Raiders fall from playoff contention in loss to LA
Herbert’s 1-yard run in OT seals Chargers’ win; Mariota plays well in place of injured Carr
The Las Vegas Raiders trusted their defense Thursday night and paid for it with elimination from the playoff race, 30-27 in overtime.
Justin Herbert completed a 53yard pass to Jalen Guyton against Keisan Nixon to set up the Chargers at the 1, and then Herbert scored on quarterback sneak for the winning touchdown.
Marcus Mariota came off the bench to lead the Raiders in the absence of quarterback Derek Carr, passing for 226 yards and rushing for 88, but when Daniel Carlson kicked a 23-yard field goal on fourth-and-goal from the
4, it set up the Chargers with a chance to win the game. By overtime rules, a touchdown, rather than a field goal, would have won the game for the Raiders.
Trayvon Mullen was called for a 20-yard pass interference penalty for Herbert found Guyton open to the 2-yard line.
The Raiders scored on a 35yard pass from Mariota to Darren Waller, a 23-yard field goal by Carlson, a 1-yard dive by Josh Ja
cobs and a 2-yard leap by Mariota.
The Chargers got a 10yard pass from Herbert to Hunter Henry, a 26-yard pass to Tyron Johnson, a 22-yard field goal by Michael Badgley and a 1-yard run by Kalen Ballage.
At 7-7, the Raiders need to win at least one of their last two games to surpass their disappointing season of 7-9 a year ago.
Regardless, having lost four of their last five with the lone win coming against the winless Jets, it’s been another downward spiral to end the season.
The Chargers are 5-9, secure in the knowledge that they have a quarterback of the future in Herbert who could potentially save the jobs of the coaching staff with a strong finish.
Highs, lows and all you need to know:
UGLY END OF REGULATION » The Raiders, after a late Badgley miss, couldn’t manage a first down and were going to attempt an NFL record 65-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson at the buzzer, but A. J. Cole dropped the snap as time expried.
BADGLEY’S MISSES » Badgley missed a 51-yard field goal with 53 seconds left, which was set up by a Kendal Vickers sack of Herbert on third-and- 9. The potential game-winner was
set up by a Chris Harris interception of Mariota and 51-yard return.
Despite the Raiders defense giving up a 27-yard run to Austin Ekeler, and a 12-yard run to Herbert to get into scoring position, Daryl Worley broke up a third- down pass intended for Henry, forcing the Chargers to attempt a 47-yard field goal.
Badgley missed to the wide left, setting up the Raiders’ at the 35-yard line with 3:38 left.
MORE MARIOTA » The Raiders took their time in tying the score 24-24, eating up an incredible 10:52 off the clock in driving 75 yards in 19 plays to score on Mariota’s 2-yard leap into the end zone on a scramble from his right.
Included was a fourthand-1 flip for 7 yards to Darren Waller to the 3-yard line. Mariota converted a third-and- 6 with a 7-yard scramble and a fourthandwith a 4-yard run. CHARGERS GO THE DISTANCE » A 1-yard run by Ballage with 2:08 left in the third quarter put the Chargers back on top 24-17, adding a 75-yard touchdown drive to go with earlier scoring drives of 78 and 49 yards.
Third-down conversions included a 19-yard Herbert to Henry pass to the 12yard line on third-and- 5, and an obvious Trayvon Mullen pass interference call on thrid-and- 9 from the 11 in the end zone to set up the touchdown.