A New Era? Raiders Beat Chargers in San Diego

Oakland offense explodes early to take 30-6 halftime lead, then Raiders hold on for 37-29 victory

The Raiders hadn’t won a game in San Diego since 2011, and since 2002 Oakland was just 6-18 against its AFC West rival.

But on Sunday, the visitors in silver and black served notice that this 2015 version of the Raiders is a newer, better model. Over the next few years, in fact, the Raiders under new head coach Jack Del Rio – and with playmakers such as Amari Cooper, Derek Carr and Khalil Mack – could be climbing up to the upper echelon of the AFC after years near the cellar.

On Sunday, the Raiders dominated early, building a 30-6 halftime lead en route to a 37-29 victory that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score might indicate. Though the Chargers came up with 23 late-fourth-quarter points, the game already was decided.

Carr was brilliant, completing 24-of-31 throws for 289 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The rookie Cooper had five catches for 133 yards and a score, wideout Michael Crabtree had six catches for 63 yards and a TD and running back Latavius Murray (15 carries, 85 yards and a TD) led a ground attack that produced 131 yards. Rookie tight end Clive Walford showed what he can do, too, with a pair of receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Oakland defense was solid, yielding just 90 yards rushing and intercepting Philip Rivers twice.

Going into the game, the Raiders hoped to come up big to get themselves rolling after a week off, and they did just that.

“They’re a division team and it’s our first game coming off a bye week,” said running back Taiwan Jones – who rushed for 35 yards on just three carries Sunday – in the week leading up to the game. “We just have to take each game at a time, but this is the task in front of us. We have to focus on finishing this game.”

With the win, Oakland improves to 3-3 and matches its win total for all of 2014.

The Raiders will look to go over the .500 mark this coming Sunday against the New York Jets at O.co Coliseum.

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