lead for good five minutes, 21 seconds before halftime on Rivers 56-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Williams. The Chargers increased their lead to 20-10 on their next possession, as Rivers threw a 6- yard touchdown pass to Keenan Allen with 30 seconds left in the first half.

The Chargers got a 25-yard field goal from Nick Rose and a 62-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Travis Benjamin on their first two possessions of the second half before a pro-Raiders capacity crowd announced at 25,430.

The game was the Raiders first in the Los Angeles area since they returned to Oakland following the 1994 season.

The Chargers outgained Oakland, 495 yards to 336, and led 26-14 in first downs and 33:20-26:40 in time of possession. The Chargers converted seven of 13 third downs, 54 percent and the Raiders four of 11, 36 percent.

Oakland failed to get a first down on three fourth-down conversion opportunities. The Chargers failed to get a first down on their only fourth down conversion.

The Chargers opened the scoring 13:19 before halftime. Melvin Gordon ran for 11 yards and his fumble was recovered by Allen, who ran 27 yards for the touchdown.

The Raiders (6-10) took a 10-7 lead on Derek Carr's 87-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper and Giorgio Tavecchio's 40-yard field goal.

Rivers completed 28 of 37 passes for 387 yards. Carr completed 19 of 28 passes for 243 yards.

--City News Service/Photo via Chargers