FLASH RECAP:
LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees lead San Diego (7-3) to a victory over Oakland (3-7) before an announced crowd of 46,905 at Network Associates Coliseum on Nov. 21, 2004. Tomlinson rushes for 164 yards and a touchdown while Brees throws for 226 yards and a TD as the Chargers sweep their season series with the Raiders for the first time since 1992.
The Raiders' Kerry Collins throws for 227 yards and two touchdowns, but Oakland self-destructs with dropped passes and eight penalties for 76 yards. The Raiders suffer their third straight home loss and fall to 1-6 over the past seven games.
The Chargers win their fourth straight despite missing a PAT attempt, losing a fumble at the Raiders' 2-yard line and settling for a field goal after having a first-and-goal at the one.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Drew Brees -- Completes 18 of 34 passes for 226 yards one TD with no interceptions. He also scores a second-quarter TD on a 6-yard run on a quarterback draw. Brees seals the Chargers' victory when he throws a 20-yard completion to Keenan McCardell to the San Diego 46 on third-and-4 with two minutes left.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson -- Rushes for 164 yards on 37 carries and a TD. He has 110 rushing yards on 22 carries in the second half.
TE Antonio Gates -- Has game-highs of 8 catches for 101 yards. His first-quarter 11-yard TD catch is his sixth score the past three games.
LB Randall Godfrey -- His highlight-film hit on Raiders WR Jerry Porter forces a fumble, which is recovered by Chargers teammate Ben Leber at Oakland's 48-yard line.
QB Kerry Collins -- Completes 18 of 30 passes for 227 yards and two TDs with no interceptions.
TE Teyo Johnson -- Scores his first TD this season on an 8-yard catch to rally Oakland within 16-14 late in the third quarter.
WR Jerry Porter -- Has 5 catches for 63 yards, but his third-quarter fumble leads to a San Diego field goal.
DT Tommy Kelly -- Forces a Lorenzo Neal fumble at the Oakland 2-yard line on a first-and-goal play that Denard Walker recovers in the end zone.
GOAT:
Raiders WR Ronald Curry. With the Chargers leading 23-17, Curry drops a potential go-ahead TD pass from Kerry Collins at the San Diego 22-yard line with 4:09 left.
KEY STAT:
The Chargers have 402 total yards compared to only 273 for the Raiders.
BY THE NUMBERS:
3: Penalties on Raiders OT Robert Gallery. Gallery's final penalty (an illegal block to the back of LB Shaun Phillips) negates a 15-yard Kerry Collins TD pass to Doug Gabriel.
6: Touchdowns by San Diego's Antonio Gates the past three games.
110: Rushing yards by the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson in the second half.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders QB Kerry Collins
"There were a lot of plays we could have made, things we could have done that would have changed the outcome. So close on a lot of things...I know we'll look at it and just be sick."
"God was on our side today. I'm sure He was probably thinking of the 10 years of bad luck that we've had when those catches weren't made and that penalty was called to bring back their touchdown. We're having some luck come our way now."
Chargers OT Roman Oben
DID YOU KNOW?:
San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson has 504 rushing yards (168 yards per game) in three career games against the Raiders in Oakland.
Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson (21)
breaks away from a diving Ray Buchanan (34).
