Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. This team is no way good enough to win giving up 5 turnovers...unless it's the Broncos playing the Jaguars I don't think any team would be able to survive a 5-0 turnover ratio. The Chargers amazingly had chances to get back into this game and they blew those changes too. Turnovers + missed opportunity = 10 point loss to a team the Chargers should have beaten easily.
On the first series, Phillip Rivers threw an interception. I have to think it was some kind of miscommunication there because no one was near Rivers when he let it go, but he over threw Eddie Royal by about 10 yards. The defense then compounded the mistake by letting Rod Streeter catch a 44 yarder from Terrele Pryor on the first play for the Raiders.
After a Charger punt, the Raiders then went then went 88 yards on 13 plays. The Chargers defense was just flat in those first two drives...they got it together after that only giving up 2 field goals. The Chargers still could have gotten back into this game, but for some reason they just never got it together. Rivers had a pretty good statistical game save for the 3 INTs (36-49, 411 yards, 2 TDs) and brought them back in the 2nd half, but fumbles by Royal (led to a FG) and Danny Woodhead derailed any chance of a comeback (Woodhead's fumble was returned for a TD, the only TD of the 2nd half for the Raiders). Rivers 3rd interception came in the last drive with time running...can't really count that one.
The first chance the Chargers had to get back in the game was the next drive after going down 14-0. The Chargers went for it on a 4th-and-goal inside the 1 yard line. I thought a FG would have been the best move just to get on the score board after the rough start. I thought it was a panic move by the coaching staff, although not a terrible decision. The personnel package and call was a different matter. On the play, Woodhead was the lone back. At 5'9" 200 lbs., Woodhead is bigger than people think, but in that situation I would have think the 6'0, 233 lb Ronnie Brown would be the better option. It also wasn't like they ran the play directly after they failed to get the TD on 3rd and 1. The Chargers called a timeout to make sure they called the play they wanted. Earlier in the drive, on 3rd and 1, they brought in Brown in an I formation with the fullback and got the first easily. Instead they went with Woodhead on an inside handoff with Rivers in a shotgun...and Woodhead got stuffed.
The Chargers actually had a TD on 3rd down, but Gates just dropped a quick screen to him wide right that he would have been able to score on easily. Tough night when Gates is dropping sure TDs. I should have know then it wasn't going to be the Chargers night.
After the Chargers got on the board with a FG and stopped the Raiders, on the next possession came Woodheads' fumble. Down 24-3, early 3rd quarter, the Chargers finally got their act together. They scored TDs on their next two drives to get to 17-24. The defense finally showed up too, getting pressure on Pryor and forcing punts. It was a ball game again, but the defense couldn't pitch the 2nd half shutout and Pryor drove the Raiders down for a FG to put them up two scores 27-17.
Chargers still had an outside shot if they score, onside kick or 3-n-out stop, then score again. That small chance ended when Rivers' threw behind Keenan Allen in the end zone and was picked for the 2nd time.
Speaking of Allen, the rookie really made an impact in this game with 6 catches for 115 yards and 1 TD. I liked the rookie from preseason, he's going to be the Chargers best WR before the year is over. Allen could have easily had two more TDs, but one got called back and Rivers missed him for another. Vincent Brown also had the best game of this year with 8 catches for 117 yards. The two starting WRs, the biggest question coming into this game, was the only part of the team that played well for the entire game...go figure.
Ryan Mathews suffered a concussion 2nd quarter and never returned. The running game was again ineffective. Chargers had also released Fozzy Whitaker earlier in the week when they picked up Tackle Nick Becton from the practice squad to add depth to an o-line that already had 3 missing due to injuries. Whitaker was immediately picked up by the Browns. Chargers only had 32 yards rushing on 19 carries against the Raiders.
With the Chargers facing the Colts next week on Monday night, I don't think they are going to miss Mathews much if he can't go. The Colts have the WRs and QB that can take apart the Chargers defense who haven't been able to generate a pass rush and has had a tough time covering the better WRs in the NFL. I hope they can get fired up and find some way to get the upset...right now I just don't see how.
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